*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 8, 2019* *Gravely Affected* To be gravely affected, one does not necessarily have to drink a long time nor take the quantities some of us have. This is particularly true of women. Potential female alcoholics often turn into the real thing and are gone beyond recall in a few years. Certain drinkers, who would be greatly insulted if called alcoholics, are astonished at their inability to stop. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (More About Alcoholism) p. 33 Thought to Pon ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 7, 2019* *Two Alternatives* If you are as seriously alcoholic as we were, we believe there is no middle-of-the-road solution. We were in a position where life was becoming impossible, and if we had passed into the region from which there is no return through human aid, we had but two alternatives: One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could; and the other, to accept spiritual help. - Alcoholi ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) October 6, 2019 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Fully Concede* 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. We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery.  - Alcoholics Anonymous, (More About Alcoholism) p. 30  Tho ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 5, 2019* *Disturbance* We had to see that when we harbored grudges and planned revenge for such defeats, we were really beating ourselves with the club of anger we had intended to use on others. We learned that if we were seriously disturbed, our first need was to quiet that disturbance, regardless of who or what we thought caused it. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Four) p. 47 Thought to Ponder As we go through the day we pause, when agitated or ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 4, 2019* *Progress* "Day by day, we try to move a little toward God's perfection. So we need not be consumed by maudlin guilt for failure to achieve His likeness and image by Thursday next. Progress is our aim, and His perfection is the beacon, light-years away, that draws us on." - As Bill Sees It, p. 15 Thought to Ponder Spiritual progress isn't what gets us sober, it's what keeps us sober. AA-related 'Alconym' *F R O G*  =  *F*ully *R* ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 3, 2019* *Daily Inventory* More experienced people, of course, in all times and places have practiced unsparing self-survey and criticism. For the wise have always known that no one can make much of his life until self-searching becomes a regular habit, until he is able to admit and accept what he finds, and until he patiently and persistently tries to correct what is wrong. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Ten) p. 88 Thought to Ponder I can’t fix ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 2, 2019* *Humility* As we have seen, self-searching is the means by which we bring new vision, action, and grace to bear upon the dark and negative side of our natures. It is a step in the development of that kind of humility that makes it possible for us to receive God's help. Yet it is only a step. We will want to go further. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eleven) p. 98 Thought to Ponder From darkness comes light. AA-related 'Alconym' *S T E P ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 1, 2019* *Self-restraint* Nothing pays off like restraint of tongue and pen. We must avoid quick-tempered criticism and furious, power-driven argument. The same goes for sulking or silent scorn. These are emotional booby traps baited with pride and vengefulness. Our first job is to sidestep the traps. When we are tempted by the bait, we should train ourselves to step back and think. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Ten) p. 91 Thought to Ponder The ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *September 30, 2019* *Change* 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 ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) September 29, 2019 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Step Nine - Amends* Under no condition do we criticize such a person or argue. Simply tell him that we will never get over drinking until we have done our utmost to straighten out the past. We are there to sweep off our side of the street, realizing that nothing worth while can be accomplished until we do so, never trying to tell him what he should do. His faults are not discussed. We stick to our own.  - Alcoholics Ano ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *September 28, 2019* *The Serenity Prayer* In 1941, a news clipping was called to our attention by a New York member. In an obituary notice from a local paper, there appeared these words: "God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Never had we seen so much A.A. in so few words. With amazing speed the Serenity Prayer came into general use. - As Bill Sees It, ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *September 27, 2019* *Spiritual Experience* We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience. The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly.  We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 75 Thought to Ponder The ultimate defense against the first drink is a spir ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *September 26, 2019* *The Fifth Step* When we decide who is to hear our story, we waste no time. We have a written inventory and we are prepared for a long talk. We explain to our partner what we are about to do and why we have to do it. He should realize that we are engaged upon a life-and-death errand. Most people approached in this way will be glad to help; they will be honored by our confidence. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 75 Thought to Ponder Clear v ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *September 25, 2019* *Sound Minds and Bodies* God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors, psychologists, and practitioners of various kinds. Do not hesitate to take your health problems to such persons. Most of them give freely of themselves, that their fellows may enjoy sound minds and bodies. Try to remember that though God has wrought miracles among us, we should never belittle a good doctor or psychiatrist. Their services are often indispensable in tr ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *September 24, 2019* *Tradition Nine* A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Appendix One) p. 562 Thought to Ponder We are but trusted servants. AA-related 'Alconym' *A N O N Y M O U S*  =  *A*ctions, *N*ot *O*ur *N*ames *Y*ield *M*aintenance *O*f *U*nity & *S*ervice. Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, ...Continue Reading