Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

Chapter One
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 forever to find a way out.

Chapter Two
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend that I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter Three
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 … but, my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter Four
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter Five
I walk down another street.

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters, by Portia Nelson

(thank you Sorella)

12 Comments leave a comment below

  1. I love this. Very entertaining. Perfect for a society that likes to insure information quickly and easily.

    Robert Scozzari
    Mar 16th, 2012 / 10:35 am

  2. Love it!

    Charlotte
    Mar 16th, 2012 / 11:05 am

  3. This is genius! Love it.

    Ashley
    Mar 16th, 2012 / 2:27 pm

  4. I loved this story. It reminds me of Berna Wang (http://lamiradaoblicua.bitako.com/). I know it’s not the same, but it makes me feel the same way.

    The Slow Pace
    Mar 16th, 2012 / 5:08 pm

  5. Wow. In wich chapter am I?
    So simple, so deep.

    bethania
    Mar 17th, 2012 / 9:53 am

  6. Women in their fourthies are playing Chapter five. It is not so adventurous like in the other chapters, but tears are less. Genius story!

    Mel
    Mar 18th, 2012 / 4:18 am

  7. Love it. Finally getting the teachable moment.

    Kathleen
    Mar 18th, 2012 / 4:57 pm

  8. you know it’s true when it makes you smile and say aw man you got me…

    Diane Sullivan
    Mar 18th, 2012 / 10:27 pm

  9. brilliant!!!! i think im between chapter two and three :)

    Julia
    Mar 20th, 2012 / 2:29 pm

  10. yep! it’s your call…

    janice almond
    Mar 30th, 2012 / 12:10 pm

  11. Chapter Six

    I walk down another street.
    There is a dirty puddle in the sidewalk.
    I see it there.
    I’m used to walk around holes.
    I step in…

    Olek
    Apr 13th, 2012 / 1:40 am

  12. This is a story that was given to me by one of my teachers my very first semester at Phoenix College. That was three years ago and I graduated in May. I’ve always remembered it.

    stacey
    Jul 7th, 2012 / 7:25 am