*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 12, 2014* *Letting Go* *"Letting go" had always meant self-indulgence: polishing off the rest of the bottle, eating the whole cake, sleeping until noon. Now, I heard that letting go meant acquiring discipline. . . The renewal of discipline is a process that I must set in motion every day. * /- The Best of the Grapevine/ [Vol. 2], p. 187 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Get a grip on letting go.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *O D A A T* = **O**ne **D**ay ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 11, 2014* *Amends* *It is important for me to realize that, as an alcoholic, I not only hurt myself, but also those around me. Making amends to my family, and to the families of alcoholics still suffering, will always be important. Understanding the havoc I created and trying to repair the destruction, will be a lifelong endeavor. The example of my sobriety may give others hope, and faith to help themselves. * /- Daily Reflections,/ p. 173 *Thought to Ponder ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 10, 2014 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Friendships Life will take on new meaning.  To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends -- this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 89 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *A friend is one who sees through you and still enjoys the view.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . . ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 9, 2014* *Sunlight* *He said, /"Why don't you choose your own conception of God?"/  That statement hit me hard. It melted the icy intellectual mountain in whose shadow I had lived and shivered many years. I stood in the sunlight at last. /It was only a matter of being willing to believe in a Power greater than myself. Nothing more was required of me to make my beginning./* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 12 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *I saw, I fel ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 8, 2014* *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 . . .* *I would rather go through life sober, believing I am an alcoholic, than go throug ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 7, 2014* *Time* *And what is time to me now?  It is a most precious asset. I have the luxury of being able to cherish the memory of yesterday, to live today with serenity, to wait for tomorrow. I find contentment in just knowing where I was and where I am.  And I am grateful; grateful for the existence of Alcoholics Anonymous; grateful to my God for leading me to the doors of AA and to Himself, grateful for hope. I am grateful for this minute.  ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 6, 2014 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Principles Before Personality We of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance. It reminds us that we are to place principles before personalities; that we are actually to practice a genuine humility. This to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous, ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 5, 2014* *Expectations* *We had approached AA expecting to be taught self-confidence. Then we had been told that so far as alcohol is concerned, self-confidence was no good whatever; in fact, it was a total liability.* /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ p. 22 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *What I am is God's gift to me.  What I make of myself is my gift to Him.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *W O W* = **W**illingness **O**ver **W**illpower. Thanks to ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 4, 2014* *Step Eight* */"Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."/* *This is a very large order.  It is a task which we may perform with increasing skill, but never really finish. . . . Every AA has found that he can make little headway in this new adventure until he first backtracks and really makes an accurate and unsparing survey of the human wreckage he has left in his wake.* /- Twelve Steps ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 3, 2014 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Action Action is the magic word! With a positive, helpful attitude and regular AA action, I can stay sober and help others to achieve sobriety. My attitude now is that I am willing to go to any length to stay sober!* /- Daily Reflections,/ p. 161 320 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *The Three A's .. Awareness, Acceptance, Action.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* **A A** = **A**ccountable **A**ctions. ** *A Member Shares: Hi Family, ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 2, 2014* *Solution* *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' . . .* *S T E P S* = **S**olutions **T**hro ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 1, 2014* *The Tyrant* *The truth is, that in the life of each AA member, there still lurks a tyrant. His name is alcohol.  And his weapons are misery, insanity, and death. No matter how long we may be sober, he always stands at each man's elbow, ever watchful of an opportunity to resume his destruction.* /- The Language of the Heart,/ p. 34 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *The alcoholic is in no greater peril than when he takes sobriety for granted.* *AA-rel ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 31, 2014* *Fear* *When I face a fear, I am given courage; when I support a brother or sister, my capacity to love myself is increased; when I accept pain as part of the growing experience of life, I realize a greater happiness; when I look at my dark side, I am brought into new light; when I accept my vulnerability and surrender to a Higher Power, I am graced with unforeseen strength.* /- Daily Reflections,/ p. 62 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *A fear faced is a f ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 30, 2014 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Growing Up in AA 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 old wise woman who has arrived somewhere. There is no easier, softer way.* /- The Best Of The Grapevine/ [Vol.3], p. 320 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional, growing sp ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 29, 2014* *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 -- that would make me perfect, and none of us can claim to be perfect. Only God is.* ...Continue Reading