*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 29, 2017* *Self-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 PonderHumility is not thinking less of myself, but thinking of ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 28, 2017* *Unreasonable Demands*We can try to stop making unreasonable demands upon those we love. We can show kindness where we had shown none. With those we dislike we can begin to practice justice and courtesy, perhaps going out of our way to understand and help them. Whenever we fail any of these people, we can promptly admit it—to ourselves always, and to them also, when the admission would be helpful. - - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 93 Thoug ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 27, 2017 InstinctsWe 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,/ pp, 114 - 115 *Thought to Ponder . . .*Get it - Give it - Grow in it. *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 26, 2017* *Profound Change*"It has often been said of A.A. that we are interested only on alcoholism. That is not true. We have to get over drinking in order to stay alive. But anyone who knows the alcoholic personality by firsthand contact knows that no true alky ever stops drinking permanently without undergoing a profound personality change." - As Bill Sees It, p. 1 Thought to PonderIf I don't change, my sobriety date will. AA-related 'Alconym'* ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 25, 2017* *Reality*I lived in a dream world. A.A. led me gently from this fantasizing to embrace reality with open arms. And I found it beautiful! For, at last, I was at peace with myself. And with others. And with God.  - Alcoholics Anonymous,p. 559 Thought to Ponder. From darkness comes light. AA-related 'Alconym'*G I F T*  =  *G*od *I*s *F*orever *T*here   Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, strength and hop ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 24, 2017* *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, p. 60 Thought to PonderI can't, God can, I'll ask Him to. AA-related 'Alconym'*F R ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 23, 2017 A Family DiseaseIt is important for me to realize that, as an alcoholic, I not only hurt myself, but also those around me. Meaking amends to my family, and to the families of alcoholics still suffering, will always be important. Understanding the havoc I created and trying to repair the destruction, will be a lifelong endeavor. The example of my sobriety may give others hope, and faith to help themselves.- Daily Reflections, p. 173 Thought to Ponder . . ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 22, 2017* *Guilt and Pride*Guilt is really the reserve side of the coin of pride. Guilt aims at self-destruction, and pride aims at the destruction of others. - As Bill Sees It, p. 140 Thought to PonderSwallowing my pride will not get me drunk. AA-related 'Alconym'*C H A N G E*  =  *C*hoosing *H*umility *A*llows *N*ew *G*ifts and *E*nergy.   Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, strength and hope in carrying the AA ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 21, 2017* *Step Eleven*"Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God _as we understood Him_, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out." 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.  - 12 Ste ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 20, 2017* ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Fully ConcedeWe learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics.  This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed.- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 30 Thought to PonderThe Twelve Steps  --  a manuscript for rational living. AA-related 'Alconym'*A B C*  =  *A*cceptance, *B*elief, *C*hange.   *A Member ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 19, 2017* 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 PonderSpiritual progress isn't what gets us sober, it's what keeps us sober. AA-related 'Alconym'*K I S S*  =  *K*eeping *I*t *S*impl ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 18, 2017* Our BehaviorTo escape looking at the wrongs we have done another, we resentfully focus on the wrong he has done us. This is especially true if he has, in fact, behaved badly at all. Triumphantly we seize upon his misbehavior as the perfect excuse for minimizing or forgetting our own. Right here we need to fetch ourselves up sharply. . . Let's remember that alcoholics are not the only ones bedeviled by sick emotions. Moreover, it is usually a fact that ou ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 17, 2017*   Our DilemmaLack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a /Power greater than ourselves/. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power? Well, that’s exactly what this book is about. Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem.- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 45 Thought to PonderNo God, no peace — know God, know peace. AA-related 'A ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 16, 2017*   Without Defense/The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink./- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 24 Thought to PonderThe first drink has t ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 15, 2017*   Step Eight/"Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."/ We might next ask ourselves what we mean when we say that we have “harmed” other people. What kinds of “harm” do people do one another, anyway? To define the word “harm” in a practical way, we might call it the result of instincts in collision, which cause physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual damage to people.- 12 Steps & 12 ...Continue Reading