*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 10, 2016* *Spiritual Awakening* It became clear that, at least for me, the “spiritual awakening” mentioned in the Twelfth Step had to mean “an awakening of the spirit”—i.e., no matter how swift or prolonged the process might be, I had to come awake, alive in my spirit as a human being.  From that time on, I have had very few, if any, hang-ups with the word “spiritual” as used in the AA program. /- The Best of the Grapevine / [Vol. 1], pp. 179-180 *Thought ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 9, 2016* *Bankrupt Idealists* Most alcoholics are bankrupt idealists.  Nearly every one of us had wished to do great good, perform great deeds, and embody great ideals. We are all perfectionists who, failing perfection, have gone to the other extreme and settled for the bottle and the blackout. Providence, through AA, had brought us within reach of our highest expectations. /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ p. 156 *Thought to Ponder . . .* My faults ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 8, 2016 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Warped Perception It mattered little whether we had sat on the shore of life drinking ourselves into forgetfulness or had plunged in recklessly and willfully beyond our depth and ability. The result was the same—all of us had nearly perished in a sea of alcohol.* /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ pp. 123-124 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Few people have the imagination to see reality. AA-related 'Alconym' . . . *S W A T** ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 7, 2016* *Discovery* The Big Book tells me, an alcoholic, how I can use the Twelve Steps to cope with my problems and discover who I am. The Third Step gave me a perspective from outside myself, an objective viewpoint from which I could see myself as I am, not as I would like to be, and thus helped me to approach what is now the excitement of living. /- AA Around the World,/ p. 62 *Thought to Ponder . . .* A new world came into view. *AA-related 'Alconym' . . ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 6, 2016* *Meetings* I am still amazed at the aura around AA meetings. I still marvel at the way a group of very ego-driven people quiets down to a hush when the chairperson announces the beginning of a meeting, at the attention when the Steps are read, at the courtesy given to the speaker. No matter what our immediate problems, fears, or resentments, we come to a halt when the meeting begins and focus on our primary purpose. /- The Home Group,/ p. 36 *Thought t ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 5, 2016 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Making Amends The alcoholic may find it hard to re-establish friendly relations with his children. Their young minds were impressionable while he was drinking. . . In time they will see that he is a new man and in their own way they will let him know it.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 134 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Don't mess up an amend with an excuse. AA-related 'Alconym' . . . *T G I F** = **T**hank **G**od **I**'m **F**org ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 4, 2016* *Hope* The beauty of AA lies in knowing that my life, with God’s help, will improve. The AA journey becomes richer, the understanding becomes truth, the dreams become realities—and today becomes forever. /- Daily Reflections,/ p. 167 *Thought to Ponder . . .* Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible. *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *H O P E* = **H**eart **O**pen; **P**lease **E**nter. Thanks to all of you for sharing so ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 3, 2016* *Mountain Climbing* I was brought up in a little Yankee town of about fifty houses, East Dorset, Vermont. I was born under the shadow of a mountain there called Mount Aeolus. An early recollection is one of looking up and seeing that mysterious mountain and wondering what it was and whether I would ever climb that high. But I was presently distracted by my aunt who, as a fourth-birthday present, made me a plate of fudge. For the next thirty-five years I ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 2, 2016* *The Spiritual Aspect* I had mocked the spiritual aspect of our program on many previous occasions, claiming that this God business was for sissies and hypocrites. But this time it was different.  After my last drunk, I knew that it would be death or insanity if I kept on drinking.  This time, I prayed. I somehow felt that if there /was/ a Power greater than myself who could relieve me from this suffering, then I had better try to find Him. /- ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 1, 2016 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Making a List The inventory was ours, not the other man’s. When we saw our faults we listed them.  We placed them before us in black and white. We admitted our wrongs honestly and were willing to set these matters straight.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 67 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes and to make amends for them. AA-related 'Alconym' . . . *H O W** = **H**onesty, **O ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 31, 2016* *Self-concern* “If we cannot or will not achieve sobriety, then we become truly lost, right in the here and now. We are of no value to anyone, including ourselves, until we find salvation from alcohol. Therefore, our own recovery and spiritual growth have to come first-- a right and necessary kind of self-concern.” /- As Bill Sees It,/ p. 81 *Thought to Ponder . . .* Keep your sobriety first to make it last. *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *A A* = **A**c ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 30, 2016* *Discovery* I discovered a fellowship of human beings that I’d never seen before. I learned how to have self-respect through work that AA gave me to do. I learned how to be a friend. I learned how to go out and help other people—there was nowhere else I could have done that, I have learned that the more I give, the more I will have; the more I learn to give, the more I learn to live. /- Experience, Strength and Hope,/ p. 218 *Thought to Ponder . . .* L ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 29, 2016 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ The Twelfth Suggestion Carry this message to other alcoholics!  You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 89 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *In AA we don't carry the alcoholic; we carry the message. AA-related 'Alconym' . . . *E S H** = **E**xperience, **S**trength and **H**ope. ** *A Member Shares: I'm Peyton, an alcoholic.  I never dreamed when I ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 28, 2016* *Maturity* When I look back now, 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 * ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *May 27, 2016* *Love and Laughter* People who love laugh more and believe that a day without laughter is a lost day. Love is the cement for the unity we need in AA. It joins the power of the mind and the heart for emotional growth. /- The Best of the Grapevine/ [Vol. 3], p. 297 *Thought to Ponder . . .* Take time to laugh -- it is the music of the soul. *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *H J F* = **H**appy, **J**oyous, **F**ree. Thanks to all of you for sharing so gener ...Continue Reading