I HATE DOING YARD WORK!!! Well, maybe hate is too strong a word, but generally I don’t look forward to cutting the grass, edging the grass, trimming the hedges, limbing the trees or weed-eating the weeds. And yet, mother-nature is relentless in her efforts to take back every bit of effort to tame the landscape.

Just as relentless and certain are the situations which arise in our lives which will challenge recovery. In the case of my yard work, I had to make a decision; let the situation overwhelm me or do the work. At first, I borrowed tools or got hand me downs from relatives or friends. Sometimes I purchased equipment, based mostly on the lowest price. Initially, it was hit and miss, but as my experience grew, I began to understand why people would say things like; “Here you can have this one. I’m gonna buy a gas one…I’m gonna get….(some name brand).” Frequently, step-dad would say “I see what the problem is; you don’t have anything to work with”; referring to the inferior quality of my tools. I ignored them a lot; or I thought I did but some of it seeped into my brain and sat there like a tiny annoyance.

No doubt, my love for yard work did not increase; but my knowledge gradually did. I followed the advice of others who were doing it and GOT BETTER TOOLS. Yippee things were going to be much better; and they were. So, over the years, when I did yard work it was much easier; year after year after year. I still didn’t like it very much, so I would often wait until it got kind of out of, would have a whole lot of work to do with tools which had waited months to be used.

Guess what? It began to get harder again and I couldn’t understand why. I’m sure my attitude didn’t help, but it literally got harder to actually use the tools and to remember techniques which had worked so many, many, many months ago. I would often have to mow the grass twice to get all the blades that were left bruised, but still standing, after being beaten with a mower blade (loosely stated) cutting edge. I was about to give up and let her have it all back. If she wanted this spot of land she could have it. After all it all really belongs to her anyway. And, as if on cue, my step-dad said “I see what the problem is; the @$#$#%% needs sharpening…when is the last time you used it, when is the last time you sharpened it?”

Feeling a little stupid, I softly answered “never.” I got it sharpened and also the cutting edges on my hedge clippers, the edger and small shears. I even paid some attention to the shovel. Guess what? It got easier again. I still don’t love yard work, but when I do have to do it, it’s a whole lot better than struggling against mother-nature and the tool itself. We know that in recovery we will face inevitable challenges. We are fortunate that there are those around us ready to give helpful, if not life saving, advice, to get the right tools from the right sources, such as counselors and sponsors and other alcoholics/addicts who have experience with recovery. We will take it a day at a time and meet challenges as they come, because as we know acting responsibly means taking care of today’s business today with the appropriate tools.

Using our tools, on a daily basis, as needed, will also keep us up on technique so that when (not if) the challenges come we can handle them with more confidence in our ability to be successful. Our tools and technique will be sharp. And if we are wise, we remember to be grateful and thank those who helped us along the way and pass it on