<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" dir="auto" class=""><div class="">To Step off a Hundred Foot Pole</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><i style="font-size: 14px;" class="">The koan asks: If you can step forward and reveal yourself fully, there will be no place where you are called dishonorable. So, right now, tell me. How do you step forward from the top of the hundred-foot pole?</i></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Start your day with </div><div class="">Three assumptions: you are</div><div class="">Safe. You have enough.</div><div class="">You cannot get life wrong. </div><div class="">Now, step out and live. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Foolish, I know. Knowing that</div><div class="">Danger, like dragons</div><div class="">Waits for so many,</div><div class="">Knowing hunger is inheritance to</div><div class="">Too many. Missteps must be</div><div class="">Avoided lest vulnerability</div><div class="">Be exposed. Still too many</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">With plenty</div><div class="">Start days with</div><div class="">Three assumptions: danger</div><div class="">Is all around. More is needed.</div><div class="">You will likely</div><div class="">Get life wrong, make mistakes</div><div class="">Expose vulnerability. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">It is to those, I say,</div><div class="">Start your day with</div><div class="">Three assumptions: strangers</div><div class="">Are ones you haven’t yet met. </div><div class="">You have enough to share. </div><div class="">Life itself can’t be wrong.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">It’s to those I say,</div><div class="">Safe, you’ll find</div><div class="">Those unlike you more</div><div class="">Like you. Satisfied </div><div class="">With enough, the grip</div><div class="">Of greed loosens, generosity</div><div class="">Becomes routine, normal.</div><div class="">Mistakes will reveal themselves</div><div class="">As unlocked doors.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Safe, satisfied, secure</div><div class="">We are able to step off</div><div class="">That hundred foot pole,</div><div class="">Feel the wind wave</div><div class="">Through our one body.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">So to you I say, Start your day</div><div class="">Knowing you are safe,</div><div class="">You have enough,</div><div class="">You cannot get life wrong.</div><div class="">Now take that step.</div><div class="">The universe is here to hold you.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Rebecca del Rio </div><div class=""><br class=""></div></div></body></html>