Originally Posted by Lindy

A long time ago, when I was still with my practicing alcoholic husband, my Alanon sponsor showed this to me. I'm working from memory, but I think I have it mostly right. She said that it was hard for me to tell the difference between real change, and what just looked like change. Like having an alcoholic boyfriend instead of an alcoholic husband was probably only a Chapter Two or Three change. She kept telling me that I still had a ways to go to get to Chapter Five....
Lindy

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

I.
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.


II.
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 a long time to get out.


III.
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.


IV.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.


V.
I walk down a different street.