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There's a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery
by
Insightful, humorous, touching, and inspiring are just a few words used to describe this well-loved collection of poems and truisms by the late Portia Nelson. Designed to inspire self discovery, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk includes stirring poems that gently lead readers to embrace a more authentic self.
Individuals, therapy groups, the self-help community, and twelve-ste ...more
Individuals, therapy groups, the self-help community, and twelve-ste ...more
Paperback, 144 pages
Published
March 1st 1994
by Atria Books/Beyond Words
(first published January 1st 1988)
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Start your review of There's a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery
An Autobiography in Five Short Chapters - Portia Nelson
Chapter One
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.
Chapter Two
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.
Chapter Three
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the si ...more
Chapter One
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.
Chapter Two
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.
Chapter Three
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the si ...more
There are so many people who will spend hours trying to read a book about self-discovery...trying to learn more about themselves and how to take control of their life. There are so many times the world will love to see you crash and burn and never rise up again. It is still unknown why the world does this but we humans learn to adapt and try and rise from the ashes like a phoenix and try to be stronger than before.
But we need help, we need guidance and where do people turn to for that? Books. B ...more
But we need help, we need guidance and where do people turn to for that? Books. B ...more
This book needs more love. There are some true words of wisdom in here, from a woman who has been around. I think i got it when i was 15. I took it everywhere with me. It's been through everything with me. If it ever turned into a person, it would know my deepest secrets. I have lovingly worn the crap out of it to the point where it barely has a cover now and it's abused with highlighting and pen everywhere. I would always write down my responses to what she said lol As if she was there listenin
...more
The author skillfully express self awareness in delicate but direct terms. Simple to read, can be taken in short segments. This book doesn't tell you what to do, but rather make you think about who you are.
...more
I really don't know why this book has such great reviews and is considered a wonderful self help book. The best part of the book is "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters", which I indeed like a lot. The rest of he book is poorly written and edited with silly thoughts printed on paper. There were a couple of well-written pieces that had some substance but most of it was not very insightful.
...more
I was given this book years ago and read excerpts, but just picked it up again to read it through.
What a delightful, funny, realistic read! I found my self saying over and over, "That's exactly what I feel!", "Ha I thought that too!"
All should read it to help them understand themselves, their relationships and restore their sanity! ...more
What a delightful, funny, realistic read! I found my self saying over and over, "That's exactly what I feel!", "Ha I thought that too!"
All should read it to help them understand themselves, their relationships and restore their sanity! ...more
This was a great book full of poems that show how one can lead to self discovery. It is full of practical advice, especially in terms of relationships and how one can lose themselves in the mist of one and then how to discover yourself after and during. This is a great book that shows how life really works.
I adore this book! Autobiography in 5 Short Chapters (the poem) has meant a lot to me over the years. I just learned about the book recently. So much of it resonates with me but from a different perspective of self discovery.
I am astounded
at how long it takes
to discover...
for the first time,
the things I have learned...
over and over again
all my life.
I am astounded
at how long it takes
to discover...
for the first time,
the things I have learned...
over and over again
all my life.
This is a short, quick book to read but has a wealth of wisdom to reflect on. I will be rereading it from time to time because it is the kind of book that will always have something new because you will always read it from a different mindset and the words will be fresh for a new state of mind.
Amazing book of quotes...I could relate to each one of them intimately as if the author was talking to me about my own life...a must read for every seeker.
Someone recommended this to me after telling me about "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters," which I had never heard of but is apparently famous. It's probably the best part of this little book. The rest are like little emo tweets, each on their own page.
...more
What an incredibly true and beautiful book.
Brilliant in pieces !
The book is brilliant in pieces and those pieces are quite few. The piece titled "Autobiography in five short chapters" still stands out. ...more
The book is brilliant in pieces and those pieces are quite few. The piece titled "Autobiography in five short chapters" still stands out. ...more
Loved this book. Both simple and deep. It was a beautiful surprise.
Very easy read but yet complex! Beautifully written. I’ll reread it often.
My Grandmother grew up with Portia and didn't have a bad word to say about her . I was thrilled to learn she had written a book ! The poetry is beautiful and real .
...more
This book felt like someone was reading my self-talk. My subconscious on paper. It was often eye-opening to see insecure thoughts written out in front of you as if you wrote them. A lot of the poems are also just fun to read and quirky little poems . It was a nice easy ready but also powerful to see other people talk like this to themselves too.
this is one of those slap-in-your face, mic-drop, simple-truths that everyone needs every once in a while.
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Readers also enjoyed
Portia Nelson was a true renaissance woman: author, singer, composer, lyricist, painter, photographer, and actress. She has appeared in such films as The Sound of Music, Dr. Doolittle, The Trouble with Angels, and The Other, and she appeared on the television soap opera, All My Children, as Mrs. Gurney for many years. She appeared in Broadway in the award-winning musical The Golden Apple.
Over the ...more
Over the ...more
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“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.
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.
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.
walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
I walk down another street.”
—
496 likes
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.
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.
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.
walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
I walk down another street.”
“Chapter One of My Life. 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 still takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter Two. I walk down the same street. There's 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. And it still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter Three. I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it 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 Four. I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.
Chapter Five. I walk down a different street.”
—
66 likes
More quotes…
I am lost. I am helpless. It isn't my fault. It still takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter Two. I walk down the same street. There's 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. And it still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter Three. I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it 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 Four. I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.
Chapter Five. I walk down a different street.”
