Greetings from Roadtown / Tortola. I’ve had a story stuck in my head for days that my mentor, Wayne Dyer, used to love to tell. Songwriter Porta Nelson was asked in a seminar to describe her life in five chapters. In addition, she only had a small postcard. This is what she wrote:
Chapter 1 of my life
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I’m lost… I’m without hope.
It’s not my fault.
It takes forever to get out again.
Chapter 2 of my life
I’m walking down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend not to see it.
I fall back in.
I can’t believe I’m in the same place again.
But it’s not my fault.
It still takes a long time to come out.
Chapter 3 of my life
I’m walking down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it.
I still fall in… out of habit.
My eyes are open
I know where I am.
It’s my fault.
I’ll come out right away.
Chapter 4 of my life
I’m walking down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter 5 of my life
I’m going down a different road.
Porta Nelson’s five-chapter autobiography is a powerful and moving testimony of an incredible life’s journey. The five chapters take us on a journey of self-discovery, change and hope. Once we realize that we are responsible if we keep falling down the same hole on the same road, the way to a new road is open. It’s always up to us.
Have fun thinking about it.
