Thoughts For The Day~*~Fact ^*^*^ August 6, 2008

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Fact
^*^*^
"The explanation that alcoholism was a disease
of a two fold nature,
an allergy of the body and an obsession of the mind,
cleared up a number of puzzling questions for me.
The allergy we could do nothing about.
Somehow our bodies had reached the point
where we could no longer absorb alcohol in our systems.
The why is not important;
the fact is that one drink will set up a reaction in our system
which requires more;
that one drink was too much
and one hundred drinks were not enough."
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 380
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

I've only given up one drink ... the next one.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
B O G G L E  =  Bad Or Good, God Loves Everyone

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
 

Life on Life's Terms

From: "Grounded" 

I was found guilty and sentenced to sixteen months in federal prison. My two codefendants received twelve-month sentences and chose to remain free pending appeals, while I chose to go into prison and get it over. I had learned how to live life on life's terms and not my own. From somewhere back in my high school days, I remembered a poem that says something to the effect of, "Cowards die a thousand deaths, a brave man only once," and I wanted to do what had to be done. I was terrified of walking into prison but told my children that I could not come out the back door until I walked through the front. I remembered that courage was not the absence of fear; it was the ability to continue in the face of it.

2001, AAWS, Inc., Alcoholics Anonymous, page 526 

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
DRIVEN  

Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS,  p. 62

My selfishness was the driving force behind my drinking.  I drank to celebrate success and I drank to drown my sorrows.  Humility is the answer.  I learn to turn my will and my life over to the care of God.  My sponsor tells me that service keeps me sober.  Today I ask myself:  Have I sought knowledge of  God's will for me?  Have I done service for my A.A. group?

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Happy - When We're Free

For most normal folks, drinking means release from care, boredom, and worry. It means joyous intimacy with friends and a feeling that life is good.
But not so with us in those last days of heavy drinking. The old pleasures
were gone. There was an insistent yearning to enjoy life as we once did and a heartbreaking delusion that some new miracle of control would enable us to do it. There was always one more attempt -- and one more failure.

<<<>>>
We are sure God would like to see us happy, joyous, and free. Hence, we
cannot subscribe to the belief that this life necessarily has to be a vale of
tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it became clear that
most of the time we had made our own misery.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - 1. p. 151 - 2. p. 133
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"In dealing with resentments, we set them on paper. We listed
people, institutions or principles with whom we were angry. We asked
ourselves why we were angry. In most cases it was found that our
self-esteem, our pocketbooks, our ambitions, our personal
relationships,(including sex) were hurt or threatened."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 64~

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

Psychologists are turning to religion because just knowing
about ourselves is not enough. We need the added dynamic of
faith in a power outside of ourselves on which we can rely.
Books on psychology and psychiatric treatments are not
enough without the strength that comes from faith in God.
And clergy and rabbis are turning to psychology because
faith is an act of the mind and will. Religion must be
presented in psychological terms to some extent in order
to satisfy the modem person. Faith must be built largely
on our own psychological experience. Have I taken what I
need from both psychology and religion when I live the
AA. way?

Meditation for the Day

Refilling with the spirit is something you need every day.
For this refilling with the spirit, you need these times of
quiet communion, away, alone, without noise, without
activity. You need this dwelling apart, this shutting
yourself away in the very secret place of your being, away
alone with your Maker. From these times of communion you
come forth with new power. This refilling is the best
preparation for effective work. When you are spiritually
filled, there is no work too hard for you.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be daily refilled with the right spirit.
I pray that I may be full of the joy of true living.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

---

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Fellowship ^*^*^ August 5, 2008

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Fellowship
^*^*^
"The fellowship I found in AA enabled me
to face my problem honestly and squarely.
I couldn't do it among my relatives,
I couldn't do it among my friends.
No one likes to admit they're a drunk,
that they can't control this thing.
But when we come into AA,
we can face our problem honestly and openly.
I went to closed meetings and open meetings.
And I took everything that AA had to give me.
It was at that point I reached surrender."
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 340
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

We honor the spirit in other people when we listen to them.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
C A R E  =  Comforting And Reassuring Each other.

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

Everybody Gains

Tradition Eight: Alcoholics Anonymous should remain nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers. 

It is significant, now that almost no A.A. in our Fellowship breaks anonymity at the public level, that nearly all these fears have subsided. We see that we have no right or need to discourage A.A.'s who wish to work as individuals in these wider fields. It would be actually antisocial were we to forbid them. We cannot declare A.A. such a closed corporation that we keep our knowledge and experience top secret. If an A.A. member acting as a citizen can become a better researcher, educator, personnel officer, then why not? Everybody gains, and we have lost nothing. True, some of the projects to which A.A.'s have attached themselves have been ill-conceived, but that makes not the slightest difference with the principle involved.

 

1981, AAWS, Inc., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 171

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
LISTENING DEEPLY

How persistently we claim the right to decide all by
ourselves just what we shall think and just how we shall act.

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 37

If I accept and act upon the advice of those who have
made the program work for themselves, I have a chance to
outgrow the limits of the past. Some problems will shrink
to nothingness, while others may require patient, well-thought-out action.
Listening deeply when others share
can develop intuition in handling problems which arise
unexpectedly. It is usually best for me to avoid impetuous
action. Attending a meeting or calling a fellow A. A.
member will usually reduce tension enough to bring relief
to a desperate sufferer like me. Sharing problems at
meetings with other alcoholics to whom I relate, or
privately with my sponsor, can change aspects of the
positions in which I find myself. Character defects are
identified and I begin to see how they work against me.
When I put my faith in the spiritual power of the program,
when I trust other to teach me what I need to do to have a
better life, I find that I can trust myself to do what is
necessary.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Hope Born from Hopelessness
Letter to Dr. Carl Jung:

"Most conversion experiences, whatever their variety, do have a common
denominator of ego collapse at depth. The individual faces an impossible
dilemma.
"In my case the dilemma had been created by my compulsive drinking, and the deep feeling of hopelessness had been vastly deepened by my doctor. It was deepened still more by my alcoholic friend when he acquainted me with your verdict of hopelessness respecting Rowland H. "In the wake of my spiritual experience there came a vision of a society of
alcoholics. If each sufferer were to carry the news of the scientific
hopelessness of alcoholism to each new prospect, he might be able to lay
every newcomer wide open to a transforming spiritual experience. This concept proved to be the foundation of such success as A.A. has since achieved."

GRAPEVINE, JANUARY 1963
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"More than most people, the alcoholic leads a double life. He is very
much the actor. To the outer world he presents his stage character.
This is the one he likes his fellows to see. He wants to enjoy a
certain reputation, but knows in his heart he doesn't deserve it."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 73~

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

We in A.A. are offering a spiritual program. The fundamental
basis of A.A. is belief in some Power greater than ourselves.
This belief takes us off the center of the universe and
allows us to transfer our problems to some power outside of
ourselves. We turn to this Power for the strength we need to
get sober and stay sober. We put our drink problem in God's
hands and leave it there. We stop trying to run our own life
and seek to let God run it for us. Do I do my best to give
spiritual help?

Meditation for the Day

God is your healer and your strength. You do not have to ask
Him to come to you. He is always with you in spirit. At your
moment of need He is there to help you. Could you know God's
love and His desire to help you, you would know that He needs
no pleading for help. Your need is God's opportunity. You must
learn to rely on God's strength whenever you need it. Whenever
you feel inadequate to any situation, you should realize that
the feeling of inadequacy is disloyalty to God. Just say to
yourself. I know that God is with me and wild help me to think
and say and do the right thing,

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may never feel inadequate to any situation. I pray
that I may be buoyed up by the feeling that God is with me.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

---

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Resentment ^*^*^ August 4, 2008

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Resentment
^*^*^
"If you have a resentment you want to be rid of,
if you will pray for the person or the thing you resent,
you will be free.
If you will ask in prayer for everything
you want for yourself to be given to them,
you will be free.
Ask for their health, their prosperity, their happiness,
and you will be free.
Even when you don't really want it for them,
and your prayers are only words
and you don't mean it, go ahead and do it anyway.
Do it every day for two weeks and you will find
you have come to mean it and to want it for them,
and you will realize that where you used to feel
bitterness and resentment and hatred,
you now feel compassionate understanding
and love."
1952AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 552
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

An expectation is a premeditated resentment.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F E A R  =  Frustration, Ego, Anxiety, Resentment

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

 

No Control Whatever

From: "More About Alcoholism" 

A man of thirty was doing a great deal of spree drinking. He was very nervous in the morning after these bouts and quieted himself with more liquor. He was ambitious to succeed in business, but saw that he would get nowhere if he drank at all. Once he started, he had no control whatever. He made up his mind that until he had been successful in business and had retired, he would not touch another drop. An exceptional man, he remained bone dry for twenty-five years and retired at the age of fifty-five, after a successful and happy business career. Then he fell victim to a belief which practically every alcoholic has - that his long period of sobriety and self-discipline had qualified him to drink as other men. Out came his carpet slippers and a bottle. In two months he was in a hospital, puzzled and humiliated. He tried to regulate his drinking for a while, making several trips to the hospital meantime. Then, gathering all his forces, he attempted to stop altogether and found he could not. Every means of solving his problem which money could buy was at his disposal. Every attempt failed. Though a robust man at retirement, he went to pieces quickly and was dead within four years

 

2001, AAWS, Inc., Alcoholics Anonymous, pages 32-33

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
SEEDS OF FAITH

Faith, to be sure, is necessary, but faith alone can avail nothing.  We can have faith, yet keep God out of our lives.                                  

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 34

As a child I constantly questioned the existence of God. To a  "scientific thinker" like me, no answer could withstand a thorough dissection, until a very patient woman finally said to me, "You must have faith." With that simple statement, the seeds of my recovery were sown!

Today, as I practice my recovery -- cutting back the weeds of alcoholism -- slowly I am letting those early seeds of faith grow and bloom.  Each day of recovery, of ardent gardening, brings the Higher Power of my understanding more fully into my life.  My God has always been with me through faith, but it is my responsibility to have the willingness to accept His presence.

I ask God to grant me the willingness to do His will.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
After the "Honeymoon"

"For most of us, the first years of A.A. are something like a honeymoon.
There is a new and potent reason to stay alive, joyful activity aplenty. For
a time, we are diverted from the main life problems. That is all to the good.
"But when the honeymoon has worn off, we are obliged to take our lumps, like other people. This is where the testing starts. Maybe the group has pushed us onto the side lines. Maybe difficulties have intensified at home, or in the world outside. Then the old behavior patterns reappear. How well we recognize and deal with them reveals the extent of our progress."

<<<>>>

The wise have always known that no one can make much of his life until
self-searching becomes a regular habit, until he is able to admit and accept
what he finds, and until he patiently and persistently tries to correct what
is wrong.

1. LETTER, 1954 - 2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 88
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. 'Do I now
believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power
greater than myself?' As soon as a man can say that he does believe,
or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on
his way. It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this
simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be
built."

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 47
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

We in A.A. are offering a kind of psychological program as
well as a spiritual one. First, people must be mentally
able to receive it. They must have made up their minds
that they want to quit drinking, and they must be willing
to do something about it. Their confidence must be obtained.
We must show them that we are their friends and really
desire to help them. When we have their confidence, they
will listen to us. Then the A.A. fellowship is a kind of
group therapy. Newcomers need the fellowship of other
alcoholics who understand their problem because they have
had it themselves. Individuals must learn to reeducate
their minds. They must learn to think differently. Do I
do my best to give mental help?

Meditation for the Day

"And this is life eternal, that they may know Thee." It is
the flow of life eternal through spirit, mind, and body
that cleanses, heals, restores, and renews. Seek conscious
contact with God more and more each day. Make God an
abiding presence during the day. Be conscious of His spirit
helping you. All that is done without God's spirit is
passing. All that is done with God's spirit is life
eternal.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be in the stream of eternal life. I pray
that I may be cleansed and healed by the Eternal Spirit.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

---

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Vigilance ^*^*^ August 3, 2008

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Vigilance
^*^*^
"Now that we're in AA and sober,
and winning back the esteem of our friends
and business associates,
we find that we still need to exercise special vigilance.
As an insurance against 'big-shot-ism'
we can often check ourselves by remembering
that we are today sober only by the grace of God
and that any success we may be having
is far more His success than ours."
1952AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 92
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing ...
my sobriety.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
P U T  =  Patience, Understanding, Tolerance

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
 

Change

From "A New Man":

"But the real miracle was what happened to him in the next ten years. He began helping people. I mean helping! No call has been too hard, too inconvenient, too 'hopeless.' He founded the A.A. group in his town, and he is embarrassed if you mention this to others or comment on the amount of A.A. work he is doing.

"He is not the same man I was trying to twelfth-step. I failed in all my efforts to help the man I knew. And then Someone else provided a new man. - Bernardsville, New Jersey, USA"

1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30^th printing 2004, pg. 15

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
. . .TO BE OF SERVICE

Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us.                   
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 77

It is clear that God's plan for me is expressed through love.  God loved me enough to take me from alleys and jails so that I could be made a useful participant in His world.  My response is to love all of His children through service and by example.  I ask God to help me imitate His love for me through my love for others.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Constructive Workouts

There are those in A.A. whom we call "destructive" critics. They power-drive, they are "politickers," they make accusations to gain their ends -- all for
the good of A.A., of course! But we have learned that these folks need not be really destructive.
We ought to listen carefully to what they say. Sometimes they are telling the
whole truth; at other times, a little truth. If we are within their range,
the whole truth, the half-truth, or no truth at all can prove equally
unpleasant to us. If they have got the whole truth, or even a little truth,
then we had better thank them and get on with our respective inventories,
admitting we were wrong. If they are talking nonsense, we can ignore it, or
else try to persuade them. Failing this, we can be sorry they are too sick to
listen, and we can try to forget the whole business.
There are few better means of self-survey and of developing patience than the workouts these usually well-meaning but erratic members so often afford us.

TWELVE CONCEPTS, p. 41
*~*~*~*~*^ 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, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 89~

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

We in A.A. must remember that we are offering something intangible. We are
offering a psychological and spiritual program. We are not offering a medical program. If people need medical treatment, we call in a doctor. If they need
a medical prescription, we let the doctor prescribe for them. if they need
hospital treatment, we let the hospital take care of them. Our vital A.A.
work begins when a person is physically able to receive it. Am I willing to
leave medical care to the doctors?

Meditation for the Day

Each moment of your day which you devote to this new way of life is a gift to God. The gift of the moments. Even when your desire to serve God is sincere, it is not an easy thing to give Him many of these moments: the daily things you had planned to do, given, up gladly so that you can perform a good service or say a kind word. If you can see Gods purpose in many situations, it will be easier to give Him many moments of your day. Every situation has two interpretations -- your own and God's. Try to handle each situation in the way you believe God would have it handled.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may make my day count somewhat for God. I pray that I may not
spend it all selfishly.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 5501

---

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