AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy aa-alive.net)

September 7, 2025
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Character Defects
Human beings are never quite alike, so each of us, when making an
inventory, will need to determine what his individual character defects
are. Having found the shoes that fit, he ought to step into them and
walk with new confidence that he is at last on the right track.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Four) p. 48
 

Thought to Ponder
Sobriety is a gift, the price of which is eternal vigilance.
 

AA-related 'Alconym'
A A  =  Always Aware.
 

A Member Shares:
I'm Larry and I'm an alcoholic. I believe character defects can be a bit subjective. So the identification of them within a person can vary greatly from one person to the next. I'm pretty sure we can all agree on some basics. Not taking what doesn't belong to us or not telling harmful lies about one another. But I've found that it's pretty much never ending. The discovering flaws that never even occurred to me earlier. And are they really character defects or are they just things I still do that I've now decided I shouldn't? Talking with food in my mouth, interrupting others when they weren't done talking, leaving without saying goodbye. The list is endless of course. But what I think is a character defect in myself, someone else may not see it as a character defect at all. Which just confuses me. So I try not to overthink this one. The big book is incredibly brief on the 6th and 7th steps. And it's my belief that it's on purpose. Bill never had a shortage of words. I believe it was brief because it's at our own discretion to weigh our behaviors as to whether they are in the way of helping others. And I also think there is far more to it than just humble asking and letting Higher Power do it. I have to be vigilant and self assessing at all times.
 

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