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

February 8, 2026
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Acceptance
Our very first problem is to accept our present circumstances as they are, ourselves
as we are, and the people about us as they are. . . Again and again, we shall need to
return to that unflattering point of departure. This is an exercise in acceptance that we
can profitably practice every day of our lives. Provided we strenuously avoid turning
these realistic surveys of the facts of life into unrealistic alibis for apathy of defeatism,
they can be sure foundation upon which increased emotional health and therefore
spiritual progress can be built.
- As Bill Sees It, (Daily Acceptance) No. 44

Thought to Ponder
My serenity is directly proportional to my level of acceptance.
 

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

A Member Shares:
I am an alcoholic and my name is Erik. Maybe 10 or 15 years ago an old-timer friend of mine asked me which trait was more important and he listed a bunch including willingness and acceptance. I still don't know how I could pick just one but I am sure acceptance would be a contender. That AA friend did me a great service by just asking me a simple question. It caused me to listen a lot and consider all that I hear. Like the reading suggests, I was very prone to dwelling on the faults of others when I was drinking. And it can still sneak in once in a while. Thanks to my friend's question and readings like this, I can see it coming now. When I read "Our very first problem is to accept our present circumstances as they are," it reminded me of the Buddhist idea of Karma that suggests my current circumstances are the sum of all the choices I have made so far whether I like it or not. It sounds fair. Accepting "the people about us as they are" makes me think of resentments and how forgiving and letting go of resentments helps me. I think it's kinda the same with accepting others. It benefits me and my spiritual condition. Then it talks about accepting ourselves as we are. Kind of funny I have to do that, as if I had a choice, but I do have to. Yesterday someone said "It is what it is." I think that is acceptance. At the end of the reading it warns me about "unrealistic alibis for apathy of defeatism." For me, I have to watch for the doom and gloom part when accepting. When I watch the news and try to accept the world as it is, I can easily fall into the "what's the use" kinda thinking. Then the last part is kinda like a promise "they can be sure foundation upon which increased emotional health and therefore spiritual progress can be built." I see that in the Serenity prayer we read every day. It just seems to me that a big part of sobriety is tied to acceptance. Thank you for letting me share.
 

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