Thoughts For The Day~*~Belonging ^*^*^ September 6, 2006

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Belonging
^*^*^
"Today, I'm counting my blessings instead of my troubles.
When I walked into the friendly atmosphere of my first
AA meeting, I knew I was where I belonged.
Here were people who had thought and felt as I had.
Here was the understanding I'd been searching for
all my life."
©1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 355
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . . 

I stood in the sunlight at last.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
T H I N K =  The Happiness I Never Knew

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
 

Sharing

From "Alcoholics Anonymous Number Three":

"She said, 'You are going to quit.' That was worth a lot even though I did not believe it. Then she told me that these two drunks she had been talking to had a plan whereby they thought they could quit drinking, and part of that plan was that they tell it to another drunk. This was going to help them stay sober. All the other people who had tried to talk to me wanted to help me, and my pride prevented me from listening to them and caused only resentment on my part, but I felt as if I would be a real stinker if I did not listen to a couple of fellows for a short time, if that would cure them. My wife also told me that I could not pay them even if I wanted to and had the money, which I did not."

© 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 185

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
REMOVING THREATS TO SOBRIETY

". . .except when to do so would injure them or others."                                       

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 59

Step Nine restores me to a feeling of belonging, not only to the human race but also to the everyday world.  First, the Step makes me leave the safety of A.A., so that I may deal with non-A.A. people "out there," on their terms, not mine.  It is a frightening but necessary action if I am to get back into life.  Second, Step Nine allows me to remove threats to my sobriety by healing past relationships.  Step Nine points the way to a more serene sobriety by letting me clear away the past wreckage, lest it bring me down.

©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©

*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
God's Gifts

We see that the sun never sets upon A.A.'s Fellowship; that more than three
hundred and fifty-thousand of us have now recovered from our malady; that we have everywhere begun to transcend the formidable barriers of race, creed, and nationality. This assurance that so many of us have been able to meet our responsibilities for sobriety and for growth and effectiveness in the
troubled world where we live, will surely fill us with the deepest joy and
satisfaction.
But, as a people who have nearly always learned the hard way, we shall
certainly not congratulate ourselves. We shall perceive these assets to be
God's gifts, which have been in part matched by an increasing willingness on
our part to find and do His will for us.

GRAPEVINE, JULY 1965
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Now and then the family will be plagued by spectres from the past,
for the drinking career of almost every alcoholic has been marked by
escapades, funny, humiliating, shameful or tragic. The first impulse
will be to bury these skeletons in a dark closet and padlock the
door. The family may be possessed by the idea that future happiness
can be based only upon forgetfulness of the past. We think that such
a view is self-centered and in direct conflict with the new way of
living."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 123~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

Another of the mottoes of A.A. is "Live and Let Live." This, of
course, means tolerance of people who think differently than we do,
whether they are in A.A. or outside of A.A. We cannot afford the
luxury of being intolerant or critical of other people. We do not
try to impose our wills on those who differ from us. We are not
"holier than thou." We do not have all the answers. We are not better
than other good people. We live the best way we can and we allow
others to do likewise. Am I willing to live and let live?

Meditation for the Day

"And this is life eternal, that we may know Thee, the only true
God." Learning to know God as best you can draws the eternal life
nearer to you. Freed from some of the limitations of humanity, you
can grow in the things that are eternal. You can strive for what
is real and of eternal value. The more you try to live in the
consciousness of the unseen world, the gentler will be your passing
into it when the time comes for you to go. This life on earth should
be largely a preparation for the eternal life to come.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may live each day as though it were my last. I pray
that I may live my life as though it were everlasting.

 

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

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Sobriety ^*^*^ September 5, 2006

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Sobriety
^*^*^
"God willing, we members of AA may never again
have to deal with drinking,
but we have to deal with sobriety every day.
How do we do it?
By learning - through practicing the Twelve Steps
and through sharing at meetings -
how to cope with the problems
that we looked to booze to solve,
back in our drinking days."
©1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 560
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

Sobriety is a choice and a treasure.

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

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
 

Beginning 

Step Nine: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

"We usually want to sit down with some member of the family and readily admit the damage we have done by our drinking. Almost always we want to go further and admit other defects that have made us hard to live with. This will be a very different occasion, and in sharp contrast with those hangover mornings when we alternated between reviling ourselves and blaming the family (and everyone else) for our troubles. . . . [I]t is necessary only that we make a general admission of our defects. It may be unwise at this stage to rehash certain harrowing episodes. . . . We must be sure to remember that we cannot buy our own peace of mind at the expense of others."

© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 84

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
EMOTIONAL BALANCE

Made direct amends to such people wherever possible,. . . . .

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 83

When I survey my drinking days, I recall many people whom my life
touched casually, but whose days I troubled through my anger and
sarcasm. These people are untraceable, and direct amends to them
are not possible. The only amends I can make to those untraceable
individuals, the only "changes for the better" I can offer, are
indirect amends made to other people, whose paths briefly cross
mine. Courtesy and kindness, regularly practiced, help me to live
in emotional balance, at peace with myself.

©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
We Need Outside Help

It was evident that a solitary self-appraisal, and the admission of our
defects based upon that alone, wouldn't be nearly enough. We'd have to have outside help if we were surely to know and admit the truth about ourselves -- the help of God and of another human being.
Only by discussing ourselves, holding back nothing, only by being willing to
take advice and accept direction could we set foot on the road to straight
thinking, solid honesty, and genuine humility.

<<<>>>

If we are fooling ourselves, a competent adviser can see this quickly. And,
as he skillfully guides us away from our fantasies, we are surprised to find
that we have few of the usual urges to defend ourselves against unpleasant
truths. In no other way can fear, pride, and ignorance be so readily melted.
After a time, we realize that we are standing firm on a brand-new foundation
for integrity, and we gratefully credit our sponsors, whose advice pointed
the way.

1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 59 - 2. GRAPEVINE, AUGUST 1961
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*\
"We cannot subscribe to the belief that his life is a vale of tears,
though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we
made our own misery. God didn't do it. Avoid then, the
deliberate manufacture of misery, but if trouble comes, cheerfully
capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate His omnipotence."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 133~

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

One of the mottoes of A.A. is "First Things First." This means that
we should always keep in mind that alcohol is our number-one problem.
We must never let any other problem, whether of family, business,
friends, or anything else, take precedence in our minds over our
alcoholic problem. As we go along in A.A., we learn to recognize the
things that may upset us emotionally. When we find ourselves getting
upset over something, we must realize that it's a luxury we
alcoholics can't afford. Anything that makes us forget our number-one
problem is dangerous to us. Am I keeping sobriety in first place in
my mind?

Meditation for the Day

Spiritual progress is the law of your being. Try to see around you
more and more of beauty and truth, knowledge and power. Today try to
be stronger, braver, more loving as a result of what you did yesterday.
This law of spiritual progress gives meaning and purpose to your life.
Always expect better things ahead. You can accomplish much good
through the strength of God's spirit in you. Never be too discouraged.
The world is sure to get better, in spite of setbacks of war, hate,
and greed. Be part of the cure of the world's ills, rather than part
of the disease.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may keep progressing in the better life. I pray that I
may be a part of the forces for good in the world.

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

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Unity ^*^*^ September 4, 2006

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Unity
^*^*^
"Moved by the spirit of anonymity,
we try to give up our natural desires for personal distinction
as AA members both among fellow alcoholics
and before the general public.
As we lay aside these very human aspirations,
we believe that each of us takes part
in the weaving of a protective mantle
which covers our whole Society and under which
we may grow and work in unity.
We are sure that humility, expressed by anonymity,
is the greatest safeguard  that Alcoholics Anonymous
can ever have."
©1952AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 187
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

To help each other, is to help ourselves.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
A A's - R - U S  =  Alcoholics Anonymous Recovery Unity Service

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

Welcome

From "A Vision for You:"

 

"But life among Alcoholics Anonymous is more than attending gatherings and visiting hospitals.  Cleaning up old scrapes, helping to settle family differences, explaining the disinherited son to his irate parents, lending money and securing jobs for each other, when justified -- these are everyday occurrences.  No one is too discredited or has sunk too low to be welcomed cordially -- if he means business."

 

c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 161

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
RECONSTRUCTION

Yes, there is a long period of reconstruction ahead . . .

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS ,  p. 83

The reconstruction of my life is the prime goal in my recovery as I avoid taking that first drink, one day at a time.  The task is most successfully accomplished by working the Steps of our Fellowship.  The spiritual life is not a theory; it works, but I have to live it.  Step Two started me on my journey to develop a spiritual life; Step Nine allows me to move into the final phase of the initial Steps which taught me how to live a spiritual life.  Without the guidance and strength of a Higher Power, it would be impossible to proceed through the various stages of reconstruction.  I realize that God works for me and through me.  Proof comes to me when I realize that God did for me what I could not do for myself, by removing that gnawing compulsion to drink.  I must continue daily to seek God's guidance.  He grants me a daily reprieve and will provide the power I need for reconstruction.

©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Have You Experimented?

"Since open-mindedness and experimentation are supposed to be the
indispensable attributes of our 'scientific' civilization, it seems strange
that so many scientists are reluctant to try out personally the hypothesis
that God came first and man afterward. They prefer to believe that man is the
chance product of evolution; that God, the Creator, does not exist.
"I can only report that I have experimented with both concepts and that, in
my case, the God concept has proved to be a better basis for living than the
man-centered one.
"Nevertheless, I would be the first to defend your right to think as you
will. I simply ask this question: 'in your own life, have you ever really
tried to think and act as though there might be a God? Have you
experimented?'"

LETTER, 1950
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"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."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 42~

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

"We must be careful never to show intolerance or hatred of drinking
as an institution. Experience shows that such an attitude is not
helpful to anyone. We are not fanatics or intolerant of people who
can drink normally. Prospects are relieved when they find we are not
witch burners. Temperate drinking is okay, but we alcoholics can't
get away with it. And no alcoholic likes to be told about alcohol
by anyone who hates it. We shall be of little use if our attitude
is one of bitterness or hostility." Do I have tolerance for those
who can drink normally?

Meditation for the Day

Do not become encumbered by petty annoyances. Never respond to
emotional upsets by emotional upset. Try to keep calm in all
circumstances. Try not to fight back. Call on the grace of God
to calm you when you feel like retaliating. Look to God for the
inner strength to drop those resentments that drag you down. if
you are burdened by annoyances, you will lose your inward peace
and the spirit of God will be shut out. Try to keep peaceful within.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may do the things that make for peace. I pray that I
may have a mission of conciliation.

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

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Dry ^*^*^ September 3, 2006

 

 ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Dry
^*^*^
"Sometimes, we become depressed.
I ought to know;
I have been a champion dry-bender case myself.
While the surface causes were a part of the picture -
trigger-events that precipitated depression -
the underlying causes, I am satisfied, ran much deeper.
Intellectually, I could accept my situation.
Emotionally, I could not.
To those problems, there are certainly no pat answers.
But part of the answer lies in the constant effort
to practice all of AA's Twelve Steps."
Bill W., Letter, 1954
©1967AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 30
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

The Twelve Steps are but suggestions,
as is pulling the rip cord on a parachute.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
D R Y =   Doing Recovery Yourself

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

From "A Member's Eye View
of Alcoholics Anonymous:"

"In A.A., the reporting is clear and unmistakable.
'Here are the steps we took,' say those who have
gone before.  The newcomer finally sees that he,
too, must take these Steps before he is entitled to
report on them.  And in an atmosphere where the
constant subject is 'What I did' and 'What I think,'
no neurotic can long resist the temptation to get in
on the action."

c. 1970, A Member's Eye View of Alcoholics Anonymous
(A.A. Pamphlet P-41), page 17
*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
BUILDING A NEW LIFE

We feel a man is unthinking when he says sobriety is enough.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 82

When I reflect on Step Nine, I see that physical sobriety must be enough for me.  I need to remember the hopelessness I felt before I found sobriety, and how I was willing to go to any lengths for it.  Physical sobriety is not enough for those around me, however, since I must see that God's gift is used to build a new life for my family and loved ones.  Just as importantly, I must be available to help others who want the A.A. way of life.

I ask God to help me share the gift of sobriety so that its benefits may be shown to those I know and love.

©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Instinct to Live

When men and women pour so much alcohol into themselves that they destroy their lives, they commit a most unnatural act. Defying their instinctive
desire for self-preservation, they seem bent upon self-destruction. They work
against their own deepest instinct. As they are progressively humbled by the
terrific beating administered by alcohol, the grace of God can enter them and
expel their obsession. Here their powerful instinct to live can cooperate
fully with their Creator's desire to give them new life.

<<<>>>

"The central characteristic of the spiritual experience is that it gives the
recipient a new and better motivation out of all proportion to any process of
discipline, belief, or faith.
"These experiences cannot make us whole at once; they are a rebirth to a
fresh and certain opportunity."

1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 64 - 2. LETTER, 1965
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration,
and direction from Him who has all knowledge and power. If we have
carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of
His Spirit into us. To some extent we have become God-conscious. We
have begun to develop this vital sixth sense. But we must go further
and that means more action."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 85~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

"Offer new prospects friendship and fellowship. Tell them that if they want
to get well you will do anything to help. Bum the idea into the consciousness
of new prospects that they can get well, regardless of anyone else. job or no
job, spouse or no spouse, they cannot stop drinking as long as they place
dependence on other people ahead of dependence on God. Let no alcoholic say they cannot recover unless they have their family back. This just isn't so.
Their recovery is not dependent upon other people. It is dependent on their
own relationship to God." Can I recognize all excuses made by a prospect?

Meditation for the Day

The spiritual life depends upon the Unseen. To live the spiritual life, you
must believe in the Unseen. Try not to lose the consciousness of God's spirit
in you and in others. As a child in its mother's arms, stay sheltered in the
understanding and love of God. God will relieve you of the weight of worry
and care, misery and depression, want and woe, faintness and heartache, if
you will let Him. Lift up your eyes from earth's troubles and view the glory
of the unseen God. Each day try to see more good in people, more of the
Unseen in the seen.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may rest and abide in the presence of the unseen God. I pray
that I may leave my burdens in His care.

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

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