'B' is for 'Biography'. One of the most influential poems I have ever read, is by Portia Nelson. Slightly adapted here for the UK!

Chapter I

I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the pavement.

I fall in.

I am lost... I am helpless.

It isn't my fault.

It takes me forever to find a way out.

Chapter II

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the pavement.

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 a long time to get out.

Chapter III

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the pavement.

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 IV

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the pavement.

I walk around it.

Chapter V

I walk down another street.

Without doubt, one of the most important lessons we must learn is that we have a larger role to play in writing our life story, our life script, our own drama that we have ever been credited for. This is why Portia Nelson's poem is called, "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters" and not "Biography..."

I realise that, technically, I'm cheating here. Today's blog should be under the letter "A" but my belief is that we all start at the letter "B" as if other people are responsible for writing our biography.

This is understandable given that we have to grow up largely dependent upon others. But maturity is a coming of age rite of passage where we take responsibility for our role in what happens next.

It's a great moment in everyone's life when we each realise that we can go from B to A and take responsibility for the roles we play, the cast we surround ourselves with, the plot we follow, and the happy ending we can work towards. Perhaps this is Life's greatest work.

Is it time to switch roles?

Is it time to change the cast?

Is it time to write in a change of plot?

And what do you really want in the end? What's really most important to you?

Lex

A Moodscope member.