~*~A

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
/AA\
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Booby Traps

"We must avoid quick-tempered criticism
and furious, power-driven argument.
The same goes for sulking and silent scorn.
These are emotional booby traps baited with pride
and vengefulness.
Our first job is to sidestep the traps.
When we are tempted by the bait,
we should train ourselves to step back and think.
For we can neither think nor act to good purpose
until the habit of self-restraint has become automatic."
c.1952AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 91
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Thought to Consider . . .

Nothing pays off like restraint of tongue and pen.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
B A T H = Behavior, Attitude, Thinking, Habits

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

Desire
From "The Opening to the Spiritual World":

"Yes, I began with blind faith, but the proof of truth is that it works. I believed those who said they had suffered from alcoholism, but, through A.A., were now enjoying sobriety. So the truth was there for me to see. But shortly I knew the truth from my own experience. I was not only released from the compulsion to drink; I was guided toward a compulsion to live!" El Cerrito, California

1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, pg. 3

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
EXACTLY ALIKE

Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright
spot of our lives.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 89

A man came to the meeting drunk, interrupted the speakers, stood
up and took his shirt off, staggered loudly back and forth for
coffee, demanded to talk, and eventually called the group's
secretary an unquotable name and walked out. I was glad he was
there--once again I saw what I still could be. I don't have to
be drunk to want to be the exception and the center of attention.
I have often felt abused and responded abusively when I was
simply being treated as a garden variety human being. The more
the man tried to insist he was different, the more I realized
that he and I were exactly alike.

*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Troubles of Our Own Making

Selfishness - self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation, but we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in a position to be hurt.

So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't think so. Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us!

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p- 62
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors,
psychologists, and practitioners of various kinds. Do not hesitate to
take your health problems to such persons. Most of them give
freely of themselves, that their fellows may enjoy sound minds and
bodies."

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

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

Having got this far, shall we pause and ask ourselves some
searching questions? We need to check up on ourselves periodically.
Just how good an A.A. am I? Am I attending meetings regularly? Am
I doing my share to carry the load? When there is something to be
done, do I volunteer? Do I speak at meetings when asked, no matter
how nervous I am? Do I accept each opportunity to do twelfth-step
work as a challenge? Do I give freely of my time and money? Am I
trying to spread A.A. wherever I go? Is my daily life a
demonstration of A.A. principles? Am I a good A.A.?

Meditation for the Day

How do I get strength to be effective and to accept responsibility?
By asking the Higher Power for the strength I need each day. It
has been proven in countless lives that for every day I live,
the necessary power shall be given me. I must face each challenge
that comes' to me during the day, sure that God will give me the
strength to face it. For every task that is given me, there is
also given me all the power necessary for the performance of that
task. I do not need to hold back.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may accept every task as a challenge. I know I cannot wholly fail if God is with me.