“Truly,
the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation”.
Lao Tzu, author of theTao Te Ching.
Little is
known about Lao Tzu, the sage who lived – according to some scholars - 600 to
300 BC in China.
In spite
of the mysteries surrounding this ancient sage, his wisdom is as valuable today
as it was over 2000 years ago. The tools we pick up in the 12-step program help us in the self-transformation to which he refers.
Before we
transformed ourselves by working the steps, many of us were a drain on society.
Because of my addictions and alcoholism I spent over 16 years as a guest of
various governmental agencies who were punishing me for my bad behavior. And rightly so.
While the
price I paid might seem severe by today’s standards, my consequences were
compatible with what was done by the legal system at the time. In the 50s and 60s we never
heard of treatment programs. And the disease concept of addiction wasn’t as
widespread as today. So when people committed crimes to get drugs the reaction
of the legal community was incarceration. And at taxpayer expense.
But when we
transform ourselves it is a gift to the world. All of a sudden, instead of
being takers, we are givers. We give back to the world. We make amends. We
start righting the wrongs we've done to the community.
We support
our children and start to care for our families. We find jobs and become
taxpayers once more. Instead of draining the community we enhance it.
Self-transformation makes us different human beings who begin to reap the benefits
of a new life.
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