~*~A

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
/AA\
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Growth
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"Regardless of worldly success or failure, regardless of pain or joy,
regardless of sickness or health or even of death itself,
a new life of endless possibilities can be lived
if we are willing to continue our awakening,
through the practice of AA's Twelve Steps."
Bill W., AAGrapevine, December 1957
1967AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 8
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Thought to Consider . . .

AA is not something you join, it's a way of life.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
G I F T S = Getting It From The Steps.

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

Change

From "A Drunk, Like You":

"'Well,' I said, 'I was drinking and the coin reminded me of what I did. And I decided I was powerless and couldn’t drink anymore and stopped.' One man said, 'Well, that’s it. What more do you want?' I said, 'What about the blinding white flash?' 'What about it?' he said. 'Read the Big Book. The Appendix explains the concept of a sudden change and a gradual change, and that not everybody has a blinding flash.' 'Oh,' I said, 'That was it—that was mine?' 'Yes,' I was told. 'What more do you want?' Actually I wanted something more dramatic, and my sponsor said what he so often did: 'So?' and I found myself saying, 'Well, if that’s it, it will have to do.' 'Have to do?" he replied. 'It was bigger and better than most, and more importantly, it worked. You stopped and didn’t start again.'"

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
"MADE A LIST. . ."

Made a list of all persons we had harmed,. . .

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 77

When I approached the Eighth Step, I wondered how I could list all the things that I have done to other people since there were so many people, and some of them weren't alive anymore. Some of the hurts I inflicted weren't bad, but they really bothered me. The main thing to see in this Step was to become willing to do whatever I had to do to make these amends to the best of my ability at that particular time. Where there is a will, there's a way, so if I want to feel better, I need to unload the guilt feelings I have. A peaceful mind has no room for feelings of guilt. With the help of my Higher Power, if I am honest with myself, I can cleanse my mind of these feelings.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
In Partnership

As we made spiritual progress, it became clear that, if we ever were to feel
emotionally secure, we would have to put our lives on a give-and-take basis; we would have to develop the sense of being in partnership or brotherhood
with all those around us. We saw that we would need to give constantly of
ourselves without demand for repayment. When we persistently did this, we
gradually found that people were attracted to us as never before. And even if they failed us, we could be understanding and not too seriously affected.

<<<>>>

The unity, the effectiveness, and even the survival A.A. will always depend
upon our continued willingness to give up some of our personal ambitions and desires for the common safety and welfare. Just as sacrifice means survival for the individual alcoholic, so does sacrifice mean unity and survival for the group and for A.A.'s entire Fellowship.

1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, pp. 115-116 - 2. A.A. COMES OF AGE, pp. 287-288
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"'There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which
is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in
everlasting ignorance that principle is contempt prior to investigation.'"

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Appendice II, Spiritual
Experience, pg. 568~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

For a while, we are going back to the Big Book, Alcoholics
Anonymous, and pick out passages here and there, so that
they may become fixed in our minds, a little at a time,
day by day, as we go along. There is no substitute for
reading the Big Book. It is our "bible." We should study
it thoroughly and make it a part of ourselves. We should
not try to change any of it. Within its covers is the
full exposition of the A.A. program. There is no substitute
for it. We should study it often. Have I studied the Big Book faithfully?

Meditation for the Day

All of life is a fluctuation between effort and rest. You
need both every day. But effort is not truly effective until
first you have had the proper preparation for it, by resting
in a time of quiet meditation. This daily time of rest and
meditation gives you the power necessary to make your best
effort. There are days when you are called on for much effort
and then comes a time when you need much rest. It is not good
to rest too long and it is not good to carry on great effort
too long without rest. The successful life is a proper
balance between the two.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be ready to make the proper effort.

I pray that I may also recognize the need for relaxation