Thoughts For The Day~*~Happiness^*^*^*^*^ June 2, 2007

 ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Happiness
^*^*^
"I feel myself a useful member of the human race at last.
I have something to contribute to humanity,
since I am peculiarly qualified, as a fellow-sufferer,
to give aid and comfort to those who have
stumbled and fallen over this business
of meeting life.
I get my greatest thrill of accomplishment
from the knowledge that I have played a part
in the new happiness achieved
by countless others like myself."
©1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 229
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

The joy is in the journey, so enjoy the ride.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
B E S T  =  Been Enjoying Sobriety Today?

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

The 5th Step Promises

Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing: 

We are delighted.  We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and ease.  Our fears fall from us.  We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator.  We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience. The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly.   We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe.

Carefully reading the first five proposals we ask if we have ommitted anything, for we are building an arch through which we shall walk a free man at last.

© 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg 75

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
THE UPWARD PATH

Here are the steps we took . . .  

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 59

These are the words that lead into the Twelve Steps.   In their direct
simplicity they sweep aside all psychological and philosophical
considerations about the rightness of the Steps.   They describe what I did:
I took the Steps and sobriety was the result.   These words do not imply that
I should walk the well-trodden path of those who went before, but rather that
there is a way for me to become sober and that it is a way I shall have to
find.   It is a new path, one that leads to infinite light at the top of the
mountain.   The Steps advise me about the footholds that are safe and about
chasms to avoid.   They provide me with the tools I need during the many
parts of the solitary journey of my soul.   When I speak of this journey, I
share my experience, strength and hope with others.

©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Without Anger

Suppose A.A. falls under sharp public attack or heavy ridicule, having little
or no justification in fact. Our best defense in these situations would be no
defense whatever--namely, complete silence at the public level. If in good
humor we let unreasonable critics alone, they are apt to subside the more
quickly. If their attacks persist and it is plain that they are misinformed,
it may be wise to communicate with them privately in a temperate and
informative way.
If, however, a given criticism of A.A. is partly or wholly justified, it may
be well to acknowledge this privately to the critics, together with our
thanks.
But under no conditions should we exhibit anger or any punitive intent.
<<<>>>
What we must recognize is that we exult in some of our defects.
Self-righteous anger can be very enjoyable. In a perverse way we can actually take satisfaction from the fact that many people annoy us; it brings a
comfortable feeling of superiority.

1. TWELVE CONCEPTS, P. 74
2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 66-67

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Most alcoholics owe money. We do not dodge our creditors. Telling
them what we are trying to do, we make no bones about our drinking;
they usually know it anyway, whether we think so or not. Nor are we
afraid of disclosing our alcoholism on the theory it may cause
financial harm. Approached in this way, the most ruthless creditor
will sometimes surprise us. Arranging the best deal we can we let
these people know we are sorry. Our drinking has made us slow to
pay.
We must lose our fear of creditors no matter how far we have to go,
for we are liable to drink if we are afraid to face them."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 78~

*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

Some more things I do not miss since becoming dry: wondering if the car is in the garage and how I got home; struggling to remember where I was and what I did since my last conscious moment; trying to delay getting off to work, and wondering how I will look when I get there; dreading the day ahead of me. I'm quite sure that I don't miss these things, am I not?

Meditation for the Day

You cannot believe in God and keep your selfish ways. The old self shrivels
up and dies, and upon the reborn soul God's image becomes stamped. The
gradual elimination of selfishness in the growth of love for God and your
fellow human beings is the goal of life. At first, you have only a faint
likeness to the Divine, but the picture grows and takes on more and more of
the likeness of God until those who see you can see in you some of the power of God's grace at work in a human life.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may develop that faint likeness I have to the Divine. I pray
that others may see in me some of the power of God's grace at work.

©Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012©

---

See what's free at AOL.com.

Thoughts For The Day~*~Four Horsemen ^*^*^*^*^ June 1, 2007

 ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Four Horsemen
^*^*^
"The less people tolerated us,
the more we withdrew from society, from life itself. 
As we became subjects of King Alcohol,
shivering denizens of his mad realm,
the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down. 
It thickened, ever becoming blacker. 
Some of us sought out sordid places,
hoping to find understanding companionship and approval. 
Momentarily we did - then would come oblivion
and the awful awakening
to face the hideous Four Horsemen -
Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, Despair. 
Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand!"
©1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 151
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

Alcohol gave me wings to fly,
and then it took away the sky.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*

A A  =  Absolute Abstinence

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Conception

From "Back to the Fundamentals":

"The answer I was looking for was on page 12, in Ebby's words to Bill: '"Why don't you choose your own conception of God?"'

"'I've tried everything else,' I thought, 'and I've got no place else to go. I might just as well.' I sat down at my desk, got a pad of paper and a pencil, and asked myself, 'If you could pick the kind of God that you could believe in, what would He be like?' I bore in mind the facts that I was an alcoholic and that I had been a perfectionist all my life. The world was never perfect enough for me. Everything that I ever believed in, every ideal that I ever followed turned out to have feet of clay. Here was my chance. For the first time in my life, I could create something perfect. All right!

"I wrote across the page, 'God is the perfection I've been searching for all my life. He is too perfect to have human characteristics and faults.' That was the start.

"Then I wrote, 'God is the ultimate perfection. He is the perfect love, the perfect truth, the perfect goodness, the perfect understanding, tolerance, mercy, forgiveness. God is so perfect that no matter how evil, how unclean we may be, He'll forgive us if we ask, and grant us strength to overcome our shortcomings.'"

© 1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30^th printing 2004, pgs. 63-64

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
A CHANGED OUTLOOK

Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84

When I was drinking, my attitude was totally selfish, totally self-centered;
my pleasure and my comfort came first. 
Now that I am sober, self-seeking has started to slip away. 
My whole attitude toward life and other people is
changing.  For me, the first "A" in our name stands for attitude.  My
attitude is changed by the second "A" in our name, which stands for action. 
By working the Steps, attending meetings, and carrying the message,
I can be restored to sanity.  Action is the magic word!  With a positive, helpful
attitude and regular A.A.  action, I can stay sober and help others to
achieve sobriety.  My attitude now is that I am willing to go to any length
to stay sober!

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Miraculous Power

Deep down in every man, woman, and child is the fundamental idea of a God. It may be obscured by calamity, by pomp, by worship of other things, but in some form or other it is there. For faith in a Power greater than ourselves, and miraculous demonstrations of that Power in human lives are facts as old as man himself.
<<<>>>
"Faith may often be given through inspired teaching or a convincing personal example of its fruits. It may sometimes be had through reason. For instance, many clergymen believe that St. Thomas Aquinas actually proved God's existence by sheer logic. But what can one do when all these channels fail? This was my own grievous dilemma.
"It was only when I came fully to believe I was powerless over alcohol, only
when I appealed to a God who just might exist, that I experienced a spiritual
awakening. This freedom-giving experience came first, and then faith followed afterward--a gift indeed!"

1. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 55
2. LETTER, 1966
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Actually we were fooling ourselves, for deep down in every man,
woman, and child, is the fundamental idea of God. It may be obscured
by calamity, by pomp, by worship of other things, but in some form
or other it is there. For faith in a Power greater than ourselves, and
miraculous demonstrations of that power in human lives, are facts as
old as man himself."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 55~

*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

Some things I do not miss since becoming dry: that overall awful feeling
physically, including the shakes, a splitting headache, pains in my arms and
legs, bleary eyes, fluttering stomach, droopy shoulders, weak knees, a
three-day beard, and a flushed complexion. Also, facing my loved one at
breakfast. Also, composing the alibi and sticking to it. Also, trying to
shave or put on make-up with a shaky hand. Also, opening up my wallet to find it empty. I don't miss these things, do I?

Meditation for the Day

You were born with a spark of the Divine within you. It had been all but
smothered by the life you were living. That celestial fire has to be tended
and fed so that it will grow eventually into a real desire to live the right
way. By trying to do the will of God, you grow more and more in the new way of life. By thinking of God, praying to Him, and having communion with Him, you gradually grow more like Him. The way of your transformation from the material to the spiritual is the way of Divine Companionship.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may tend the spark of the Divine within me so that it will
grow. I pray that I may be gradually transformed from the old life to the new life.

©Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012©

---

See what's free at AOL.com.

Thoughts For The Day~*~Sponsorship ~*~May 31, 2007

 ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Sponsorship
^*^*^
"Dr. Bob led me through all of these Steps.
At the moral inventory,
he brought up some of my bad personality traits
or character defects, such as selfishness,
conceit, jealousy, carelessness, intolerance,
ill-temper, sarcasm and resentments.
We went over these at great length and then
he finally asked me if I wanted these defects of character
taken away.
When I said yes, we both knelt at his desk and prayed . . .
If I live to be a hundred, this will always stand out in my mind.
I wish that every AA could have the benefit of this type
of sponsorship today."
©1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 292
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

A recovering alcoholic without a sponsor
is much like a ship without a rudder.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S P O N S O R =
Sober Person Offering Newcomer Support Of Recovery

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

 

Funding

From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":

"These New York drunks just do not believe it. Some take it as a joke, and the rest talk high and holy about mixing a spiritual enterprise with money and promotion. But if they really did think that the book would sell, they would buy the stock all right, and fast. So why don't we go up and see The Reader's Digest people and find out if they will print a piece about our fellowship and this book? If the Digest runs an article about us, we will sell those books by the carloads. Anybody can see this, even these tightwad drunks. So what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

"Two days later at Pleasantville, New York, we sat in the office of Mr. Kenneth Payne, then managing editor of the Digest. … 'When your book is ready next spring, let me know and I think we can put a feature writer to work. This should be a great story.' …

"Henry and I reached for our hats and sped for New York. Now we had real ammunition. That very night we started a fresh canvass, and the former doubters began to sign up."

© 2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 158

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
READINESS TO SERVE OTHERS

. . . our Society has concluded that it has but one high mission -- to carry the A.A. message to those who don't know there's a way out.

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 151

The "Light" to freedom shines bright on my fellow alcoholics as each one of
us challenges the other to grow.   The "Steps" to self-improvement have small beginnings, but each Step builds the "ladder" out of the pit of despair to new hope.   Honesty becomes my "tool" to unfurl the "chains" which bound me.   A sponsor, who is a caring listener, can help me to truly hear the message guiding me to freedom.

I ask God for the courage to live in such a way that the Fellowship may be a
testimony to His favor.   This mission frees me to share my gifts of wellness
through a spirit of readiness to serve others.

©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Start by Forgiving

The moment we ponder a twisted or broken relationship with another person, our emotions go on the defensive. To escape looking at the wrongs we have done another, we resentfully focus on the wrong he has done us. Triumphantly we seize upon his slightest misbehavior as the perfect excuse for minimizing or forgetting our own.
Right here we need to fetch ourselves up sharply. Let's remember that alcoholics are not the only ones bedeviled by sick emotions. In many
instances we are really dealing with fellow sufferers, people whose woes we have increased. If we are about to ask forgiveness for ourselves, why shouldn't we start out by forgiving them, one and all?

TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 78

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"...we have ceased fighting anything or anyone even alcohol."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 84~

*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

I shall not wait to be drafted for service to A.A. I Shall volunteer. I shall
be loyal in my attendance, generous in my giving, kind in my criticism, creative in my suggestions, loving in my attitudes. I shall give to A.A. my interest, my enthusiasm, my devotion, and most of all, myself Do I also accept this as my AA. credo?

Meditation for the Day

Prayer is of many kinds, but of whatever kind, prayer is the linking up of the soul and mind to God. So, if prayer is only a glance of faith, a look or a word of love, or just a feeling of confidence in the goodness and purpose in the universe, still the result of that prayer is added strength to meet all temptations and to overcome them. Even if no supplication is expressed, all the supply of strength that is necessary is secured, because the soul, being linked and united to God, receives from Him all spiritual help needed. The soul, when in its human body, still needs the things belonging to its heavenly habitation.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be taught how to pray. I pray that I may be linked through prayer to the mind and will of God.

©Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012©

---

See what's free at AOL.com.

Thoughts For The Day~*~Unity ^*^*^*^*^ May 30, 2007

 ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Unity
^*^*^
" 'Practically never have I heard a heated religious, political,
or reform argument among AA members. 
So long as we don't argue these matters privately,
it's a cinch we never shall publicly.'
As by some deep instinct, we AA's have known
from the very beginning that we must never,
no matter what the provocation,
publicly take sides in any fight, even a worthy one. . .

. . . We do not enter into public controversy,
because we know that our Society will perish if it does.
We conceive the survival and spread
of Alcoholics Anonymous to be
something of far greater importance
than the weight we could collectively
throw back of any other cause."
©1952AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 176-77
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

Attitudes are contagious.
Is yours worth catching?

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
BUT
Being Unconvinced Totally

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

 

 

Realization

From "It Might Have Been Worse":

"Most certainly I was powerless over alcohol, and for me, my life had become unmanageable. It wasn't how far I had gone, but where I was headed. It was important to me to see what alcohol had done to me and would continue to do if I didn't have help.

"At first it was a shock to realize I was an alcoholic, but the realization that there was hope made it easier. The baffling problem of getting drunk when I had every intention of staying sober was simplified. It was a great relief to know I didn't have to drink any more."

© 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 354

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE

The more A.A. sticks to its primary purpose, the greater will be its helpful influence everywhere.

A.A. COMES OF AGE, p.109

It is with gratitude that I reflect on the early days of our Fellowship and those wise and loving "foresteppers" who proclaimed that we should not be diverted from our primary purpose, that of carrying the message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

I desire to impart respect to those who labor in the field of alcoholism, being ever mindful that A.A. endorses no causes other than its own. I must remember that A.A. has no monopoly on miracle-making and I remain humbly grateful to a loving God who made A.A. possible.

©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
No Boundaries

Meditation is something which can always be further developed. It has no boundaries, of width or height or depth. Aided by such instruction and example as we can find, it is essentially an individual adventure, something which each one of us works out in his own way. But its object is always the same: to improve our conscious contact with God, with His grace, wisdom, and love.
And let's always remember that meditation is in reality intensely practical. One of its first fruits is emotional balance. With it we can broaden and deepen the channel between ourselves and God as we understand Him.

TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 101-102
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends, this is an experience you must not miss."

Alcoholics Anonymous,  Working With Others, pg. 89
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

I am part of A.A., one among many, but I am one. I need the A.A. principles for the development of the buried life within me. A.A. may be human in its organization, but it is Divine in its purpose. The purpose is to point me toward God and a better life. Participating in the privilege of the movement, I shall share in the responsibilities, taking it upon myself to carry my fair share of the load, not grudgingly but joyfully. To the extent that I fail in my responsibilities, A.A. fails. To the extent that I succeed, A.A. succeeds.
Do I accept this as my AA. credo?

Meditation for the Day

"Praise the Lord." What does praising God mean? It means being grateful for all the wonderful things in the universe and for all the blessings in your life. So praise God by being grateful and humble. Praise of this kind has more power to vanquish evil than has mere resignation. The truly grateful and humble person, who is always praising God, is not tempted to do wrong. You will have a feeling of security because you know that fundamentally all is
well. So look up to God and praise Him.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be grateful for all my blessings. I pray that I may be
humble because I know that I do not deserve them.

©Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012©

---

See what's free at AOL.com.