Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
By Portia Nelson, American singer, songwriter, actress and author (1920-2001)
Chapter I
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 II
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 III
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.Chapter IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.Chapter V
Portia Nelson from ‘There is a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery’
I walk down another street.
Let’s not stop learning. Or even better, help each other to learn more quickly…