Saturday, October 05, 2024

Thoughts For The Day~*~Self-will ^*^*^ October 6

~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~    /)
(     \(AA)/     )
(_ /AA\ _)
/AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Self-will

"The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success. On that basis we are almost always in collision with something or somebody, even though our motives are good. Most people try to live by self-propulsion. Each person is like an actor who wants to run the whole show; is forever trying to arrange the lights, the ballet, the scenery and the rest of the players in his own way. If his arrangements would only stay put, if only people would do as he wished, the show would be great. Everybody, including himself, would be pleased.  Life would be wonderful."
c.1976 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 60-61

Thought to Consider . . .

Rule 62:  "Don't take yourself too damn seriously."

*~*AACRONYMS*~*

P R I D E
Pretty Ridiculous Individual Directing Everything

*~*^Just For Today!^*~*
 
Incredible Things
From: "To Employers" 

Your man has probably been trying to conceal a number of scrapes, perhaps pretty messy ones. They may be disgusting. You may be at a loss to understand how such a seemingly above-board chap could be so involved. But these scrapes can generally be charged, no matter how bad, to the abnormal action of alcohol on his mind. When drinking, or getting over a bout, an alcoholic, sometimes the model of honesty when normal, will do incredible things. Afterward, his revulsion will be terrible. Nearly always, these antics indicate nothing more than temporary conditions. 
2001, AAWS, Inc.
Alcoholics Anonymous, pages 140-141

*^Daily Reflections^*

FACING OURSELVES


. . . and Fear says, "You dare not look!"
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 49

How often I avoided a task in my drinking days, just because it appeared so large! Is it any wonder even if I have been sober for some time, that I will act that same way when faced with what appears to be a monumental job, such as a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself? What I discover after I have arrived at the other side - when my inventory is completed - is that the illusion was greater than the reality. The fear of facing myself kept me at a standstill and, until I became willing to put pencil to paper, I was arresting my growth based on an intangible.
Copyright 1990
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC
.


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


The Fine Art of Alibis


"The majority of A.A. members have suffered severely from self-justification during their drinking days. For most of us, self-justification was the maker of excuses for drinking and for all kinds of crazy and damaging conduct. We had made the invention of alibis a fine art. We had to drink because times were hard or times were good. We had to drink because at home we were smothered with love or got none at all. We had to drink because at work we were great successes or dismal failures. We had to drink because our nation had won a war or lost a peace. And so it went, ad infinitum."
<<< >>>

"To see how our own erratic emotions victimized us often took a long time. Where other people were concerned, we had to drop the word 'blame' from our speech and thought."

TWELVE AND TWELVE 1. pp. 46-47 - 2. p. 47


*~*^Big Book Quote^*~*

"We know that while the alcoholic keeps away from drink, as he may do for months or years, he reacts much like other men. We are equally positive that once he takes any alcohol whatever into his system, something happens, both in the bodily and mental sense, which makes it virtually impossible for him to stop. The experience of any alcoholic will abundantly confirm this."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition
There Is A Solution, pg. 22


*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*

A.A. Thought For The Day


Is it my desire to be a big shot in A.A.? Do I always want to be up front in the limelight? Do I feel that nobody else can do as good a job as I can? Or am I willing to take a seat in the back row once in a while and let somebody else carry the ball? Part of the effectiveness of any A.A. group is the development of new members to carry on, to take over, from the older members. Am I reluctant to give up authority? Do I try to carry the load for the whole group? If so, I am not being fair to the newer members. Do I realize that no one person is essential? Do I know that A.A. could carry on without me, if it had to?

Meditation For The Day

The Unseen God can help to make us truly grateful and humble. Since we cannot see God, we must believe in Him without seeing. What we can see clearly is the change in a human being, when he sincerely asks God for the strength to change. We should cling to faith in God and in His power to change our faith in God and in His power to change our ways. Our faith in all Unseen God will be rewarded by a useful and serviceable life. God will not fail to show us the way we should live. When in real gratitude and true humility we turn to Him.

Prayer For The Day


I pray that I may believe that God can change me. I pray that I may be always willing to be changed for the better.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City MN 55012



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Friday, October 04, 2024

Thoughts For The Day~*~Virtues ^*^*^ October 5

~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~
^*^*^*^*^

(\    ~~    /)
(     \(
AA)/     )
(_ /
AA
\ _)
/
AA\

^*^*^*^*^

Virtues

"We of A.A. are apt to brag of the virtues of our fellowship. Let us remember that none of these are earned virtues. We have been forced into them, to begin with, by the cruel lash of John Barleycorn. We have adopted these attitudes, these practices, this structure, not at first because we wished to but because we had to. And then, as time confirmed the seeming rightness of our basic principles, we began to conform because it was right to do so."
Bill W. c.1957 AAWS
Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 224


Thought to C
onsider . . . 

L
ife didn't end when I got sober - it started

*~*AACRONYMS*~*

G I F T S
Getting It From The Steps

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


Choices
From "The Seed of God":

"But my spiritual growth became stronger from the experiences of others. It was explained to me that I could freely choose a God of my understanding. At first, I thought I was committing a sin by trying to change God, but I soon realized that God was constant, and the only changes that had to be made were in my sick mind."
1973 AAWS, Inc.
Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pgs. 59-60

*^Daily Reflections^*

YESTERDAY'S BAGGAGE


For 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.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 88


I have more than enough to handle today, without dragging along yesterday's baggage too. I must balance today's books, if I am to have a chance tomorrow. So I ask myself if I have erred and how I can avoid repeating that particular behavior. Did I hurt anyone, did I help anyone, and why? Some of today is bound to spill over into tomorrow, but most of it need not if I make an honest daily inventory.
Copyright 1990
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.


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


Speak Up Without Fear


Few of us are anonymous so far as our daily contacts go. We have dropped anonymity at this level because we think our friends and associates ought to know about A.A. and what it has done for us. We also wish to lose the fear of admitting that we are alcoholics. Though we earnestly request reporters not to disclose our identities, we frequently speak before semi-public gatherings. We wish to convince audiences that our alcoholism is a sickness we no longer fear to discuss before anyone. If, however, we venture beyond this limit, we shall surely lose the principle of anonymity forever. If every A.A. felt free to publish his own name, picture, and story, we would soon be launched upon a vast orgy of personal publicity.
<<< >>>
"While the so-called public meeting is questioned by many A.A. members, I favor it myself providing only that anonymity is respected in press reports and that we ask nothing for ourselves except understanding."

1. GRAPEVINE, JANUARY 1946
2. LETTER, 1949


*~*^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


Do I have any hard feelings about other group members or for any other A.A. group? Am I critical of the way a group member thinks or acts? Do I feel that another group is operating in the wrong way and do I broadcast it? Or do I realize that all A.A. members, no matter what their limitations, have something to offer, some good, however little, that they can do for A.A. in spite of their handicaps? Do I believe that there is a place for all kinds of groups in A.A., provided they are following A.A. traditions, and that they can be effective even if I do not agree with their procedure? Am I tolerant of people and groups?

Meditation For The Day

"The Lord shall preserve Thy going out and Thy coming in, from this time forth and even forever more." All your movements, your goings and comings can be guided by the Unseen Spirit. Every visit to help another, every unselfish effort to assist, can be blessed by that Unseen Spirit. There can be a blessing on all you do, on every interview with one who is suffering. Every meeting of a need may not be a chance meeting, but it may have been planned by the Unseen Spirit. Led by the Spirit of the Lord, you can be tolerant, sympathetic, and understanding of others and so accomplish much.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may be led by the spirit of God. I pray that the Lord will preserve my goings and my comings.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012


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2. Subscribe to the Transitions Daily Podcast: We cannot sign you up for a podcast. Depending on your phone, you will need to pick a podcast provider. There are many free options. You'll need to investigate yourself or ask a friend who listens to podcasts to explain the process.

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We also list many recovery resources
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Thursday, October 03, 2024

Thoughts For The Day~*~Ground Zero ^*^*^ October 4

~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~
^*^*^*^*^

(\    ~~    /)
(     \(
AA)/     )
(_ /
AA
\ _)
/
AA\

^*^*^*^*^

Ground Zero

"War fever ran high in the New England town to which we new, young officers from Plattsburg were assigned, and we were flattered when the first citizens took us to their homes, making us feel heroic. Here was love, applause, war; moments sublime with intervals hilarious. I was part of life at last, and in the midst of the excitement I discovered liquor. I forgot the strong warnings and the prejudices of my people concerning drink. In time we sailed for 'Over There.' We landed in England. I visited Winchester Cathedral. Much moved, I wandered outside. My attention was caught by a doggerel on an old tombstone: 'Here lies a Hampshire Grenadier Who caught his death Drinking cold small beer . . .' Ominous warning - which I failed to heed."
Bill W., c.1976AAWS
Alcoholics Anonymous  p. 1

 
Thought to C
onsider . . .

I
have learned what the Grace of God feels like.


*~*AACRONYMS*~*

H E A R T
Healing, Enjoying, And Recovering, Together

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

Endorsement
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":

"The news wires carried the news of Mr. Rockefeller's [1940] dinner [planned by John D., Jr., but attended and moderated by his son, Nelson] all over the world. A few of the stories that appeared were somewhat lurid and ran under startling headlines. One headline informed the public: 'John D. Rockefeller dines tosspots.' But all the stories plugged A.A. just the same; even the tabloids gave us the glad hand. The total effect was to give Alcoholics Anonymous a public status of dignity and worth. Thus encouraged, considerable numbers of people went to their bookstores to buy the A.A. book. Orders poured in and our financial difficulties were much eased. Hundreds of requests for help came from alcoholics and their families all over the nation."
2001 AAWS Inc.
Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 185-86

*^Daily Reflections^*

A NECESSARY PRUNING


. . . we know that the pains of drinking had to come before sobriety, and emotional turmoil before serenity.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 94


I love spending time in my garden feeding and pruning my beautiful flowers. One day, as I was busily snipping away, a neighbor stopped by. She commented, "Oh! Your plants are so beautiful, it seems such a shame to cut them back." I replied, "I know how you feel, but the excess must be removed so they can grow stronger and healthier." Later I thought that perhaps my plants feel pain, but God and I know it's part of the plan and I've seen the results. I was quickly reminded of my precious A.A. program and how we all grow through pain. I ask God to prune me when it's time, so I can grow.
Copyright 1990
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.


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

To Lighten Our Burden

Only one consideration should qualify our desire for a complete disclosure of the damage we have done. That will arise where a full revelation would seriously harm the one to whom we are making amends. Or - quite as important - other people. We cannot, for example, unload a detailed account of extramarital adventuring upon the shoulders of our unsuspecting wife or husband. It does not lighten our burden when we recklessly make the crosses of others heavier.
<<< >>>
In making amends, we should be sensible, tactful, considerate, and humble without being servile or scraping. As God's people, we stand on our feet; we don't crawl before anyone.
1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 86
2. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 83

*~*^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


Am I critical of other members of A.A. or of new prospects? Do I ever say about other members: "I don't think they're sincere, I think they're bluffing, or I think they're taking a few drinks on the quiet?" Do I realize that my doubtful and skeptical attitude is hurting those members, if only in my attitude toward them, which they cannot help sensing? Do I say about new prospects: "They'll never make the program," or do I say: "They'll only last a few months?" If I take this attitude, I am unconsciously hurting those prospects' chances. Is my attitude always constructive and never destructive?

Meditation For The Day

To be attracted toward God and a better life, you must be spirit-guided. There is wonderful illumination of thought given to those who are spirit-guided. To those who are material-guided, there is nothing in God or a finer life to appeal to them or to attract them. But to those who are spirit-guided there is strength and peace and calm to be found in communion with an Unseen Lord. To those who believe in this God they cannot see but whose power they can feel, life has a meaning and purpose. They are children of the Unseen Lord, and all human beings are their brothers and sisters.

Prayer For The Day


I pray that I may be spirit-guided. I pray that I may feel God's presence and power in my life.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012



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You have 2 Other Ways to
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2. Subscribe to the Transitions Daily Podcast: We cannot sign you up for a podcast. Depending on your phone, you will need to pick a podcast provider. There are many free options. You'll need to investigate yourself or ask a friend who listens to podcasts to explain the process.

For iPhone:
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For Android:
Android is more complex. There are several different podcast app options. We know several who use the free version of the Pocket Casts app. Search "how to sign up for podcasts on Android" in your favorite search engine.

We also list many recovery resources
including recovery podcasts at 
www.DailyAAEmails.com

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Did someone forward this message to you? For more Information and to join go to http://www.DailyAAEmails.com.
 
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