~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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(_ /AA\ _)
/AA\
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Delusion
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"We learned that we had to fully concede
to our innermost selves that we were
alcoholics.
This is the first step in recovery.
The delusion that we were like other
people,
or presently may be, has to be
smashed."
1976AAWS, Alcoholics
Anonymous, p. 17
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Thought to Consider . . .
There is no such thing as being 'a
little bit alcoholic.'
*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
D
E N I A L = Don't Even Notice I Am Lying
*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Condemn
Tradition Three: The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.
Why did A.A. finally drop all its membership regulations? Why did we leave it to each newcomer to decide himself whether he was an alcoholic and whether he should join us? Why did we dare say, contrary to the experience of society and government everywhere, that we would neither punish nor deprive any A.A. of membership, believe anything, or conform to anything?
The answer, now seen in Tradition Three, was simplicity itself. At last experience taught us that to take away any alcoholic's full chance was sometimes to pronounce his death sentence, and often to condemn him to endless misery. Who dared to be judge, jury, and executioner of his own sick brother?
1981, AAWS, Inc., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 141
*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
OPENING NEW DOORS
They [ the Promises] are being fulfilled among us
- sometimes quickly,
sometimes slowly.
ALCOHOLICS
ANONYMOUS, p. 84
The Promises
talked about in this passage are slowly coming to life
for me. What has given me hope is
putting Step Nine into action. The
Step has allowed me to see and set
goals for myself in recovery.
Old habits and behaviors die hard.
Working Step Nine enables me to
close the door on the drunk I was, and
to open new avenues for myself
as a sober alcoholic. Making direct
amends is crucial for me. As I
repair relationships and behavior of
the past, I am better able to live a sober life!
Although I have some years of sobriety,
there are times when the
"old stuff" from the past
needs to be taken care of, and Step Nine
always works, when I work it.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Alone No More
Alcoholism was a lonely business, even though we
were surrounded by people who loved us. But when our self-will had driven
everybody away and our isolation became complete, we commenced to play the big
shot in cheap barrooms. Failing even in this, we had to fare forth alone on the
street to depend upon the charity of passers-by. We were trying to find
emotional security either by dominating or by being dependent upon others. Even
when our fortunes had not totally ebbed, we nevertheless found ourselves alone
in the world. We still vainly tried to be secure by some unhealthy sort of
domination or dependence. For those of us who were like that, A.A. has a very
special meaning. In this Fellowship we begin to learn right relations with
people who understand us; we don't have to be alone any more.
TWELVE
AND TWELVE, pp. 116-117
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Life
will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them
help others, to watch loneliness
vanish, to see a fellowship grow up
about you, to have a host of friends,
this is an experience you
must not miss."
~Alcoholics
Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 89~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought
for the Day
When
alcoholics are offered a life of sobriety by following the A.A.
program, they will look at the prospect
of living without alcohol and
they will ask. "Am I to be
consigned to a life where I shall be stupid,
boring and glum, like some of the
righteous people I see? I know I
must get along without liquor, but how
can I? Have you a sufficient
substitute?" Have I found a more
than sufficient substitute for
drinking?
Meditation for the Day
In God's strength you conquer life. Your conquering
power is the grace
of God. There can be no complete
failure with God. Do you want to make
the best of life? Then live as near as
possible to God, the Master and
Giver of all life. Your reward for
depending on God's strength will be
sure. Sometimes the reward will be
renewed power to face life,
sometimes wrong thinking overcome,
sometimes people brought to a new
way of living. Whatever success comes
will not be all your own doing,
but largely the working out of the
grace of God.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may try to rely more
fully on the grace of God.
I pray that I may live a victorious life.