A good lesson

Dear Christine over at infinitepink posted this a couple of days ago. I know a couple of people who are sure to appreciate it. Here is part of her introduction:

Its message is simple, but sometimes it’s extremely hard to remember when you are in the middle of bad situations or you’re dealing with people who are toxic.

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
by Portia Nelson

I. I walk down the street.

There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost…..I am helpless;

It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

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.

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.

IV. I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

V. I walk down a different street.