All About Women | Women

In the book, The Best Year of Your Life, author and speaker Debbie Ford includes this poem which I believe sums up so many of our own stories.

There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk:
Autobiography In Five Short Chapters
by Portia Nelson

Chapter I
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost ... I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.

Chapter II
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 am in the same place, but it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter III
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 IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter V
I walk down another street.

Most of us are sleepwalking through life and are bound to keep falling into the hole in the sidewalk. Until we awaken, to ourselves and those around us, Chapter Five will continue to elude us.

Awaken to your power,
Coach Carolyn