*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 29, 2020* *Direct Contact* In Step Eleven we saw that if a Higher Power had restored us to sanity and had enabled us to live with some peace of mind in a sorely troubled world, then such a Higher Power was worth knowing better, by as direct contact as possible. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Twelve) pp. 108 - 109 Thought to Ponder Prayer asks the question. Meditation listens for the answer. AA-related 'Alconym' *P R A Y E R*  =  *P*raying ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 28, 2020* *Step Five* In actual practice, we usually find a solitary self-appraisal insufficient. Many of us thought it necessary to go much further. We will be more reconciled to discussing ourselves with another person when we see good reasons why we should do so. The best reason first: If we skip this vital step, we may not overcome drinking. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 72 Thought to Ponder We need to share our problems to find our solutions. AA- ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 27, 2020* *Trust and Reliance* Perhaps there is a better way—we think so. For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 68 Thought to Ponder Serenity isn ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 26, 2020* *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, ( ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 25, 2020* *Anger* If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch and the brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious luxury of normal men, but for alcoholics these things are poison. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 66 Thought to Ponder Anger is but a mask for fear. AA-related 'Alconym' *A N G E R*  =  *A*ny *N*ew *G*rudge *E*ndangers *R*ecovery. Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, strength a ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) May 24, 2020 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *A Way of Life* A.A.'s Twelve Steps are a group of principles, spiritual in their nature, which, if practiced as a way of life, can expel the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to become happily and usefully whole.  - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Foreward) p. 15  Thought to Ponder AA is not something we join; it's a way of life.  AA-related 'Alconym' *A A*  =  *A*mazing *A*dventure.   ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 23, 2020* *True Tolerance* We begin to see that all people, including ourselves, are to some extent emotionally ill as well as frequently wrong, and then we approach true tolerance and see what real love for our fellows actually means. It will become more and more evident as we go forward that it is pointless to become angry, or to get hurt by people who, like us, are suffering from the pains of growing up. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Ten) p. 92 T ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 22, 2020* *Truth Demonstrated* We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again: "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." Commencing to drink after a period of sobriety, we are in a short time as bad as ever. If we are planning to stop drinking, there must be no reservation of any kind, nor any lurking notion that someday we will be immune to alcohol. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (More About Alcoholism) p. 33 Thought to Ponder When we try to control our ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 21, 2020* *Defects and Humility* All of us saw, for example, that we lacked honesty and tolerance, that we were beset at times by attacks of self-pity or delusions of personal grandeur. But while this was a humiliating experience, it didn't necessarily mean that we had yet acquired much actual humility. Though now recognized, our defects were still there. Something had to be done about them. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Five) p. 58 Thought to Ponde ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 20, 2020* *Exceptions to the Rule* 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 would rather go through life sober, believing I am an alcoholic; than go through life drunk, trying to convince myself th ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 19, 2020* *Granted a Gift* When a man or a woman has a spiritual awakening, the most important meaning of it is that he has now become able to do, feel, and believe that which he could not do before on his unaided strength and resources alone. He has been granted a gift which amounts to a new state of consciousness and being. He has been set on a path which tells him he is really going somewhere, that life is not a dead end, not something to be endured or mastered ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 18, 2020* *Conditions* We thought "conditions" drove us to drink, and when we tried to correct these conditions and found that we couldn't to our entire satisfaction, our drinking went out of hand and we became alcoholics. It never occurred to us that we needed to change ourselves to meet conditions, whatever they were. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Four) p. 47 Thought to Ponder If you want to change who you are, change what you do.. AA-r ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) May 17, 2020 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Firm Bedrock* 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 If I have the courage to begin, I have the courage to succeed.  AA-related 'Alconym' *A ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 16, 2020* *Unshakable Foundation* There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation, and prayer. Taken separately, these practices can bring much relief and benefit. But when they are logically related and interwoven, the result is an unshakable foundation for life. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eleven) p. 98 Thought to Ponder Today I pray over the things that I used to drink over. AA-related 'Alconym' *P U S H*  =  *P*ray *U*n ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 15, 2020* *Avoidance* Time after time newcomers have tried to keep to themselves certain facts about their lives. Trying to avoid this humbling experience, they have turned to easier methods. Almost invariably they got drunk. Having persevered with the rest of the program, they wondered why they fell. We think the reason is that they never completed their housecleaning. They took inventory all right, but hung on to some of the worst items in stock. - Alcoholics An ...Continue Reading