An Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

A pot hole in New York (wikipedia)

American singer and actress, Portia Nelson (1920 – 2001), wrote this wonderful short poem in the 1970’s titled, “Autobiography in Five Short Chapters.”

It goes like this:

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.

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.

I love this poem as it so aptly describes the circumstances in which we can so often find ourselves.

My question for you today is simple.

Which chapter are you living?

Do you find yourself making the same mistakes over and over again, or have you learned to walk down a new street, one that has less potholes and will have you on track for future success?

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