March 4
WEEDING THE GARDEN
The essence of all growth is a willingness to make a change for the better and then an unremitting willingness
to shoulder whatever responsibility this entails.
—
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 115
By the time I had reached Step Three I had been freed of my dependence on alcohol, but bitter experience has
shown me that continuous sobriety requires continuous effort. Every now and then I pause to take a good look at
my progress. More and more of my garden is weeded each time I look, but each time I also find new weeds
sprouting where I thought I had made my final pass with the blade. As I head back to get the newly sprouted
weed (it’s easier when they are young), I take a moment to admire how lush the growing vegetables and
flowers are, and my labors are rewarded. My sobriety grows and bears fruit.
Copyrighted © 1990. Reprinted with permission by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.