*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 15, 2015* *Staying Flexible* *During active alcoholism, many of us led pretty disorganized lives, and the confusion often made us feel unsettled or even desperate. Learning not to drink is facilitated, we have discovered, by introducing some order into each day -- but being realistic and keeping our plan flexible. The rhythm of our own special routine has a soothing effect, and an apt principle around which to organize some orderliness is -- yes, "First ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 14, 2015* *Rewards* *Even the newest of newcomers finds undreamed rewards as he tries to help his brother alcoholic, the one who is even blinder than he. This is the kind of giving that actually demands nothing.  He does not expect his brother to pay him, or even to love him. And then he discovers that by the divine paradox of this kind of giving he has found his own reward, whether his brother has yet received anything or not.* /- Twelve Steps and Twel ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 13, 2015 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ All-inclusive We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of the Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek.  It is open, we believe, to all men.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 46 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Happiness and peace of mind are always here, open and free to anyone. AA-related 'Alconym' . . . *A A** = **A**ll ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 12, 2015* *Facing Challenges* *I know now I have a lot of work to do.  There are more amends to be made, letters to be sent, Twelfth Step work to do, responsibilities to be assumed, and honest talks to be had with loved ones. Life is meant to be lived by facing the challenges it brings.  Otherwise, I'm not living, just existing. God didn't give me this gift of sobriety to sit in a rocking chair, imagining myself as some wise old woman who has arriv ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 11, 2015* *Action* *We shall have to come to grips with some of our worst character defects* *and take action toward their removal as quickly as we can.* *The moment we say, "No, never!" our minds close against the grace of God.* *Delay is dangerous, and rebellion may be fatal.* /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ p, 69 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *When I got busy, I got better.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *A A* = **A**ccountable **A**ction ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *February 23, 2013* *Easier, Softer Way* *When I couldn't find an easier, softer way, I looked for a person with the magic wand, the one person in AA who could make me all better, right now. This was a frustrating task . . . I finally realized that if I wanted this life, I was going to have to do what the others had done. No one made me drink, and no one was going to make me sober. This program is for people who want it, not people who need it.* /- Alcoholics Ano ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 9, 2015 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Insanity It is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people. The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing.  Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 30 *Thought to Pond ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 8, 2015* *A Simple Program* *You are free to disagree or disregard any or all portions of this simple program.  That's your choice. But if you cannot stay sober or have not found happiness, joy, and freedom outlined in chapter five of the Big Book, I offer this suggestion: "Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple prog ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 7, 2015* *Suggestions* *I remember my sponsor's answer when I told him that the Steps were "suggested." He replied that they are "suggested" in the same way that, if you were to jump out of an airplane with a parachute, it is "suggested" that you pull the ripcord to save your life. So I try to remember daily that I have a whole program of recovery based on all Twelve of the "suggested" Steps.* /- Daily Reflections,/ p. ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 6, 2015 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ A Paradox On the face of it, /surrendering/ certainly does not seem like /winning./  But it is in A.A. Only after we have come to the end of our rope, hit a stone wall in some aspect of our lives beyond which we can go no further; only when we hit "bottom" in despair and surrender, can we accomplish sobriety which we could never accomplish before. We must, and we do, surrender in order to win.* /- Alcoholics ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 5, 2015* *Pass It On* *". . . I'll never forget the first time I met Bill Wilson.  I was a couple of months sober, and so excited, so thrilled to actually meet the co-founder that I gushed all over him with what my sobriety meant to me and my un-dying gratitude for his starting AA. When I ran down, he took my hand in his and said simply, 'Pass it on.' "* /- 'Pass It On",/ Foreword *Thought to Ponder . . .* *A candle loses nothing by ligh ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 4, 2015* *The Turning Point* *Remember that we deal with alcohol -- cunning, baffling, powerful!  Without help, it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power -- that One is God.  May you find Him now! Half-measures availed us nothing.  We stood at the turning point. We asked His care and protection with complete abandon.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ pp. 58-59 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *We were at the jumping-off place.* *AA-related ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 3, 2015* *An Unshakable Foundation* *There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation, and prayer. Taken separately, these practices can bring much relief and benefit. But when they are logically related and interwoven, the result is an unshakeable foundation for life.* /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ p. 98 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *What is now proved was once only imagined.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *P U S H* = **P**ray **U**ntil ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 2, 2015 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Awakening When a man or a woman has a spiritual awakening, the most important meaning of it is that he has now become able to do, feel, and believe that which he could not do on his unaided strength and resources alone. He has been granted a gift which amounts to a new state of consciousness and being.* /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ pp. 106-107 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *A spiritual awakening is our greatest gift ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *December 1, 2015* *Action* *In shame and despair, I went to my first AA meeting.  By some minor miracle, I was able to suspend opinion, analysis, judgment, and criticism, and instead to listen and hear. I heard someone say that AA works for those who work for it, those who put /action/ into the program. . . I heard that I should forget about yesterday and instead concentrate on today and staying away from the first drink today -- now.  I tried it and it wor ...Continue Reading