before you have to start feeding the meter.

A very simple guide. A meditation in words and photos By Todd Vogel

Getting back up

There really isn’t any choice

None of this is new.

You already know much of it.

The trick is...

Three aspects:

The sky has fallen

(Chicken Little was right)

The ant’s eye view of the world.

Learn the lessons, leave the rest.

This book has lots of pictures.

Use them as much as the words -

maybe more.

The Sky has fallen I

Boom!

It doesn’t matter

if you saw the truck coming - or not.

If you were jaywalking

or standing on the sidewalk.

Not when have tread marks running up

your back.

The sky has fallen II

The first instinct is

to watch the truck

as it keeps on driving away.

You wait for the brake lights to come on

even though it is much too late.

The sky has fallen III

Pretty soon

you are all alone

VERY

alone.

The ant’s eye view I

With your face in the dirt

it seems

that is all there is.

Ants eye view II

The pain

alternates with anger

and fear

further diminishing

your view.

Ant’s eye view III

Finally a voice comes through

“Hey, are you all right?”

What a silly question.

Take a deep breath.

lift your head

Turn the page.

Learn the lesson - leave the rest I

You are stronger

than you think.

And if you lie in the street any longer

you are going to have to put money in the

parking meter.

Learn the lesson II

Despite everything,

you can not deny

the beauty of the universe

forever.

Leave the rest III

The best revenge is getting

your joy back.

Now, was that so hard?

Photos and text by Todd Vogel Copyright 2010 all rights reserved