AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) April 21, 2019 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *A Fair Hearing* We looked at the human defects of these people, and sometimes used their shortcomings as a basis of wholesale condemnation. We talked of intolerance, while we were intolerant ourselves. We missed the reality and the beauty of the forest because we were diverted by the ugliness of some of its trees. We never gave the spiritual side of life a fair hearing.  - Alcoholics Anonymous, (We Agnostics) p. 50  T ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 20, 2019* *Honestly Sought* Even so has God restored us all to our right minds. To this man, the revelation was sudden. Some of us grow into it more slowly. But He has come to all who have honestly sought Him. When we drew near to Him He disclosed Himself to us!  - Alcoholics Anonymous, (We Agnostics) p. 57 Thought to Ponder I came; I came to; I came to believe. AA-related 'Alconym' *A B C*  =  *A*cceptance, *B*elief, *C*hange. Thanks to all o ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 19, 2019* *Emotional Insecurity* The most common symptoms of emotional insecurity are worry, anger, self-pity, and depression. These stem from causes which sometimes seem to be within us, and at other times to come from without. To take inventory in this respect we ought to consider carefully all personal relationships which bring continuous or recurring trouble. It should be remembered that this kind of insecurity may arise in any area where instincts are threa ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 18, 2019* *Seriously Disturbed* But in A.A. we slowly learned that something had to be done about our vengeful resentments, self-pity, and unwarranted pride. We had to see that every time we played the big shot, we turned people against us. 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 f ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 17, 2019* *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, ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 16, 2019* *A Square Look* But when we have taken a square look at some of these defects, have discussed them with another, and have become willing to have them removed, our thinking about humility commences to have a wider meaning. By this time in all probability we have gained some measure of release from our more devastating handicaps. We enjoy moments in which there is something like real peace of mind.  - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Seven) ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 15, 2019* Dearest Readers, The Daily Thought from yesterday should read page 60, not page 85.  My apologies.  *Honesty* Somehow, being alone with God doesn't seem as embarrassing as facing up to another person. Until we actually sit down and talk aloud about what we have so long hidden, our willingness to clean house is still largely theoretical. When we are honest with another person, it confirms that we have been honest with ourselves and with God.& ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) April 14, 2019 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Three Pertinent Ideas* Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas: *(a)* That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives. *(b)* That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism. *(c)* That God could and would if He were sought.   - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 85  Thought to Ponder I can ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 13, 2019* *Complete Abandon* Remember that we deal with alcohol—cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power—that One is God. May you find Him now! Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His protection and care with complete abandon. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) pp. 58 - 59 Thought to Ponder When we surrender to our Higher Power, the journey begins. AA-related ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 12, 2019* *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. ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 11, 2019* *The Needed Power* If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered long ago. But we found that such codes and philosophies did not save us, no matter how much we tried. We could wish to be moral, we could wish to be philosophically comforted, in fact, we could will these things with all our might, but the needed power wasn’t there.  - Alcoholics Anonymous, (We Agnostic ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 10, 2019* *Direction* On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.  Under these conditions we can employ our mental faculties with assurance, for after all God gave us brains to use. Our thought-life will be placed on a much higher plane when our thinkin ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 9, 2019* *Harmony* Courtesy, kindness, justice, and love are the keynotes by which we may come into harmony with practically anybody. When in doubt we can always pause, saying, "Not my will, but Thine, be done." And we can often ask ourselves, "Am I doing to others as I would have them do to me—today?"  - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Ten) p. 93 Thought to Ponder I cannot add to the peace and good will of the world if I fai ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 8, 2019* *Self-pity* No words can tell of the loneliness and despair I found in that bitter morass of self-pity. Quicksand stretched around me in all directions. I had met my match. I had been overwhelmed. Alcohol was my master.  - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Bill's Story) p. 8 Thought to Ponder Self-pity is followed by isolation is followed by a drink. AA-related 'Alconym' *P L O M*  =  *P*oor *L*ittle *O*ld *M*e. Thanks to all of you for sharing ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) April 7, 2019 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Daily Reprieve* We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God’s will into all of our activities. "How can I best serve Thee—Thy will (not mine) be done." These are thoughts which must go with us constantly.  - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 85  Thought to Ponder I ...Continue Reading