*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 20, 2014* *A Possibility* *The idea that religion and spirituality were not one and the same was a new notion. My sponsor asked that I merely remain open-minded to the possibility that there was a Power greater than myself, one of my own understanding. . . Reluctantly, I opened my mind to the fact that maybe, just maybe, there was something to this spiritual lifestyle. Slowly but surely, I realized there was indeed a Power greater than myself.* /- Alcoholics ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 19, 2014 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Listening For weeks I sat in the back of the rooms, silent when others shared their experience, strength and hope. I listened to their stories and found so many areas where we overlapped -- not all of the deeds, but the feelings of remorse and hopelessness.  I learned that alcoholism isn't a sin, it's a disease. That lifted the guilt I felt.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/p. 344 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *I listen for dir ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 18, 2014* *Daily Discipline* *Meditation and prayer also teach me the art of focusing and listening. I find that the turmoil of the day gets tuned out as I pray for His will and guidance. . . The daily discipline of prayer and meditation will keep me in fit spiritual condition, able to face whatever the day brings -- without the thought of a drink.* /- Daily Reflections,/ p. 317 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *I listen for direction now.* *AA-related 'Alconym' ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 17, 2014* *Depression* *My depression deepened unbearably and finally it seemed to me as though I were at the very bottom of the pit. I still gagged badly on the notion of a Power greater than myself, but finally, just for the moment, the last vestige of my proud obstinacy was crushed. All at once I found myself crying out, "If there is a God, let Him show Himself!  I am ready to do anything, anything!" Suddenly the room lit up with a great wh ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 16, 2014 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ A New Happiness We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.  We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ pp. 83-84 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Happiness is part of the journey, not some distant destination. ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 15, 2014* *Gratitude* *Today I am grateful for a new life, one in which my prayers are those of thanksgiving. My prayer time is more for listening than for talking. I know today that if I cannot change the wind, I can adjust my sail.* /- Daily Reflections,/ p. 314 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *H J F* = **H**appy, **J**oyous, **F**ree. Thanks to all of you for sharin ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 14, 2014* *Indispensable* *When we find ourselves up-tight and even frantic, we can ask ourselves occasionally, "Am I really that indispensable?" or "Is this hurry really necessary?" What a relief to find the honest answer is frequently no! And such devices actually serve, in the long run, not only to help us get over our drinking problem and its old ways; they also enable us to become far more productive, because we conserve and channel ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 13, 2014* *Bill W. Shares:* *It is traditional in AA that we do not make speeches; we just talk about our own experiences. . . 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 vast and mysterious mountain wondering what it was and whether I would ever climb that high. But I was presently distract ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 13, 2014* *Bill W. Shares:* *It is traditional in AA that we do not make speeches; we just talk about our own experiences. . . 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 vast and mysterious mountain wondering what it was and whether I would ever climb that high. But I was presently distract ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 12, 2014 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Willingness I pray for the willingness to let go of my arrogant self-criticism, and to praise God by humbly accepting and caring for myself.* /- Daily Reflections,/ p. 324 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Trying to pray is praying.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* **W I L L I N G** = **W**hen **I** *L*ive **L**ife, **I** **N**eed **G**od. ** *A Member Shares: Hi!  I'm Di, an alcoholic.  I think the one single thing you ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 11, 2014* *Seduction* *Although alcohol is not a part of my life and I no longer have the compulsion to drink, it can still occur to me what a good drink tastes like and what it can do for me, from my stand-at-attention alcoholic taste buds right down to my stretched out tingling toes. As my sponsor used to point out, such thoughts are like red flags, telling me that something is not right, that I am stretched beyond my sober limit.  It's time to get ba ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 10, 2014* *Understanding* *None of us has to understand God or worry about things beyond our control. We can indulge ourselves in the luxury of not-worrying.  Any of us can handle just one day; all each of us has to try at is our own job, our own family life.  We don't have to try fixing up the whole world or understanding what no theologian of any faith has ever understood.  We simply stop messing in God's business. And in my opinion, when we ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 9, 2014 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Action It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe.  We are not cured of alcoholism.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 85 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *There is action and more action.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* **A A** = **A**ccountable **A**ctions. ** *A Member Shares: Heya Friends, I'm an alcoholic and my problem is Ch ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 8, 2014* *Belonging* *Perhaps one of the greatest rewards of meditation and prayer is the sense of /belonging/ that comes to us. We no longer live in a completely hostile world.  We are no longer lost and frightened and purposeless. The moment we catch even a glimpse of God's will, the moment we begin to see truth, justice, and love as the real and eternal things in life, we are no longer deeply disturbed by all the seeming evidence that surrounds us in ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *November 7, 2014* *Prayer* *Prayer has become a habit with me.  Anytime is the time for prayer: in the street, in the factory, sitting still, walking about, or actively engaged upon some task. I must always bear in mind that, like a good parent, God often says no. And the simplest prayer is "God, thank you, thank you." I have so much to be thankful for, and sobriety tops the list.* /- Thank You For Sharing,/ p. 192 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Prayers m ...Continue Reading