~*~Step Eleven Group~*~: 6/28/20

Saturday, July 04, 2020

During the Pandemic

~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~

^*^*^*^*^
(\ ~~ /)
( \(AA)/ )
(_ /AA\ _)
/AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Simplicity

"A willingness to do whatever I was told to do simplified the program for me. Study the A.A. book - don't just read it. They told me to go to meetings, and I still do at every available opportunity, whether I am at home or in some other city. Attending meetings has never been a chore for me. Nor have I attended them with a feeling of just doing my duty. Meetings are both relaxing and refreshing to me after a hard day. They said 'Get active' so I helped whenever I could, and still do."
1976 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 381

Thought to Consider . . .

The ankle-biters of everyday struggles will eat away at me unless I go to meetings and call my sponsor.

*~*AACRONYMS*~*

A C T I O N
Any Change Toward Improving One's Nature

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

Steps
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"It might be a long time before readers of the book in distant places and lands could be personally contacted. Therefore our literature would have to be as clear and comprehensive as possible. Our steps would have to be more explicit. There must not be a single loophole through which the rationalizing alcoholic could wiggle out.
Finally I [Bill W.] started to write. I set out to draft more than six steps; how many more I did not know. I relaxed and asked for guidance. With a speed that was astonishing, considering my jangling emotions, I completed the first draft. It took perhaps half an hour. The words kept right on coming. When I reached a stopping point, I numbered the new steps. They added up to twelve."
2001 AAWS Inc.
Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 161

*^Daily Reflections^*

A NEW DIRECTION

Our human resources, as marshalled by the will, were not sufficient; they failed utterly . . . Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all our activities.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS p.45, 85

I hear talk of the "weak-willed" alcoholic, but I am one of the strongest-willed people on earth! I now know that my incredible strength of will is not enough to save my life. My problem is not one of "weakness," but rather of direction. When I, without falsely diminishing myself, accept my honest limitations and turn to God's guidance, my worst faults become my greatest assets. My strong will, rightly directed, keeps me working until the promises of the program become my daily reality.
Copyright 1990
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*

"The Only Requirement . . ."

"In Tradition Three, A.A. is really saying to every serious drinker, 'You are an A.A. member if you say so. You can declare yourself in; nobody can keep you out. No matter how low you've gone, no matter how grave your emotional complications - even your crimes - we don't want to keep you out. We just want to be sure that you get the same chance for sobriety that we've had.'"
<<< >>>
"We do not wish to deny anyone his chance to recover from alcoholism. We wish to be just as inclusive as we can, never exclusive."
1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 139
2. GRAPEVINE, AUGUST 1946

*~*^Big Book Quote^*~*

"Those having religious affiliations will find here nothing disturbing to their beliefs or ceremonies. There is no friction among us over such matters."
Alcoholics Anonymous 4th Edition
There Is A Solution, Page 28

*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*

A.A. Thought for the Day

Until we came into A.A. most of us had tried desperately to stop drinking. We were filled with the delusion that we could drink like our friends. We tried time and again to take it or leave it, but we could do neither. We always lapsed into ceaseless, unhappy drinking. Families, friends, and employers threw up their hands in hurt bewilderment, in despair, and finally in disgust. We wanted to stop. We realized that every reason for drinking was only a crazy excuse. Have I given up every excuse for drinking?

Meditation for the Day

Many things can upset you and you can easily get off the track. But remember that God is near you all the time, ready to help you if you call on Him. You cannot forever stand against God's will for you, nor can you, forever upset God's plan for your life, even though Gods plan may be postponed by your willfulness and deliberate choice of evil. A whole world of men and women cannot permanently change God's laws nor His purpose for the universe. The sea of life may look very rough to us, but we can believe that our Captain steers the boat on a straight course.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may try to steer a straight course. I pray that I may accept God's direction in my life's journey.
Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

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Friday, July 03, 2020

Thoughts For The Day~~Freedom ^^*^ July 4

Click Here For

Recovery Resources

During the Pandemic

~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~
^*^*^*^*^
(\ ~~ /)
( \(AA)/ )
(_ /AA\ _)
/AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Freedom

"Looking back we see that our freedom to choose badly was not, after all, a very real freedom. When we chose because we 'must,' this was not a free choice either. But it got us started in the right direction. When we chose because we 'ought to' we were really doing better. This time we were earning some freedom, making ourselves ready for more. But when, now and then, we could gladly make right choices without rebellion, holdout, or conflict, then we had our first view of what perfect freedom under God's will could be like."
Bill W., May 1960 1988 AA Grapevine
The Language of the Heart, p. 302

Thought to Consider . . .

Within our wonderful new world, we have found freedom from our fatal obsession.

*~*AACRONYMS*~*

F I N E
Free, Independent, New and Energetic

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

Acceptance

From "Happiness":

"Accept the things you cannot change. So simple. If the problem cannot be solved today why, simply drop it. I grant that this is not always easy; it takes self-discipline, a faculty infrequently found in newly sober alcoholics."
New Hartford, New York, USA
1973 AAWS Inc.
Came to Believe, 30^th printing 2004, pg. 111

*^Daily Reflections^*

A NATURAL FAITH

. . . 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, p. 55

I have seen the workings of the unseen God in A.A. rooms around the country. Miracles of recovery are everywhere in evidence. I now believe that God is in these rooms and in my heart. Today faith is as natural to me, a former agnostic, as breathing, eating and sleeping. The Twelve Steps have helped to change my life in many ways, but none is more effective than the acquisition of a Higher Power.
Copyright 1990
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*

Boomerang

"When I was ten, I was tall and gawky, and smaller kids could push me around in quarrels. I remember being very depressed for a year or more, and then I began to develop a fierce resolve to win. One day, my grandfather came along with a book about Australia and told me, 'This book says that nobody but an Australian bushman knows how to make and throw the boomerang.' 'Here's my chance,' I thought. 'I will be the first man in America to make and throw a boomerang.' Well, any kid could have had a notion like that. It might have lasted two days or two weeks. But mine was a power drive that kept on for six months, till I made a boomerang that swung around the church yard in front of the house and almost hit my grandfather in the head when it came back. Emotionally, I had begun the fashioning of another sort of boomerang, one that almost killed me later on.
A.A. comes of age, P. 53

*~*^Big Book Quote^*~*

"Sometimes we hear an alcoholic say that the only thing he needs to do is to keep sober. Certainly he must keep sober, for there will be no home if he doesn't. But he is yet a long way from making good to the wife or parents whom for years he has so shockingly treated."
Alcoholics Anonymous 4th Edition
Into Action, pg. 82

*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*

A.A. Thought For The Day

In Alcoholics Anonymous there is no thought of individual profit. No greed or gain. No membership fees, no dues. Only voluntary contributions of our money and ourselves. All that we hope for is sobriety and regeneration, so that we can live normal, respectable lives and can be recognized by others as men and women willing to do unto others as we would be done by. These things we accomplish by the help of each other, by following the twelve steps and by the grace of God. Am I willing to work for A.A. without material gain to myself?

Meditation For The Day

What is sometimes called by religion as conversion is often only the discovery of God as a friend in need. What is sometimes called religion is often only the experiencing of the help and strength of God's power in our lives. What is sometimes called holiness is often only the invitation of God to be our Friend. As God becomes your friend, you become a friend of others. We experience true human friendship and from this experience we can imagine what kind of Great Friend God can be. We believe Him to be a tireless, selfless, all conquering, miracle-working Friend. We can reach out to the Great Friend and figuratively take His hand in ours.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may think of God as a Great Friend in need. I pray that I may go along with Him.
Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

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Regardless of what service you use, search for "Transitions Daily" and subscribe. We also list a number of recovery podcasts at the bottom of www.DailyAAEmails.com.

Topics are posted Daily via Podcast, Email, and Facebook!

Thursday, July 02, 2020

Thoughts For The Day~~Discovery ^^*^ July 3

Click Here For
Recovery Resources
During the Pandemic

To Drop a Dollar
in the Virtual Basket Click Here

~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~

^*^*^*^*^
(\ ~~ /)
( \(AA)/ )
(_ /AA\ _)
/AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Discovery

"I knew from that moment that I had an alcoholic mind. I saw that will power and self-knowledge would not help in those strange mental blank spots. I had never been able to understand people who said that a problem had them hopelessly defeated. I knew then. It was a crushing blow."

1976

AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 42

Thought to Consider . . .

We live life in the moment but understand it looking back with the tool of gratitude.

*~*AACRONYMS*~*

S W A T
Surrender, Willingness, Acceptance, and Trust

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

Egoism
From "Medicine Looks at Alcoholics Anonymous":
"The fact of hitting bottom to produce a surrender which cut the ego to size was evident fairly soon. In time two additional facts manifested themselves. The first was that a reduced ego has marvelous recuperative powers. The second was that surrender is an essential disciplinary function and experience.
It is common knowledge that a return of the full-fledged ego can happen at any time. Years of sobriety are no insurance against its resurgence. No A.A., regardless of his veteran status, can ever relax his guard against the encroachments of a reviving ego. Recently one A.A., writing to another, reported that he was suffering, he feared, from 'halo-tosis,' a reference to the smugness and self-complacency which so easily can creep into the individual with years of sobriety behind him."
Dr. Harry Tiebout, M.D.
2001 AAWS, Inc.
Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 249

*^Daily Reflections^*

EXPERIENCE: THE BEST TEACHER

Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 87

Some say that experience is the best teacher, but I believe that experience is the only teacher. I have been able to learn of God's love for me only by the experience of my dependence on that love. At first I could not be sure of His direction in my life, but now I see that if I am to be bold enough to ask for His guidance, I must act as if He has provided it. I frequently ask God to help me remember that He has a path for me.
Copyright 1990
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*

Meeting Adversity

"Our spiritual and emotional growth in A.A. does not depend so deeply upon success as it does upon our failures and setbacks. If you will bear this in mind, I think that your slip will have the effect of kicking you upstairs, instead of down. We A.A.'s have had no better teacher than Old Man Adversity, except in those cases where we refuse to let him teach us."
<<< >>>
"Now and then all of us fall under heavy criticism. When we are angered and hurt, it's difficult not to retaliate in kind. Yet we can restrain ourselves and then probe ourselves, asking whether our critics were really right. If so, we can admit our defects to them. This usually clears the air for mutual understanding. Suppose our critics are being unfair. Then we can try calm persuasion. If they continue to rant, it is still possible for us - in our hearts - to forgive them. Maybe a sense of humor can be our saving grace - thus we can both forgive and forget."
1. LETTER, 1958
2. LETTER, 1966

*~*^Big Book Quote^*~*
"Do not be discouraged if your prospect does not respond at once. Search out another alcoholic and try again. You are sure to find someone desperate enough to accept with eagerness what you offer. We find it a waste of time to keep chasing a man who cannot or will not work with you. If you leave such a person alone, he may soon become convinced that he cannot recover by himself."
Alcoholics Anonymous 4th Edition
Working With Others, pg. 96

*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*

A.A. Thought for the Day

In the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous there were only two persons. Now there are many groups and thousands of members. True, the surface has only been scratched. There are probably ten million or more persons in America alone who need our help. More and more people are making a start in A.A. each day. In the case of individual members, the beginning has been accomplished when they admit they are powerless and turn to a Power greater than themselves, admitting that their lives have become unmanageable. That Higher Power works for good in all things and helps us to accomplish much in individual growth and in the growth of A.A. groups. Am I doing my part in helping A.A. to grow?

Meditation for the Day

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Only in the fullness of faith can the heart - sick and faint and weary be satisfied, healed, and rested. Think of the wonderful spiritual revelations still to be found by those who are trying to live the spiritual life. Much of life is spiritually unexplored country. Only to the consecrated and loving people who walk with God in spirit can these great spiritual discoveries be revealed. Keep going forward and keep growing in righteousness.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may not be held back by the material things of the world. I pray that I may let God lead me forward.
Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

You have 3 Options to Participate in Transitions Daily:

For iPhone

For Android

Regardless of what service you use, search for "Transitions Daily" and subscribe. We also list a number of recovery podcasts at the bottom of www.DailyAAEmails.com.

Topics are posted Daily via Podcast, Email, and Facebook!

~~Step Eleven Group~~

Saturday, July 04, 2020

Thoughts For The Day~~Simplicity ^^*^ July 5

Friday, July 03, 2020

Thoughts For The Day~~Freedom ^^*^ July 4

Thursday, July 02, 2020

Thoughts For The Day~~Discovery ^^*^ July 3

Followers

Blog Archive

Contributors

~*~Step Eleven Group~*~

Saturday, July 04, 2020

Thoughts For The Day~*~Simplicity ^*^*^ July 5

Friday, July 03, 2020

Thoughts For The Day~*~Freedom ^*^*^ July 4

Thursday, July 02, 2020

Thoughts For The Day~*~Discovery ^*^*^ July 3

Followers

Blog Archive

Contributors

~~Step Eleven Group~~

Thoughts For The Day~~Simplicity ^^*^ July 5

Thoughts For The Day~~Freedom ^^*^ July 4

Thoughts For The Day~~Discovery ^^*^ July 3