Is This Your Life?

Today's poem is from Portia Nelson's book of poetic musings, There's a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery. It became a mainstay of twelve-step programs. Jane lived a fascinating and inspiring life. She was a singer, actress, (she was Sister Berthe in the film version of The Sound of Music); poet, and inspirational writer. Her life story can be found here.

We can all see ourselves in "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters". It's a story of hard-won wisdom!

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 pretend I don’t see it.

I fall in again.

I can’t believe I am in the same place.

But, it isn’t my fault.

It still takes me 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…but,

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.​

- from Portia Nelson, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery

- About Portia Nelson

Actress Jane Russell said that when Portia sang; "Her lyrics were sung with such understanding that you felt you'd heard a poem sung".

- Recording of "Let Me Love You" sung by Portia Nelson