The principle that we shall find no enduring strength until we first admit complete defeat is the main taproot from which our whole Society has sprung and flowered. ~ AA World Services Inc. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (pp. 21-22). AA World Services, Inc. Kindle Edition.

Complete defeat, the taproot
from which AA and therefore
more than forty other 12-step
recovery programs sprang
and flowered? It rings true,
that admitting complete defeat
is the required starting point.
It’s the first step, the one from which
the other eleven spring.
A taproot is a large, central,
and dominant root
from which other roots sprout laterally.
Typically a taproot is somewhat straight
and very thick, is tapering in shape,
and grows directly downward.
Surely our powerlessness demonstrated
by years of vowing to willpower through
demonstrate for me and I expect for you
prove the taproot qualities of defeat!