*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 27, 2013* *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 an 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**hrough * ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 26, 2013* *Action* *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 worked.* /Came To Believe . . .,/ p. 42 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *I must walk into darkness to find the light.* *AA-related 'Alconym' . . .* *A A* = **A**lways **A**wesome. Thanks to all ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 25, 2013* *Pickles* *We are also convinced, after countless attempts to prove otherwise, that alcoholism is incurable -- just like some other illnesses. It cannot be "cured" in this sense: We cannot change our body chemistry and go back to being the normal, moderate social drinkers lots of us seemed to be in our youth. As some of us put it, we can no more make that change than a pickle can change itself back into a cucumber.* /Living Sober,/ p. 8 *Th ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 24, 2013 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Powerless We found that we were totally unable to be rid of the alcohol obsession until we first admitted that we were powerless over it.* /- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ p. 107 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *When I drink, my past becomes my future. AA-related 'Alconym' . . . **S W A T** = **S***urrender, **W**illingness, ***A***ction, **T**rust. * * * A Member Shares: Hi, I'm Christine, and I'm an alcohol ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 23, 2013* *Fear* *At heart we had all been abnormally fearful. It mattered little whether we had sat on the shore of life drinking ourselves into forgetfulness or had plunged in recklessly and willfully beyond our depth and ability. The result was the same -- all of us had nearly perished in a sea of alcohol.* /Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,/ pp. 123-124 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *Situations I fear are rarely as bad as the fear itself.* *AA-related 'Alco ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 22, 2013* *Apples* *At a meeting, I had my first awakening in AA. The speaker said, "If you're an apple, you can be the best apple you can be, but you can never be an orange." I was an apple all right, and for the first time I understood that I had spent my life trying to be an orange. I looked around at a room filled with apples and, if I was understanding the speaker, most of them were no longer trying to be oranges.* /Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 327 ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *April 21, 2013 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ The Promises Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us -- sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.* /- Alcoholics Anonymous,/ p. 84 *Thought to Ponder . . .* *The joy is in the journey, so enjoy the ride. AA-related 'Alconym' . . . **H O W** = **H***onesty, **O**pen-mindedness, ***W***illingness. * * * A Member Shares: My nam ...Continue Reading

*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