There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

Alyce Sorokie, the author of Gut Wisdom, Understanding and Improving Digestive Health, shared a powerful poem during a recent presentation in Chicago. I’d like to share it with you.

Chapter 1

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 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 am in the same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes me 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.
― Portia Nelson, 1977, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery

 

This is a description of noticing that we may not be aware of what we are doing. We may need to learn to notice, to become aware, and place a higher value on being completely present. We can become our own seers. We can understand that we are in control. We have choices. We are what we think about.

 

Five chapters and dogs.

This applies to our canine clients, as well as ourselves.

I believe that these are the kinds of things that dogs address and resolve during, after, and with consistent ongoing PetMassage_TM.

I believe that these are the kinds of things that dogs’ owners address and resolve during, after, and with consistent ongoing PetMassage_TM.

I believe that these are the kinds of things that we practitioners address and resolve as we become more proficient at providing PetMassage_TM.