Repeating Patterns - A Poem for Self Improvement

in permaculture •  7 years ago 

So I've been reading People and Permaculture by Looby Macnamara. I'll do a longer post about this but today a beautiful poem stood out to me, especially with where I am in my life right now.

IMG_0538.JPG

*Source

Sometimes we find patterns reoccurring even though we think we're changing our behaviors. I think sometimes we don't look at the bigger picture, don't consider all the factors and don't really find a true and real alternative. We tweet rather than shift our paradigms.

Macnamara attributed this poem to Sogyal Rinpoche but I think it wasn't originally written by Portia Nelson. It isn't featured in his book The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. I think we can all learn something from such simple and clear words.

IMG_0533.JPG

Autobiography In Five Chapters

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.

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.

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.

4) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

5) I walk down another street.

Authors get paid when people like you upvote their post.
If you enjoyed what you read here, create your account today and start earning FREE STEEM!
Sort Order:  

Three times fell into the same hole are enough! 20 mistakes are too much.. Nice poetry @permieemmy..