May 7, 2011

  • DOWN MEMORY LANE

     

    Memory might be the ultimate recording device, predating Edison, the printing press and stories told round the campfire by moonlight. What seems new has its roots in history, buried in a time capsule and resurrected in real-time formats.

     All mental health professionals, whatever their specialty/expertise, appear to agree on this axiom:

     NO ONE REPEATS AN ACTION UNLESS THERE IS SOME DESIRED REWARD, NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE, RECOGNIZED OR NOT, AS ITS CONSEQUENCE.

     Witness a mouse in endless pursuit of non-existant cheese at the end of a tunnel.

     Insanity is repeating an action over and over expecting a different result.

     The accumulation of memory replayed results in programming, useful in tivo-ing “Dancing With the Stars”- or taking piano lessons.

     

     In the mid 1990’s, when the nation was dealing with massive welfare issues, many recipients were poorly schooled, unmarried mothers.

     

     As a divorced single mom I reared two children alone, without alimony, not realizing it couldn’t be done (being able to see through glass ceilings). But I was educated and talented. Knowing that less fortunate women were bound only by patterns of parenting and politics, I founded a nonprofit organization to offer hands-up assistance, training and new interview outfits.

     In our workshops at SuitAbility, we gave each participant a copy of this powerful piece.

     AUTOBIOGRAPHY in FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS
    by Portia Nelson 
     

    1

    I WALK DOWN THE STREET.

    THERE IS A DEEP HOLE IN THE SIDEWALK.

    I FALL IN.

    IAM LOST…IAM HELPLESS.

    IT ISN’T MY FAULT.

    IT TAKES FOREVER TO FIND A WAYOUT.

     

    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 AM IN THE SAME PLACE.

    BUT IT ISN’T MY FAULT.

    IT STILL TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET OUT.

     

    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’S A HABIT.

    MY EYES ARE OPEN.

    I KNOW WHERE I AM.

    IT IS MY FAULT.

    I GET OUT IMMEDIATELY.

     

    4

     I WALK DOWN THE SAME STREET

    THERE IS A DEEP HOLE IN THE SIDEWALK.

    I WALK AROUND IT.

     

     5

     I WALK DOWN ANOTHER STREET.

     

    ..