~*~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!^*~*~*~*~*
Well Worth the Effort
From: “Having Fun
Yet?"
…we aren't a
glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn't want
it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life. We try not to indulge in cynicism
over the state of the nations, nor do we carry the world's troubles on our
shoulders.
Alcoholics Anonymous, page 132
When my own house is
in order, I find the different parts of my life are more manageable. Stripped
from the guilt and remorse that cloaked my drinking years, I am free to assume
my proper role in the universe, but this condition requires maintenance. I
should stop and ask myself, Am I having fun
yet? If I find answering that question difficult or painful, perhaps I'm
taking myself too seriously - and finding it difficult to admit that I've
strayed from my practice of working the program to keep my house in order. I
think the pain I experience is one way my Higher Power has to get my attention, coaxing me to take stock of my
performance. The slight time and effort it takes to work the program - a
spot-check inventory, for example, or the making of amends, whatever is
appropriate - are well worth the effort.
1990, AAWS, Inc., Daily Reflections, page 31
*~*~*~*~*^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.