Every year around the beginning of December I am getting a wonderful present from my German friends Bernd and Carmen, an Advent Calendar, produced by the Andere-Zeiten-Team.

This time I would like to share with you one story from it:

"Autobiography in Five Short Chapters", written by Portia Nelson (1920-2001):
Chapter 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 me 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 can't believe I am in the 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 ... it's a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.