Avoid the Pitfalls: Autobiography in 5 Short Chapters

I recently came across a poem by Portia Nelson that talks about a hole in the sidewalk and how being creatures of habit we continue to fall into the same hole even after we become aware of the hole.

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
Chapter One of My Life: I walk down the street. There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost. I am helpless. It isn’t my fault. It still takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter Two: I walk down the same street. There’s 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. And it still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter Three: I walk down the same street. There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it 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’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.
Chapter Five: I walk down a different street.
― Portia Nelson, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery

There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk by Portia Nelson is a book of quick, humorous and inspirational bits that can enlighten your day. She first released, what she referred to as a book of “pieces of me”, in 1977. Since then, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk has gone on to become a well-loved classic. In this timeless classic, Portia has shared with us a legacy that will last the ages. After all, as Portia says:

“Knowing one’s own feelings and being able to trust them is the difference between existing and living.”

Take 5 minutes today to think about something you keep doing over and over again that isn’t good for you, and which you would like to change.

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