~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Obsession
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"Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows. Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers
have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people.
The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession
of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing.
Many pursue it into the gates of insanity and death. We learned that we had to fully concede
to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step to recovery."
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 30
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Thought to Consider . . .

An obsession:

A persistent, recurring idea
that does not respond to reason.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
T R U S T =  Try Relying Upon Steps and Traditions

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

Tradition Ten: Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

The Washingtonian Society, a movement among alcoholics which started in Baltimore a century ago, almost discovered the answer to alcoholism. At first, the society was composed entirely of alcoholics trying to help one another. The early members foresaw that they should dedicate themselves to this sole aim. In many respects, the Washingtonians were akin to A.A. of today. Their membership passed the hundred thousand mark. Had they been left to themselves, and had they stuck to their one goal, they might have found the rest of the answer. But this didn't happen. Instead, the Washingtonians permitted politicians and reformers, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic, to use the society for their own purposes. Abolition of slavery, for example, was a stormy political issue then. Soon, Washingtonian speakers violently and publicly took sides on this question. Maybe the society could have survived the abolition controversy, but it didn't have a chance from the moment it determined to reform America's drinking habits. When the Washingtonians became temperance crusaders, within a very few years they had completely lost their effectiveness in helping alcoholics.

1981, AAWS, Inc., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 178

*~*~*~* ~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
"THE GOOD AND THE BAD"

"My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me,  good and bad."
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 76

The joy of life is in the giving. Being freed of my shortcomings, that I may more freely be of service, allows humility to grow in me. My shortcomings can be humbly placed in God's loving care and be removed. The essence of Step Seven is humility, and what better way to seek humility than by giving all of myself -- good and bad -- to God, so that He may remove the bad and return to me the good.

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

Gradually we began to be able to accept the other fellow's sins as well as
his virtues. We coined the potent and meaningful expression "Let us always
love the best in others -- and never fear their worst."

<<<>>>

Finally, we begin to see that all people, including ourselves, are to some
extent emotionally ill as well as frequently wrong. When this happens, we
approach true tolerance and we see what real love for our fellows actually means.

1. GRAPEVINE, JANUARY 1962 - 2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 92
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"We alcoholics are sensitive people. It takes some of us a long time
to outgrow that serious handicap."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 125~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

One of the finest things about A.A. is the diversity of its
membership. We come from all walks and stations of life. All
types and classes of people are represented in an A.A. group.
Being different from each other in certain ways, we can each
make a different contribution to the whole. Some of us are
weak in one respect, but strong in another. A.A. can use the
strong points of all its members and can disregard their
weaknesses. A.A. is strong, not only because we all have the
same problem, but also because of the diversified talents of
its members. Each person can contribute part. Do I recognize
the good points of all my group's members?

Meditation for the Day

"And greater works than these shall ye do." Each individual
has the ability to do good works through the power of God's
spirit. This is the wonder of the world, the miracle of the
earth, that God's power goes out to bless the human race
through the agency of so many people who are actuated by His
grace. We need not be held back by doubt, despondency, and
fear. A wonderful future can lie before any person who
depends on God's power, a future of unlimited power to do
good works.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may not limit myself by doubting. I pray that I
may have confidence that I can be effective for good.