*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 16, 2020* *Steps Eight and Nine* Steps Eight and Nine are concerned with personal relationships. First, we take a look backward and try to discover where we have been at fault; next we make a vigorous attempt to repair the damage we have done; and third, having thus cleaned away the debris of the past, we consider how, with our newfound knowledge of ourselves, we may develop the best possible relations with every human being we know. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (S ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 15, 2020* *Intolerance* We are careful never to show intolerance or hatred of drinking as an institution. Experience shows that such an attitude is not helpful to anyone. Every new alcoholic looks for this spirit among us and is immensely relieved when he finds we are not witch-burners. A spirit of intolerance might repel alcoholics whose lives could have been saved, had it not been for such stupidity. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Working With Others) p. 103 Tho ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 14, 2020* *Another Excuse* We also clutch at another wonderful excuse for avoiding an inventory. Our present anxieties and troubles, we cry, are caused by the behavior of other people—people who really need a moral inventory. We firmly believe that if only they'd treat us better, we'd be all right. Therefore we think our indignation is justified and reasonable—that our resentments are the "right kind." We aren't the guilty ones. They are! - Twel ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 13, 2020* *Defiance* "When we encountered A.A., the fallacy of our defiance was revealed. At no time had we asked what God's will was for us; instead we had been telling Him what it ought to be. No man, we saw, could believe in God and defy Him, too. Belief meant reliance, not defiance." - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Two) p. 31 Thought to Ponder Faith dares the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see. AA-related 'Alconym' *E G O*  ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) January 12, 2020 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *The Great Obsession* Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people. The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death.  - Alcoholics Anonymous, (More ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 11, 2020* *Happy, Joyous, and Free* We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous, and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears,though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn't do it. Avoid then, the deliberate manufacture of misery, but if trouble comes, cheerfully capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate His omnipotence. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (The Family Afterward) p. ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 10, 2020* *Faith* We have no desire to convince anyone that there is only one way by which faith can be acquired. If what we have learned and felt and seen means anything at all, it means that all of us, whatever our race, creed, or color are the children of a living Creator with whom we may form a relationship upon simple and understandable terms as soon as we are willing and honest enough to try. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (There Is A Solution) p. 28 Thought t ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 9, 2020* *The Real Alcoholic* But what about the real alcoholic? He may start off as a moderate drinker; he may or may not become a continuous hard drinker; but at some stage of his drinking career he begins to lose all control of his liquor consumption, once he starts to drink. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (There Is A Solution) p. 21 Thought to Ponder When we try to control our drinking, we have already lost control. AA-related 'Alconym' *A A*  =  *A*n ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 8, 2020* *Serenity* In all times of emotional disturbance or indecision, we can pause, ask for quiet, and in the stillness simply say: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done." - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Three) pp. 40 - 41 Thought to Ponder Reliance on God enables me to match calamity with serenity. AA-related ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 7, 2020* *Step Three* Many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: "God, I offer myself to Thee—to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!" We thought well before taking this step making sure we were ready; that we ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 6, 2020* *Gift of Faith* We saw that we had to reconsider or die. We found many in A.A, who once thought as we did. They helped us to get down to our right size. By their example they showed us that humility and intellect could be compatible, provided we placed humility first. When we began to do that, we received the gift of faith, a faith which works. This faith is for you, too. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Two) p. 30 Thought to Ponder Faith ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) January 5, 2020 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Not a Glum Lot!* We have been speaking to you of serious, sometimes tragic things. We have been dealing with alcohol in its worst aspect. But we aren't a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn't want it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life.   - Alcoholics Anonymous, (The Family Afterward) p. 132  Thought to Ponder Laughter is the sound of recovery.  AA-related 'Alconym' * ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 4, 2020* *The Great Fact* Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (A Vision For You) p. 164 Thought to Ponder Trust God. Clea ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 3, 2020* *Simple and Personal* In spite of the great increase in the size and the span of this Fellowship, at its core it remains simple and personal. Each day, somewhere in the world, recovery begins when one alcoholic talks with another alcoholic, sharing experience, strength, and hope. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Foreword to the Third Edition) p. xxii Thought to Ponder Times change, alcoholism doesn't. AA-related 'Alconym' *H O P E*  =  *H*old *O*n ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *January 2, 2020* *Change Has Occurred* On the other hand—and strange as this may seem to those who do not understand—once a psychic change has occurred, the very same person who seemed doomed, who had so many problems he despaired of ever solving them, suddenly finds himself easily able to control his desire for alcohol, the only effort necessary being that required to follow a few simple rules. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (The Doctor's Opinion) p. xxix Thought to Ponder ...Continue Reading