by Portia Nelson

Autobiography in Five Chapters
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 forever to find a way out.

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'm in the same place..... But it isn't my fault..... It still takes a long time to get out.

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.

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

5) I walk down a DIFFERENT street.