AL-ANON PARABLES
AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS
By Portia Nelson
CHAPTER 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.
CHAPTER 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 the same place.
but, it's not my fault.
It takes a long time to get out.
SCENE III
I walk down the same street.
There is 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.
SCENE IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
SCENE V
I walk down another street.


Things I've Learned (or should have)!
I've learned-
that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.

I've learned -
that no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.

I've learned -
that it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned -
that it's not what you have in your life
but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned -
that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you'd better know something.

I've learned -
that you shouldn't compare
yourself to the best others can do.

I've learned -
that you can do something in an instant
that will give you heart-ache for life.

I've learned -
that it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

I've learned -
that you should leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned -
that you can keep going
long after you think you can't.

I've learned -
that we are responsible for what we do,
no matter how we feel.

I've learned -
that you either control your attitude
or it controls you.

I've learned -
that regardless of how hot and steamy
a relationship is at first, the passion fades
and then there had better be something
else to take it's place.

I've learned -
that heros are the people
who do what has to be done
when it has to be done,
regardless of the consequences.

I've learned -
that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned -
that sometimes the people you expect
to kick you when you're down
will be the ones to help you get back up.

I've learned -
that true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I've learned -
that just because someone doesn't love
you the way you want them to doesn't
mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned -
that maturity has more to do with
what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them
and less to do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.

I've learned -
that you should never tell a child
their dreams are unlikely or outlandish.
Few things are more humiliating, and
what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.

I've learned -
that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while,
and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned -
that it isn't enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I've learned -
that no matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned -
that our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned -
that just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned -
that we don't have to change friends
if we understand that friends change.

I've learned -
that when you are eager to find out a secret,
Know that it could change your life forever.

I've learned -
that two people can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.

I've learned -
that no matter how you try to protect your children,
they will eventually get hurt
and you will hurt in the process.

I've learned -
that your life can be changed in a matter
of hours, by people who don't even know you.

I've learned -
that even when you think you have no more
to give; when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.

I've learned -
that credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.

I've learned -
that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.

I've learned -
that it's hard to determine where to draw
the line between being nice and not hurting
people's feelings, and standing up
for what you believe.

Donated by my friend in Michigan,
Linda (Squishy)

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