Maybe you’ve seen this before but I just found it in a book I was reading and loved it so much I had to share. It’s a poem entitled Autobiography in Five Short Chapters and was written by Portia Nelson. It addresses how often we make the same mistakes over and over unless we make some changes. 

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 my way out.

Chapter 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.

Chapter 3

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it 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.

• Have you read this piece before?
• Do you love it as much as I do?
• How likely are you to make the same mistake over and over?