AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS
by Portia Nelson
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
I walk down another street.
_____________________________
When you get to truly understand this story at the very core of your being then you have found the key to changing your life.
This simple story was such an amazing gift to me. I remember sitting on a mat in a retreat when the facilitator read this story out. It struck a chord so deep in my soul as to never be the same again.
When you can remove yourself from your story. When you can sit back and examine the movie that is your life without judgment, and when you can accept that it is only through being present to your life that you can change. Then a whole new Universe awaits you.