I have been going through all of my business and personal paperwork in order to get Paula (the new owner of Mountain Girl Organics) whatever I think she may want or need, as well as to continue the process of whittling down in preparation for our next sit (i.e. how will we fit all of it into the 4Runner?).
While whittling, I found a wrinkled photocopy of a photocopy tucked away in my “Important Papers” file. It was given to me several years ago by someone who knew me well. I am glad I kept it…
A Journey Into Enlightenment * In Five Short Chapters
Chapter 1: I walk down a 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 my 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. 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 is 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 a different street.
I have made a lot of progress in the few years since I read this last…even still it is a relevant read, a simple yet effective reminder. It is time again to make some changes. Time to walk down a different street.
OK, we are almost at our next sit (Tennessee)…more about my changes soon!
Would love to hear from any of you that can relate to this little story – perhaps we can support each other in our changes for the better…
That’s a wonderful piece!
I’ve been thinking of writing a book about all of the holes I’ve fallen in, but I think it would be more like a set of encyclopedias. You know, those really big Funk and Wagnalls encyclopedias?
SOOOOO much has changed, but I’m sure to fall in more holes and some of the same ones more than once, I’m sure. 🙂
TeeHee Christine…imagine us just a couple of years ago at the Evergreen Farmers’ Market…neither of us had any idea what adventures lay ahead, did we? One never knows what life is going to throw one’s way! I hope we will continue to marvel at it all as the years go by. By the way, we are in TN now. My card is here somewhere…can’t wait to open it in the morning!
You can get busy livin’ or you can get busy dyin’….that’s my favorite self-enlightenment quote straight out of Stephen King’s script for the Shawshank Redeption. I prefer to “get busy livin'” and to do so and to stay forever young does not require botox but requires us to change our direction and “walk down a different street” on a fairly regular basis !!! Glad you and Paul have the hearts of youth and that you two are Livin’ life better than anyone else I know!
Catherine, isn’t that one of the best films ever? I can’t read his scary stuff any more…but what an amazing writer Stephen King is. I love his book “On Writing”…what a fascinating man. Love hearing from you…thank you for your constant company out here in Blogsville – maybe one day you will catch the bloggin’ bug yourself?!? XOX
I’ve been procrastinating lately by just staring zombie-like into the television, and as I do it I am thinking, “30min of gone by…an hour…an hour and a half.” Feeling miserable for being so unproductive, while still consciously falling into the hole and just sitting in the dark.
Creative metaphor. Its simplicity captures so much.
I am putting pen to paper this week – so much to write – mostly in response to your letter. My adult life was spent sans TV up until my thirties (when I met Paul). He had five TV’s when I met him. We currently have zero – but of course there are tellies where we house sit.
Some shows are fun and educational (like the Amazing Race) and some are good for my soul (I laugh at loud at The Vicar of Dibley) but most of what is on TV produces a zombie-like stare from me as well. Lots to tell you…will be a better pen-pal now that we are hunkering here in TN for the winter – promise!
But wait; back to TV for a sec. Very happy that when it was just my mom and I growing up, there was no TV involved. I doubt I would be so in love with books if it weren’t for her reading me bedtime stories every night. It has been a few days since you commented here. Have you crawled out of the hole yet? Are you walking down a different street?
Valynne, I love how you say, “when it was just my mom and I growing up…” 🙂
On TV: I grew up as a TV junkie, it was a family thing. We would keep chips and “corn curls” in gallon ice cream buckets and we’d each get a snacking bucket. Really!! I’ve gotten my TV watching under control and have had periods of my life where I didn’t have a TV (by choice). Now that I have my own child I would like to get rid of our TV, but Simon likes TV so I must compromise and we watch about an hour a day. I miss my days of reckless abandon when I would lay on the couch for an entire weekend watching movies (and nursing hangovers).
I just hope Oliver doesn’t become a TV junkie who eats snacks out of gallon sized food barrels and gets to be too wide to sit on the couch. Every time the TV is turned on I worry about how much he loves to stare at the screen! 🙁
1. Great!
2. Eh, somewhat. I mean it is more of a small hole, relative to some of the pitfalls one experiences in life. This is merely some mindless procrastination. I am hoping to change streets come winter break though, and get back to some leisurely reading.
But looking forward to your letter. BTW, new address (25 at Port Imperial). Same town and address though.