A woman walks down a street. She’s mindlessly eating something, so she doesn’t see the great big hole. The woman falls into the hole. It’s dark and she is alone. She cries out for help, but no one is there. Finally, someone walks by. She explains how she got into the hole. The passerby lectures her on all the foolish things she did that landed her in the hole and told her not to do them anymore. All true, but it didn’t help her find a way out of the hole. Some other people walk by and commiserate with her. They bring back some cookies and chips and drop them into the hole. A minister comes by and prays with her, but she’s still in the hole. More people go by; they drop in books, self-help literature, and even a pamphlet on a so-called surgical fix. Nothing gets her out of the hole. In fact, the hole is a sinkhole and has been getting deeper and darker. She’s now farther away than ever. She hears another person walking by. She explains what happened and everything all the others have tried to do. When suddenly, this stranger jumps into the hole with her. “Oh My God! What are you doing? Are crazy? Now we’re both trapped in this damn hole!” she said. The stranger just smiled and laughed saying, “No, no - it’s fine. You see, I’ve been stuck in this kind of hole before. And I know the way out. Follow this plan, and we’ll get you out together. You are not alone.” At first it’s hard and takes real effort, but the stranger teaches the plan and cheers her on. Slowly but surely, she’s making her way out of the hole. All along the way, more strangers show up with support, and new tools to help. When she finally makes it out of the hole and back into the light, she looks all around for the stranger who jumped in and all the other strangers who helped her to get out of that damn hole.
But all the strangers are gone – everywhere she looks, she finds only friends.
This is just one version of the story, but it could be your story too.
Why Weight Watchers? Because it works!
Woman in Hole –
Slenderella Newman
Passerby(s) – Names withheld for privacy
Stranger Who Jumped In –
Teresa WW Rose
Strangers Who Helped – My Weight Watchers Buddies and members of Teresa’s Tribe
sounds like a new take on the poem: There Is A Hole in My Sidewalk
ReplyDeleteChapter 1.
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 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 cant believe I am in this same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter 3.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in… its a habit.
But, my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter 4.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter 5.
I walk down another street.
It absolutely is! It's my WW version of it.
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeletejust started ww last week and pulled up a nyt article that you posted to. Enjoyed your comments and glad to find your blog. thanks for the uber-inspiration!
ReplyDeletetrixila