AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)
October 2, 2016
~ Scroll Down for Share ~
Balance
The quick inventory is aimed at our daily ups and downs,
especially those where people or new events throw us off balance and tempt us to make mistakes.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 91
Thought to Ponder . . .
Once we understand ourselves, the rest of living falls in line.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
B A T H = Balance, Action, Thinking, Habits.
A Member Shares:
Hi all, I'm Lori, a real alcoholic. I think of balance like being on a 'teeter-totter' or 'seesaw' in a children's playground. One of the tricks I remember most about the teeter-totter was trapping the other person on the high end. It was terrifying, and enraging. That was my disease; trapping me in a place I didn't want to be, laughing at how afraid and angry I was. And just when I thought I was sailing just fine, thank you, BOOM! I'd get slammed down to the ground. I was always up and down. Up when the booze would kick in and I'd get in that comfortable spot, then down as the guilt and fear sank in and I had to try to hide what I'd done once again. The lies I told to explain away the hangovers, the excuses I made to have extra sober-up time, the stupid, stupid game of "how drunk am I now" so I could figure out if I could get .. just .. one .. more. I remember the last drunk: the one that didn't work. I don't think I ever went up, just further and further down, like a teeter-totter in reverse. Occasionally I'd break the surface and shed the guilt for a bit, but then I'd crash right back, and no amount of drinking changed it. And, like everything else, I learned the only way to win was to get off the damn teeter-totter. Sure, it hurts a little when you jump off the high end, but at least you're free. I'm not a child anymore, so I don't really like teeter-totters and merry-go-rounds. Not in my life, anyway. I am a huge fan of roller coasters, but only the real ones. I had a sponsor tell me once that being in my head was like being in a playground full of broken glass. Maybe it looked fun, but it was nothing but pain. And I imagine that's where that teeter-totter lived. I'm not going back there again. I like it better here, with you, with my God, with a life that is immeasurably better than I could have hoped. Thanks.
(All shares are reproduced with the kind permission of the person sharing)
Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, strength and hope in carrying the AA message.
Blessings in sobriety to all,
In love and service,
joanna b
dailythought@aa-alive.org
For further information about AA-Alive, including:
Meeting Schedule
The Daily Thought Discussion Board
Service Opportunities
AA Birthday Signups
Helpful links and much more
Please go to our Website
http://aa-alive.net …
G.S.O. Registration Number: 712515
Please add us to your contacts/address book so this is not marked as spam.
This email is sent in the spirit of fellowship and service. Although the email server is automated, the list is maintained by real people and mistakes may occur ... amends will be made promptly. If you have received it in error, we are sorry, we have no intent to offend anyone. If this message was forwarded by someone other than dailythought@aa-alive.org, please reply to the person sending the mail.
To contact the editor send an email to: dailythought@aa-alive.org
** Trademarks and Disclaimer: **
Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. The AA Daily Thought is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated nor affiliated with, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.
Disclaimer: The Daily Thought is meant for domestic distribution only and for countries where it is in public domain.
Subscription Reminder: You're Subscribed to:
Daily Thought
using the address:
example@example.com
From:
dailythought@aa-alive.org
Manage Your Subscription »
or,
Unsubscribe Automatically »