*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 20, 2013* *Paradox* *Such is the paradox of AA regeneration: strength arising out of complete defeat and weakness, the loss of one's old life as a condition for finding a new one. But we of AA do not have to understand this paradox; we have only to be grateful for it.* /Alcoholics Anonymous Comes Of Age,/ p. 46 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Paradox: We surrender to win; we give away to keep; we suffer to get well; we die to live.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *A ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 19, 2013* *Belonging* *There is no more aloneness, with that awful ache so deep in the heart of every alcoholic that nothing, before, could ever reach it. That ache is gone and never need return again. Now there is a sense of belonging, of being wanted and needed and loved. In return for a bottle and a hangover, we have been given the Keys of the Kingdom.* /Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 276 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *The sense of belonging is tremendously exciting ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 19, 2013* *Belonging* *There is no more aloneness, with that awful ache so deep in the heart of every alcoholic that nothing, before, could ever reach it. That ache is gone and never need return again. Now there is a sense of belonging, of being wanted and needed and loved. In return for a bottle and a hangover, we have been given the Keys of the Kingdom.* /Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 276 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *The sense of belonging is tremendously exciting ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 18, 2013* *Self-pity* *I try to practice tolerance in small ways, putting aside the little resentments, making light of that stealthy foe, self-pity, which will keep creeping in. I know if I succeed, then I'm more likely to beat that great big resentment which nothing has been able to pry from its roots deep in my soul* /Thank You For Sharing,/ pp. 42-43 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Resentment is like acid, eating away at the vessel it is stored in.* *AA-relate ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 17, 2013 *~ Scroll Down for Share ~* Self-forgiveness Some of us suffer extreme guilt because of vices or practices we can't or won't let go of. Too little self-forgiveness and too little prayer -- well, this combination adds up to slips.* /- As Bill Sees It,/ p. 99 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Forgiveness is the final form of love. AA-related 'Alconym' . . . **T G I F** = **T***hank* **G**od ***I***'m* **F***orgiven.* * * * A Member Shares: ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 16, 2013* *Children of Chaos* *Over the years, every conceivable deviation from our Twelve Steps and Traditions has been tried. This was sure to be, since we are so largely a band of ego-driven individuals. Children of chaos, we have defiantly played with every brand of fire, only to emerge unharmed and, we think, wiser.* /Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ p. 146 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *When I change the way I look at things, the things I look at change. ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 15, 2013* *A Bridge to Trust* *Sponsorship is a bridge to trusting the human race, the very race we once resigned from. In learning to trust, we are strengthening our sobriety.* The AA Grapevine, February 1984, Vol. 40 No. 9 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Don't look for a sponsor, listen for one.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *S P O N S O R* = **S**ober, **P**ractical, **N**oble, **S**piritual, **O**pen-minded, **R**espectful. Thanks to all of you for sharing s ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 14, 2013 *~ Scroll Down for Share ~* *Steps* 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.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 58 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *The Twelve ...Continue Reading

Dear Gentle Readers, the problem with the Daily Thought Server sending out the Daily Thought has been resolved. We again apologize for the inconvenience caused to you. We thank you, and are grateful for your patience, understanding, support and prayer during this frustrating time. *AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 13, 2013* *Reprieve* *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 cur ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 11, 2013* *Change* *It never occurred to us that we needed to change ourselves to meet conditions, whatever they were. But in AA, we slowly learned that something had to be done about our vengeful resentments, self-pity, and unwarranted pride. . . We learned that if we were seriously disturbed, our /first/ need was to quiet that disturbance, regardless of who or what we thought caused it.* /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ p. 47 *Thought to Ponder . ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 10, 2013 *~ Scroll Down for Share ~* *Do No Harm* It is only by accepting and solving our problems that we can begin to get right with ourselves and with the world about us, and with Him who presides over us all. Understanding is the key to right principles and attitudes, and right action is the key to good living.* /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ p. 125 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Serenity is not the absence of conflict but the ability ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 10, 2013 *~ Scroll Down for Share ~* *Do No Harm* It is only by accepting and solving our problems that we can begin to get right with ourselves and with the world about us, and with Him who presides over us all. Understanding is the key to right principles and attitudes, and right action is the key to good living.* /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ p. 125 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Serenity is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with i ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 9, 2013* *Prayer* *Pray. Whether you believe it or not, pray to a higher power. If we were able to stay sober on our own power, we wouldn't be here tonight. It takes a power greater than ourselves, and prayer is how we contact that higher power. You can use a religious one or one of your own choosing. If the God word bothers you, pray to an anonymous higher power or even "to whom it may concern." In the morning, ask this Higher Power to keep you ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 8, 2013* *Humility* *"Perpetual quietness of the heart. It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted or vexed, irritable or sore; to wonder at nothing that is done to me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised, it is to have a blessed home in myself where I can go in and close the door and kneel to my Father in secret and be at peace, as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and about is seeming trouble ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 7, 2013 *~ Scroll Down for Share ~* *Acceptance* Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 417 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Acceptance is the answer to /all/ my problems today. *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *A B C* = ...Continue Reading