Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
by Portia Nelson

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.

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 belive I am in the same place, but it isn’t my fault.  It still takes a long time to get out.

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.

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

V :: I walk down another street.

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