AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 15, 2021 Persistent Effort We want to find exactly how, when, and where our natural desires have warped us. We wish to look squarely at the unhappiness this has caused others and ourselves. By discovering what our emotional deformities are, we can move toward their correction. Without a willing and persistent effort to do this, there can be little sobriety or contentment for us. Without a searching and fearless moral inventory, most of us have found that the fait ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 14, 2021 Thy Will Be Done We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show, humbly saying to ourselves many times each day "Thy will be done." We are then in much less danger of excitement, fear, anger, worry, self-pity, or foolish decisions. We become much more efficient. We do not tire so easily, for we are not burning up energy foolishly as we did when we were trying to arrange life to suit ourselves. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Act ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 13, 2021 Willing to Grow Many of us exclaimed, "What an order! I can't go through with it." Do not be discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 60 Thought to Ponder Spiritual progress isn't what gets us sober, it's what keeps us sober. AA-related 'Alconym' G R O ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 12, 2021 Unreasonable Fears When a job still looked like a mere means of getting money rather than an opportunity for service, when the acquisition of money for financial independence looked more important than a right dependence upon God, we were still the victims of unreasonable fears. And these were fears which would make a serene and useful existence, at any financial level, quite impossible. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Twelve) p. 121 Thought ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 11, 2021 Exceptions Despite all we can say, many who are real alcoholics are not going to believe they are in that class. By every form of self-deception and experimentation, they will try to prove themselves exceptions to the rule, therefore nonalcoholic. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (More About Alcoholism) p. 31 Thought to Ponder I am unique, just like everyone else. AA-related 'Alconym' D E N I A L  =   Don't Even Notice I Am Lying. Thanks to all of y ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 10, 2021 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Powerlessness We perceive that only through utter defeat are we able to take our first steps toward liberation and strength. Our admissions of personal powerlessness finally turn out to be firm bedrock upon which happy and purposeful lives may be built. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step One) p. 21  Thought to Ponder The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.  AA-related 'Alcony ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 9, 2021 Emotional Stability When we developed still more, we discovered the best possible source of emotional stability to be God Himself. We found that dependence upon His perfect justice, forgiveness, and love was healthy, and that it would work where nothing else would. If we really depended upon God, we couldn’t very well play God to our fellows nor would we feel the urge wholly to rely on human protection and care. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 8, 2021 Abnormal Condition Cessation of drinking is but the first step away from a highly strained, abnormal condition. A doctor said to us, "Years of living with an alcoholic is almost sure to make any wife or child neurotic. The entire family is, to some extent, ill." Let families realize, as they start their journey, that all will not be fair weather. Each in his turn may be footsore and may straggle. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (The Family Afterward) p. ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 7, 2021 Spiritual Growth First We have learned that the satisfaction of instincts cannot be the sole end and aim of our lives. If we place instincts first, we have got the cart before the horse; we shall be pulled backward into disillusionment. But when we are willing to place spiritual growth first—then and only then do we have a real chance. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Twelve) p. 114 Thought to Ponder A spiritual awakening is our greatest gift. ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 6, 2021 More Useful Most of us sense that real tolerance of other people’s shortcomings and viewpoints and a respect for their opinions are attitudes which make us more useful to others. Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (There Is A Solution) pp. 19 - 20 Thought to Ponder What if I were caring rather than judgmental? AA-related 'Alconym' P U T  = ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 5, 2021 Continuous Action More sobriety brought about by the admission of alcoholism and by attendance at a few meetings is very good indeed, but it is bound to be a far cry from permanent sobriety and a contented, useful life. That is just where the remaining Steps of the A.A. program come in. Nothing short of continuous action upon these as a way of life can bring the much-desired result. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Three) pp. 39 - 40 Thought t ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 4, 2021 Deprived Others If you leave such a person alone, he may soon become convinced that he cannot recover by himself. To spend too much time on any one situation is to deny some other alcoholic an opportunity to live and be happy. One of our Fellowship failed entirely with his first half dozen prospects. He often says that if he had continued to work on them, he might have deprived many others, who have since recovered, of their chance. - Alcoholics Anonymous ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 3, 2021 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Amends These conversations can begin in a casual or natural way. But if no such opportunity presents itself, at some point we will want to summon all our courage, head straight for the person concerned, and lay our cards on the table. We needn't wallow in excessive remorse before those we have harmed, but amends at this level should always be forthright and generous. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Nine) pp. 85 - 86&n ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 2, 2021 Assets and Liabilities Then comes the acid test: can we stay sober, keep in emotional balance, and live to good purpose under all conditions? A continuous look at our assets and liabilities, and a real desire to learn and grow by this means, are necessities for us. We alcoholics have learned this the hard way. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Ten) p. 88 Thought to Ponder Inventory-taking is not always done in red ink. AA-related 'Alconym' H O ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 1, 2021 Sanity Returned He was on thin ice. Again it was the old, insidious insanity—that first drink. But what about his responsibilities—his family and the men who would die because they would not know how to get well, ah—yes, those other alcoholics? There must be many such in this town. He would phone a clergyman. His sanity returned and he thanked God. Selecting a church at random from the directory, he stepped into a booth and lifted the receiver. - Alcoholi ...Continue Reading