I was read this poem last week by Helen at Mindfulness MK who was asking us to think about being in ‘Automatic Pilot’. I shared it with my students in class and was asked to post it – so here it is for you.

Autobiography in five short chapters – By Portia Nelson
Chapter One
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 Two
I walk down the same street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
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 Three
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 Four
I walk down the same street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I walk around it

Chapter Five
I walk down another street.