Walking Down Another Street
Photograph by Lawless Capture
Choosing another path allows us to break a cycle and walk away from things in life that aren’t working
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Have you been walking down the same street looking for a differentresult?
I woke up this morning thinking about a poem that made an impacton me years ago. Of course, I had to rustle through my bookshelf until I couldfind it. I originally came across it in a book I actually never fully read, TheTibetan Book of Living and Dying. I don’t recall how, when or where exactlyit came into my life. However, having come across that one passage made methankfully hold onto it all of these years.
I had falsely believed that it was attributed to the author of thebook, Sogyal Ripoche, but upon closer Editor-in-Chief inspection and actuallyreading footnotes (how old-school of me), I came across it’s true author,Portia Nelson and its true title, Autobiography in 5 Chapters.
What made me think about it today? Well, my brain pretty much awakens each morning swirling with ideas. Let me reframe that, my brain is awakened by my swirling ideas. Which isn’t always a good thing and they aren’t always as welcomed as other times, particularly when I haven’t had enough sleep.
Sometimes I literally say to God, Do you want me to write or rest? It’s a 50/50 shot that could go either way.
This morning, I got out of bed and headed for my desk (and the coffee).
But before I give too many spoilers, indulge in this prose and seehow it resonates for you.
Autobiography in 5 Chapters by Portia Nelson
Chapter 1:
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost…I am hopeless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter 2:
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I’m in the same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter 3:
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in…it’s a habit.
My eyes are open
I know where I am
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter 4:
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I walk around it.
Chapter 5:
I walk down another street.
This poem is such a brilliant metaphor for this life journeythrough the human experience with all of its ups, downs, curveballs, losses andglorious triumphs. Aaaah, life. And then there we are ignoring the cues,pretending we don’t see them, living on autopilot. It’s a habit. It’s easy.It’s the way things have always been. And let’s not forget about ourstubbornness to insist upon holding onto things, making things that perhapsshouldn’t be…work.
Maybe it’s time to walk down another street.
Not to over-simplify things…but, you know why I woke up too earlythis morning? Red wine and dark chocolate. Yep. It’s a habit. Last night I wassnuggled in front of the fireplace, watching Netflix, ‘decompressing’ from myday (code for just wanting to turn into mush)…and my little nagging cravingemerged. Just a glass and a small piece of that dark chocolate with gingerin it, it whispered. Go on, you deserve it.
She’s quite a pesky and persuasive voice. And off I trotted to thekitchen. The problem was that it was a Tuesday, not a Saturday. Now, I’m not apurist by any stretch of the imagination, but I do need to pay attention towhat works for me and what doesn’t. I’m sure you can relate.
Sure, the glass of wine or the piece of chocolate in itself aren’ta big deal (and I will say I enjoyed them), but it’s the denial of what we knowto be true for ourselves. This isn’t all about foods and indulgences, it mayemerge for you in many other ways — limited thinking, fear, relationships,finances, your career — we’ve all got our flavor.
Is there a deep hole in a sidewalk you walk down, that you ignore, pretend you don’t see and fall into repeatedly? Don’t beat yourself up.
Being your Best Self isn’t about guilt, shame or judgment — it’s about making empowered choices, seeing what you need and finding a way towards it.
It’s about emerging from the fog of your own confusion. You don’t need to take a poll. You already know where your pain points are, where you deny the truth and what your soul is calling for. You do.
Find a way to nurture your wounds and vulnerabilities. Find a wayto create space for yourself to sit in silence…then and only then will we hearthe whisperings calling from within. Don’t be afraid. And while it may be assimple as not choosing to drink that glass of red wine that will wake you upbefore you want to — or it is something seemingly more dramatic likemaking a bold move in a relationship or with your career…just listen. Trustyourself and take an action step to do it differently…shift the momentum in anew direction.
What are you pretending you don’t see? Did you ever think abouthow It actually takes more work to ignore it than to deal with it? It’s true.Think of an over-stuffed junk drawer or closet. Eventually, the door won’tclose and you can’t hide it all away. Think spring cleaning of your energeticbeing. Think of the relief of laying all that resistance down. Think ofstepping up for yourself and becoming that version you dreamed of.
Just know that there is another street to walk down.
Is there a street you’ve been walking down that isn’t serving you — something that isn’t working, but its familiarity has you in its clutches? Please let us know in the comments below — the place where we connect, share and find pieces of ourselves in the stories and collective healing of others.