*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 26, 2014 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Willingness A beginning, even the smallest, is all that is needed. Once we have placed the key of willingness in the lock and have the door ever so slightly open, we find that we can always open it some more. Though self-will may slam it shut again, as it frequently does, it will always respond the moment we again pick up the key of willingness.* /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ p. 35 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *What ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 26, 2014* *Spirituality* *Spirituality is an awakening -- or is it all the loose ends woven together into a mellow fabric? It's understanding -- or is it all the knowledge one need ever to know? It's freedom -- if you consider fear slavery. It's confidence -- or is it the belief that a higher power will see you through any storm or gale? It's adhering to the dictates of your conscience -- or is it a deep, genuine, living concern for the people and the planet? ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 25, 2014* *Understanding* *God began to clear my channels so the real understanding began to come. Then was the time when full realization and acknowledgement came to me. It was the realization and acknowledgement of the fact that I was full of self-pity and resentment, realization of the fact that I had not fully given my problems to God. /I was still trying to do my own fixing./* /- Experience, Strength and Hope,/ p. 22 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *God can on ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 24, 2014 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Making Peace with the Past If we have come to know how wrong thinking and action have hurt us and others, then the need to quit living by ourselves with those tormenting ghosts of yesterday gets more urgent than ever. We have to talk to somebody about them.* /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ p. 55 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Fear not for the future; weep not for the past.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* **P E A C E** = ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 23, 2014* *Serenity* *That word "serenity" looked like an impossible goal when we first saw the prayer. In fact, if serenity meant apathy, bitter resignation, or stolid endurance, then we didn't even want to aim at it. But we found that serenity meant no such thing. . . Serenity is like a gyroscope that lets us keep our balance no matter what turbulence swirls around us. And that is a state of mind worth aiming for.* /- Living Sober,/ p. 19 *Thought ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 22, 2014* *Demands* *The chief activator of our defects has been self-centered fear -- primarily fear that we would lose something we already possessed or would fail to get something we demanded. Living upon a basis of unsatisfied demands, we were in a state of continual disturbance and frustration. Therefore, no peace was to be had unless we could find a means of reducing these demands. The difference between a demand and a simple request is plain to anyone.* ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 21, 2014* *Humility* *To those who have made progress in AA, humility amounts to a clear recognition of what and who we really are, followed by a sincere attempt to become what we could be.* /- As Bill Sees It,/ p. 156 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Humility is not a station we arrive at; it's a way of traveling.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *O D A A T* = **O**ne **D**ay **A**t **A** **T**ime. Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 20, 2014 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Carrying the Message To watch the eyes of men and women open with wonder as they move from darkness to light, to see their lives quickly fill with new purpose and meaning, to see whole families reassembled, to see the alcoholic outcast received back into his community in full citizenship, and above all to watch these people awaken to the presence of a loving God in their lives -- these things are the substance of what we rec ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 19, 2014* *Spiritual Fitness* *I know when I am spiritually fit because at such times I have no desire to escape life, but feel strengthened to deal with everything I am called upon to face.* - The AA Grapevine, June 1960 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Smile!  It's a free facelift.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *A A* = **A**ltered **A**ttitudes. Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, strength and hope in carrying the AA message. ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 18, 2014* *Listening* *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 possibly 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 keep coming back.* /- Thank You ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 17, 2014 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Willingness The essence of all growth is a willingness to change for the better and then an unremitting willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility this entails.* /- As Bill Sees It,/ p. 115 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *If faith without works is dead; then willingness without action is fantasy.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* **W H O** = **W**illlingness, **H**onesty, **O**pen-mindedness. ** *A Member Shares: I'm Peyton, a ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 16, 2014* *Damage Repairs* *Now we go out to our fellows and repair the damage done in the past. We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we haven't the will to do this, we ask until it comes. Remember it was agreed at the beginning /we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol./* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 76 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Don't mess up an amend with ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 15, 2014* *First Things First* *Using "First Things First," we have found it helpful to concentrate first on sobriety alone, steering clear of /any/ risky emotional entanglements. Immature or premature liaisons are crippling to recovery. Only after we have had time to mature somewhat beyond merely not drinking are we equipped to relate maturely to other people.* /- Living Sober,/ p. 62 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Keep your sobriety first to make it l ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 14, 2014* *Philosophy* *A religion, properly, is of divine origin; governs the person in his relationship with his Higher Power; and promises its rewards and punishment after death. A philosophy is of human origin; governs the person in his relationship with his fellowman; and promises its rewards and punishments during life. AA, I submit, is a philosophy.  If we alcoholics follow the philosophy of AA, we can gain an understanding of our several religions ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 13, 2014 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Defects I am no longer willing to live with the multitude of defects that characterized my life while I was drinking. Step Seven is my vehicle to freedom from these defects.* /- Daily Reflections,/ p.196 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Life will take on new meaning.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* **H J F** = **H**appy, **J**oyous, **F**ree. ** *A Member Shares: Hi everyone, I'm Shawn, and I'm an alcoholic.  One thing that u ...Continue Reading