Poem – Autobiography in Five Chapters by Portia Nelson

The following poem or short story – Autobiography in Five Chapters by Portia Nelson reminds me about gift of life and how sometimes we are just not paying attention or are living life on auto-pilot. The beauty is – it can be changed.

 

ONE
I walk down the street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost…I am hopeless
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
 
TWO
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the side walk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I’m in the same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
 
THREE
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the side walk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in…it’s a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It’s my fault.  (responsibility?)
I get out immediately.
 
FOUR
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the side walk.
I walk around it.
 
FIVE
I walk down another street.
 
What does this poem – Autobiography in Five Chapters remind you of?
 
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24 Comments

  • LeeAnne

    Reply Reply December 1, 2018

    This is by Sogyal Rinpoche from the Book of Living and Dying.

    • Jane

      Reply Reply December 1, 2018

      Thanks LeeAnne – I’ve seen it in several places. Thanks for letting me know – not sure who the ‘original’ author is 🙂

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