No pain, no gain?

Daily Dhamma If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning. ~Frederick Douglass

The Frederick Douglass quote reminds me of something an old friend told me: "Linda, you are a like the tree that wants to bear fruit, but refuses to be pruned." She was right. I wanted to learn, but didn't want to be taught. I resented any advice or hint of criticism. I still don't like it much, but does anyone really? Even so-called constructive criticism? Nevertheless, in order to grow, we have to be pruned whether we like it or not.

One of the reasons 12-step programs work so well is that it is one sufferer talking to another sufferer. No one is talking down from a superior or professional position. They share their own experience, strength and hope. They don't lecture. They never tell someone what to do. They tell them what they did. There are other programs that operate basically the same way without the God factor. They work well too if the person is really interested in getting clean and sober or otherwise stopping whatever behavior they are engaging in that is killing them and making others crazy.

Graties ~

1. The oranges on one of my orange trees are finally ripe enough to eat.
2. Frugality can be a fun challenge.
3. My car is clean, inside and out.