*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 25, 2016* *“When We Were Wrong—“* We should attempt, in a spirit of humility and deep reflection, to see clearly where we were wrong. It helps to discuss these failures with other members, in order to crystalize our mistakes and prevent their recurrence. /- The Best of the Grapevine/ [Vol. 1], pp. 19-20 *Thought to Ponder . . .* It's not making a mistake that will kill me.  It's defending it that does the damage. *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *N O W* = ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 24, 2016* *Silent Revolution* Almost imperceptibly my whole life underwent a silent revolution. I lost many worries and gained confidence.  I found myself saying and thinking things that a short time ago I would have condemned as platitudes! A belief in the basic spirituality of life has grown and with it belief in a supreme and guiding power for good. /- Experience, Strength and Hope,/ p.107 *Thought to Ponder . . .* What are you coming to believe?&nbs ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 23, 2016 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ A Common Bond* We are people who normally would not mix. But there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful. . . . The feeling of having shared in a common peril is one element in the powerful cement which binds us. /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 17 *Thought to Ponder . . .* We need to share our problems to find our solutions. AA-related 'Alconym' . . . *E S H* = ** ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 22, 2016* *Listening* Under the lash of alcoholism, we are driven to AA, and there we discover the fatal nature of our situation. Then, and only then, do we become as open-minded to conviction and as willing to listen as the dying can be. We stand ready to do anything which will lift the merciless obsession from us. /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ p.24 *Thought to Ponder . . .* Learn to listen; listen to learn. *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *A A* = * ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 21, 2016* *Belonging* I think I stopped maturing at fifteen when I started to get drunk with the older guys. I wanted to feel at peace with myself and comfortable with other people. I never found it in drinking. The belonging I always wanted I have found in AA and in sobriety. /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 485 *Thought to Ponder . . .* The sense of belonging is tremendously exciting. *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *Y A N A* = **Y**ou **A**re **N**ot **A**lone. ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 20, 2016* *Complacency* When I am feeling good and things are going well, I can become complacent. To put it simply, I become lazy and turn into the problem instead of the solution. I need to get into action, to take stock:  where am I and where am I going? A daily inventory will tell me what I must change to regain spiritual balance. /- Daily Reflections,/ p. 283 *Thought to Ponder . . .* Inventory-taking is not always done in red ink. *AA-related 'Al ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 19, 2016 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Self-righteousness* This odd trait of mind and emotion, this perverse wish to hide a bad motive underneath a good one, permeates human affairs from top to bottom. This subtle and elusive kind of self-righteousness can underlie the smallest act or thought. Learning daily to spot, admit, and correct these flaws is the essence of character-building and good living. /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ pp. 94-95 *Thought to ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 18, 2016* *Let Go* We thought we could find an easier, softer way.  But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely. /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 58 *Thought to Ponder . . .* Get a grip on letting go. *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *K I S S* = **K**eep **I**t **S**imple; **S**urrende ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 17, 2016* *Healing Ourselves* Trying to heal ourselves by helping others works, even when it is an insincere gesture. Try it some time.  If you really listen to (not just hear) what is being said, you may find the person talking has quietly slipped inside your head and seems to be describing the landscape there—the shifting shapes of nameless fears, the color and chill of impending doom—if not the actual events and words stored in your brain. /- Living S ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 16, 2016 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Resentments* It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worthwhile. But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave.  We found that it is fatal. /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 66 *Thought t ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 15, 2016* *Insight* In one flash of insight I saw that if I were to wait for all the other people to shape up, I was going to get drunk and stay drunk a long, long time. In that instant I saw that all the things I had considered facts, were not facts at all, but my own thoughts.  And this was very fortunate, because I could do something about changing my thoughts but nothing about changing the people around me.  So the fault was mine after all. /- T ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 14, 2016* *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 *Tho ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 13, 2016* *Our Common Solution* The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious action. This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism. /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 17 *Thought to Ponder . . .* Life will take on new meaning. *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *H E L P* = **H**ope, **E**ncour ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 12, 2016 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ No Reservations* If we are planning to stop drinking, there must be no reservation of any kind, nor any lurking notion that someday we will be immune to alcohol. /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 33 *Thought to Ponder . . .* If we want to quit drinking, we are going to have to quit drinking. AA-related 'Alconym' . . . *A A* = **A**bsolute **A**bstinence. ** *A Member Shares:* I am Mike, a very grateful alcoholic.  NO RESE ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 11, 2016* *A True Cliché* Another cliché is equally true:  We keep sobriety by giving it away. When I went, reluctantly, to my first AA meeting, I was on a desperate treadmill. But as a half hour passed, something penetrated my closed mind. I began to get a feeling of hope.  There was something about those people; they seemed carefree, and there was a joy I hadn’t experienced for a long time. There was total acceptance for that chap in ...Continue Reading