*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 6, 2018* *Design for Living* We, in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, "a design for living" that really works. - Alcoholics Anonymous, "There Is A Solution" p. 28 Thought to Ponder The Twelve Steps — a manuscript for rational living. AA-related 'Alconym' *A A*&n ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 5, 2018* *Amends* Above all, we should try to be absolutely sure that we are not delaying because we are afraid. For the readiness to take the full consequences of our past acts, and to take responsibility for the well-being of others at the same time, is the very spirit of Step Nine. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, "Step Nine" p. 87 Thought to Ponder It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes and to make amends for them. AA-re ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 4, 2018* *Spiritual Progress First* The head of the house ought to remember that he is mainly to blame for what befell his home. He can scarcely square the account in his lifetime. But he must see the danger of over-concentration on financial success. Although financial recovery is on the way for many of us, we found we could not place money first. For us, material well-being always followed spiritual progress; it never preceded. - Alcoholics Anonymous, "Th ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 3, 2018* *A Real Chance* 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 Growing old is inevitable, growing ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) December 2, 2018 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Forgiveness* This vital Step was also the means by which we began to get the feeling that we could be forgiven, no matter what we had thought or done. Often it was while working on this Step with our sponsors or spiritual advisers that we first felt truly able to forgive others, no matter how deeply we felt they had wronged us.  - Twelve Steps andTwelve Traditions, "Step Five," pp. 57 - 58 Thought to Ponder To b ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 1, 2018* *Humility* To those of us who have hitherto known only excitement, depression, or anxiety—in other words, to all of us—this newfound peace is a priceless gift. Something new indeed has been added. Where humility had formerly stood for a forced feeding on humble pie, it now begins to mean the nourishing ingredient which can give us serenity. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, "Step Seven" p. 74 Thought to Ponder Humility is not thinking ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 30, 2018* *Willingness* But now it appears that there are certain things which only the individual can do. All by himself, and in the light of his own circumstances, he needs to develop the quality of willingness. When he acquires willingness, he is the only one who can make the decision to exert himself. Trying to do this is an act of his own will. All of the Twelve Steps require sustained and personal exertion to conform to their principles and so, we trust ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 29, 2018* *Sold on the Ideas* His alcoholic problem was so complex, and his depression so great, that we felt his only hope would be through what we then called "moral psychology," and we doubted if even that would have any effect. However, he did become "sold" on the ideas contained in this book. He has not had a drink for a great many years. I see him now and then and he is as fine a specimen of manhood as one could wish to meet. - Alco ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 28, 2018* *A Genuine Reliance* We could actually have earnest religious beliefs which remained barren because we were still trying to play God ourselves. As long as we placed self-reliance first, a genuine reliance upon a Higher Power was out of the question. That basic ingredient of all humility, a desire to seek and do God's will, was missing. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 72 Thought to Ponder Action without prayer is self-reliance. Prayer with ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 27, 2018* *Faith* In this book you read again and again that faith did for us what we could not do for ourselves. We hope you are convinced now that God can remove whatever self-will has blocked you off from Him. If you have already made a decision, and an inventory of your grosser handicaps, you have made a good beginning. That being so you have swallowed and digested some big chunks of truth about yourself. - Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 70 - 71 Thought to P ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 26, 2018* *A Few Simple Rules* 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, p. xxix Thought to Ponder A spiritual awakenin ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) November 25, 2018 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Spiritual Malady* Resentment is the "number one" offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.  - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 64 Thought to Ponder Resentment is like acid, eating away at ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 24, 2018* *Fear* The chief activator of our defects has been self-centered fear—primarily fear that we would lose something we already possessed or would fail to get something we demanded. Living upon a basis of unsatisfied demands, we were in a state of continual disturbance and frustration. Therefore, no peace was to be had unless we could find a means of reducing these demands. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 76 Thought to Ponder All I have feare ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 23, 2018* *Errors to Assets* Henry Ford once made a wise remark to the effect that experience is the thing of supreme value in life. That is true only if one is willing to turn the past to good account. We grow by our willingness to face and rectify errors and convert them into assets. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 124 Thought to Ponder The first step in overcoming mistakes is to admit them. AA-related 'Alconym' *F A I T H*  =  *F*acing *A*ll, *I*ntu ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 22, 2018* *Blessings Received* Having so considered our day, not omitting to take due note of things well done, and having searched our hearts with neither fear nor favor, we can truly thank God for the blessings we have received and sleep in good conscience. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 95 Thought to Ponder Gratitude is a most effective painkiller for the alcoholic. AA-related 'Alconym' *B E S T*  =  *B*een *E*njoying *S*obriety *T*od ...Continue Reading