Make your own recovery the first priority in your life. (Robin Norwood)
We’ve probably all heard or read the following anonymous Autobiography in Five Short Chapters numerous times. I know I have, but as I engaged in the same darned argument with my spouse today, somehow magically thinking, I guess, that this time it would turn out better, you would never have known it. And so, humbled, one more time I pulled myself out of the hole into which I’d fallen, and trudged onward — at least this time I didn’t have to go through all five stanzas of this little ditty, and that’s something, I suppose. Read on . . .
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 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 this 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 there. I still fall in . . . it is a habit . . . but, my eyes are open . . . I know where I am. It is my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.
IV.
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.
V.
I walk down another street.