Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

After all my talk of responsibility, honesty, and integrity last week - the weekend came and I still over ate and had some wine. I started to beat myself up last night, then I realized that the best thing for me to do was to give myself a clean slate and start anew today. How many times have I done that in the past though? When will I change my bad habit forever? I realize that I can't keep doing the same thing week after week after week, and expect different results. Something has to change. Something needs to change. I was reminded of this poem that I have seen many times, but now I get it. I am in chapter three - and have been for quite sometime. My next step is to go around the habit and then walk down a different street. And, then the next step is to change my not so great habit into a great positive habit by walking down another street and creating new habits. What chapter are you in?


Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

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 forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2

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 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. But 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.
 

Thanks to American actress and author Portia Nelson for the poem.