I walk Down The Street

“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 hopeless.

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 this same place.

But it isn’t my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 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… but,

my eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

Chapter IV

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

Chapter V

I walk down another street.”

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.

“Today the whole world may seemed to be spinning around you. In your practice tonight, operate from a grounded center of peace within you; like the axle of a wheel.” – David Scott

Let us look forward in hope and not backward in regret.

“Stop looking backwards. Happiness and success is about moving forward not backward. We have 1,440 minutes in a day, after sleep, we still have about 1,000 minutes awake. Do you ever ask yourself… ‘why do I spend so much of my mental energy and time dwelling on something in my past, when the past is the only place in my life that I am powerless to change.’ The present moment is the gateway and path towards our future. The present and future are only times in our lives that we actually have power to make a difference and change based on our attitude and perspective today.” – David Scott

“We waste so much energy trying to cover up who we are when beneath every attitude is the want to be loved, and beneath every anger is a wound to be healed and beneath every sadness is the fear that there will not be enough time.”

“The first step of healing, is just giving yourself permission to feel.” – David Scott

“Feelings that come back are feelings that never left.” – Frank Ocean

I held my fear by the hand and honored it for teaching me that happiness exists beyond the boundaries it creates.

When the mind feels wild and cloudy, it may be that something from deep within has come to the surface, an old burden seeking release. Breathe, relax and let it go. Young Pueblo.

Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.

Sometimes we go back and repeat an old mistake just so we can remember why we moved forward.

“The art of “knowing” is “knowing” what to ignore”

“Instead of putting others in their place, put yourself in their place.” Amish Proverb

“Compassion is a verb.” Thich Nhat Hanh

“Compassion is the wish to see others free from suffering.” Dalai Lama

“Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace”

“Grant yourself a moment of peace, and you will understand how foolishly you have scurried about. Learn to be silent, and you will notice that you have talked too much. Be kind, and you will realize that your judgment of others was too severe.” — Ancient Chinese Proverb

“Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.” – Pema Chodron

“There is no good or bad meditation — there is simply awareness or non-awareness. To begin with, we get distracted a lot. Over time, we get distracted less. Be gentle with your approach, be patient with the mind, and be kind to yourself along the way.” -Andy Puddicombe,

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” – Thich Nhat Hahn

“Distractions are everywhere. Notice what takes your attention, acknowledge it, and then let it go.”

“In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.”

“The heart of meditation is taking ourselves a little less seriously.”

“Meditation is a process of lightening up, of trusting the basic goodness of what we have and who we are, and of realizing that any wisdom that exists, exists in what we already have. We can lead our life so as to become more awake to who we are and what we’re doing rather than trying to improve or change or get rid of who we are or what we’re doing. The key is to wake up, to become more alert, more inquisitive and curious about ourselves.” – Pema Chodron

“With every breath, the old moment is lost; a new moment arrives. We exhale and we let go of the old moment. It is lost to us. In doing so, we let go of the person we used to be. We inhale and breathe in the moment that is becoming. In doing so, we welcome the person we are becoming. We repeat the process. This is meditation. This is renewal. This is life.” – Lama Surya Das

“Don’t hate the arising of thoughts or stop the thoughts that do arise. Simply realize that our original mind, right from the start, is beyond thought, so that no matter what, you never get involved with thoughts. Illuminate original mind, and no other understanding is necessary.” – Zen Master Bankei Yotaku

“Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.” Dalai Lama

“True meditation is about being fully present with everything that is including discomfort and challenges. It is not an escape from life.” ― Craig Hamilton

From Mother Theresa:

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you. Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.

“May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.” – Irish Blessing