*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 25, 2015 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ An Attitude of Gratitude When I was drinking, my attitude was totally selfish, totally self-centered; my pleasure and my comfort came first. Now that I am sober, self-seeking has started to slip away. My whole attitude toward life and other people is changing. . . . My attitude now is that I am willing to go to any length to stay sober!* /- Daily Reflections,/ p. 161 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Grateful is a feeling.  ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 24, 2015* *A New Life* *I was allowing others to control my sense of well-being and behavior. I came to understand that the behavior, opinions and thoughts of others were none of my business. The only business I was to be concerned with was my own! I asked my Higher Power to remove from me everything that stood in the way of my usefulness to Him and others, and to help me build a new life.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 468 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *New idea ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 23, 2015* *Honesty* *I know the biggest word for me in AA is "honesty." I don't believe this program would work for me if I didn't get honest with myself about everything. Honesty is the easiest word for me to understand because it is the exact opposite of what I've been doing all my life. Therefore, it will be the hardest to work on. But I will never be totally honest with myself -- that would make me perfect, and none of us can claim to be perfect ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 22, 2015* *An Answer* *If you still think you are strong enough to beat the game alone, that is your affair. But if you really and truly want to quit drinking liquor for good and all, and sincerely feel that you must have some help, we know that we have an answer for you. It never fails, if you go about it with one half the zeal you have been in the habit of showing when you were getting another drink.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 181 *Thought to Ponder . . ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 21, 2015 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Fearlessness If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it -- then you are ready to take certain steps. At some of these we balked.  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 ni ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 20, 2015* *Contrasts* *The simple contrast between active alcoholism and active sobriety has helped me to seek, to listen, and to apply the good principles of living, and I am rewarded with much more excitement and joy than was mine before AA sobriety.* /- Came To Believe . . .,/ p. 4 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *The joy is in the journey, so enjoy the ride.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *B E S T* = **B**een **E**njoying **S**obriety **T**oday? Thanks to all ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 19, 2015* *Expectations* *Until I could honestly look at myself and see that I was the problem in many situations and react appropriately inside and out; until I could discard my expectations and understand that my serenity was directly proportional to them, I could not experience serenity and sound sobriety.* /- Daily Reflections,/ p. 71 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *My disappointments are equal to my expectations.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *H A L T* = ** ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 18, 2015 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Service in AA An AA service is anything whatever that helps us reach a fellow sufferer -- ranging all the way from the Twelfth Step itself to a ten-cent phone call and a cup of coffee, and to our General Service Office for worldwide AA work.  The sum total of /all/ these is our Third Legacy of Service. Whether performed by individuals or groups or areas of AA as a whole, these activities are vital to our existence and ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 17, 2015* *The Tremendous Fact* *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 . . .* *Walk softly and carry a Big Book.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *A B C* = **A**ccept, **B ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 16, 2015* *Humility* *Until now, our lives have been largely devoted to running from pain and problems. Escape via the bottle was always the solution.  Then, in AA, we looked and listened. Everywhere we saw failure and misery transformed by humility into priceless assets.* /- As Bill Sees It,/ p. 156 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Humility is not thinking less of myself, but thinking of my self less.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *A A* = **A**lways **A**li ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 15, 2015* *Adolescent Urges* *Those adolescent urges that so many of us have for top approval, perfect security, and perfect romance -- urges quite appropriate to age seventeen -- prove to be an impossible way of life when we are at age forty-seven or fifty-seven. Since AA began, I've taken immense wallops in all these areas because of my failure to grow up, emotionally and spiritually. My God, how painful it is to keep demanding the impossible, and how very ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 14, 2015 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ An Open Mind All you really need is a truly open mind.  Just resign from the debating society and quit bothering yourself with such deep questions as whether it was the hen or the egg that came first. Again I say, all you need is the open mind.* /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ p. 26 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Minds are like parachutes -- they won't work unless they're open. AA-related 'Alconym' . . . *H O W** ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 13, 2015* *The Grapevine* *After a while, I began reading the Grapevine.  I like to read the Grapevine because it raps my knuckles, slaps my back, tickles my funny bone, and shakes my hand, all at the same time. It is a critic, a guide, a good-natured friend, and an unmitigated joy. I am in love with the Grapevine, that's what I am.  I love it so much I steal from it.  So do my friends.* /- The Best of the Grapevine/ [Vol. 2], p. 267 *Thought ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 12, 2015* *Sponsorship* *Whether you are a newcomer who is hesitant about "bothering" anyone, or a member who has been around for some time trying to go it alone, sponsorship is yours for the asking. We urge you: /Do not delay./  Alcoholics recovered in AA /want/ to share what they have learned with other alcoholics. We know that our own sobriety is greatly strengthened when we give it away!* /- Questions and Answers on Sponsorship,/ AA Pamphle ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *October 11, 2015 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Meetings Sometimes, the body can speak an eloquent language all its own.  I see and feel that in meetings. So coming to regular meetings of AA is a priceless experience for me on a great many levels -- mental, spiritual, social, emotional, and now possible physical.  Listening quietly is already a joy to me, and if it calms me down and lowers my blood pressure in the process, that's just another great reason to ke ...Continue Reading