Selfishness — self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. ~ Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition (Kindle Locations 1019-1020).
The root. The basic cause, source or origin.
The essential substance or nature.
Established deeply and firmly.
Selfishness, self-centeredness.
That is the root of our troubles.
But we feed these roots, encourage them,
nurture them, develop them, propagate them.
Our fears are the nutrients, our self-delusion
the fertilizers, self-seeking aerates the soil,
our self-pity waters them with tears.
The plant thrives. With prickly spines,
thorns, barbs, spikes! We nourish the plant
and it turns on us, betrays us, poisons our lives
and those around us. And our fellows
don't turn on the vicious plant but on us.
And the drama continues until —
selfishness and self-centeredness
no longer control our lives.
The essential substance or nature.
Established deeply and firmly.
Selfishness, self-centeredness.
That is the root of our troubles.
But we feed these roots, encourage them,
nurture them, develop them, propagate them.
Our fears are the nutrients, our self-delusion
the fertilizers, self-seeking aerates the soil,
our self-pity waters them with tears.
The plant thrives. With prickly spines,
thorns, barbs, spikes! We nourish the plant
and it turns on us, betrays us, poisons our lives
and those around us. And our fellows
don't turn on the vicious plant but on us.
And the drama continues until —
selfishness and self-centeredness
no longer control our lives.
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