AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)October 23, 2023Serenity PrayerWith each passing day of our lives, may every one of us sense more deeply the inner meaning of A.A.'s simple prayer: God grant us the serenity to Accept the things we cannot change, Courage to change the things we can. And wisdom to know the difference.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Twelve) p. 125Thought to Ponder . . .Serenity isn't freedom from the storm; it is peace within the storm.AA-related 'Alconym'P A U S E  =   Pr ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net)October 22, 2023~ Scroll Down for Share ~No Middle Of The Road SolutionIf you are as seriously alcoholic as we were, we believe there is no middle-of-the-road solution. We were in a position where life was becoming impossible, and if we had passed into the region from which there is no return through human aid, we had but two alternatives: One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could; and the other, to accept ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)October 21, 2023Criticism or RidiculeAnother principle we observe carefully is that we do not relate intimate experiences of another person unless we are sure he would approve. We find it better, when possible, to stick to our own stories. A man may criticize or laugh at himself and it will affect others favorably, but criticism or ridicule coming from another often produces the contrary effect.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (The Family Afterward) p. 125Thought to Ponder . . .To be ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)October 20, 2023MotivesThis odd trait of mind and emotion, this perverse wish to hide a bad motive underneath a good one, permeates human affairs from top to bottom. This subtle and elusive kind of self-righteousness can underlie the smallest act or thought. Learning daily to spot, admit, and correct these flaws is the essence of character-building and good living.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Ten) pp. 94 - 95Thought to Ponder . . .Self-righteousness is a loud d ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)October 19, 2023To Be HelpfulMinisters and doctors are competent and you can learn much from them if you wish, but it happens that because of your own drinking experience you can be uniquely useful to other alcoholics. So cooperate; never criticize. To be helpful is our only aim.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Working With Others) p. 89Thought to Ponder . . .You can help when no one else can.AA-related 'Alconym'S P O N S O R  =   Sober Person Offering Newcomers Suggestions ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)October 18, 2023People of FaithPeople of faith have a logical idea of what life is all about. Actually, we used to have no reasonable conception whatever. We used to amuse ourselves by cynically dissecting spiritual beliefs and practices when we might have observed that many spiritually-minded persons of all races, colors, and creeds were demonstrating a degree of stability, happiness and usefulness which we should have sought ourselves.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (We Agnostics) ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)October 17, 2023Our SufferingWhen we habitually try to manipulate others to our own willful desires, they revolt, and resist us heavily. Then we develop hurt feelings, a sense of persecution, and a desire to retaliate. As we redouble our efforts at control, and continue to fail, our suffering becomes acute and constant. We have not once sought to be one in a family, to be a friend among friends, to be a worker among workers, to be a useful member of society.- Twelve Steps and ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)October 16, 2023What We Have DoneDoubtless you are curious to discover how and why, in the face of expert opinion to the contrary, we have recovered from a hopeless condition of mind and body. If you are an alcoholic who wants to get over it, you may already be asking—"What do I have to do?" It is the purpose of this book to answer such questions specifically. We shall tell you what we have done.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (There Is A Solution) p. 20Thought to Ponder . ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net)October 15, 2023~ Scroll Down for Share ~A Spiritual Awakening"It was only when I came fully to believe I was powerless over alcohol, only when I appealed to a God who just might exist, that I experienced a spiritual awakening. This freedom-giving experience came first, and then faith followed afterward -- a gift indeed!"- As Bill Sees It, (Miraculous Power) no. 152Thought to PonderHope leads to faith if you let it.AA-related 'Alconym'A A  =  Amazing Awake ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)October 14, 2023Happiness, Peace and UsefulnessHow dark it is before the dawn! In reality that was the beginning of my last debauch. I was soon to be catapulted into what I like to call the fourth dimension of existence. I was to know happiness, peace, and usefulness, in a way of life that is incredibly more wonderful as time passes.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Bill's Story) p. 8Thought to Ponder . . .Happiness and peace of mind are always here, open and free to anyone.AA-related ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)October 13, 2023Power Of Our InstinctsEven then the best of us will discover to our dismay that there is always a sticking point, a point at which we say, "No, I can't give this up yet." And we shall often tread on even more dangerous ground when we cry, "This I will never give up!" Such is the power of our instincts to overreach themselves. No matter how far we have progressed, desires will always be found which oppose the grace of God.- Twelve Steps and ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)October 12, 2023A Genuine RelianceWe could actually have earnest religious beliefs which remained barren because we were still trying to play God ourselves. As long as we placed self-reliance first, a genuine reliance upon a Higher Power was out of the question. That basic ingredient of all humility, a desire to seek and do God's will, was missing.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Seven) p. 72Thought to Ponder . . .I can't do His will my way.AA-related 'Alconym'E G ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)October 11, 2023A Continuous LookBut when we approach Step Ten we commence to put our A.A. way of living to practical use, day by day, in fair weather or foul. Then comes the acid test: can we stay sober, keep in emotional balance, and live to good purpose under all conditions? A continuous look at our assets and liabilities, and a real desire to learn and grow by this means, are necessities for us.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Ten) p. 88Thought to Ponder . . .I ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)October 10, 2023A Psychic Change Has OccurredOn the other hand—and strange as this may seem to those who do not understand—once a psychic change has occurred, the very same person who seemed doomed, who had so many problems he despaired of ever solving them, suddenly finds himself easily able to control his desire for alcohol, the only effort necessary being that required to follow a few simple rules.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (The Doctor's Opinion) p. xxix Thought to Ponder . . ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)October 9, 2023The Right ThingAt this stage of our progress we are under heavy pressure to do the right thing. We are obliged to choose between the pains of trying and the certain penalties of failing to do so. These initial steps along the road are taken grudgingly, yet we do take them. We may still have no very high opinion of humility as a desirable personal virtue, but we do recognize it as a necessary aid to our survival.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Seven) ...Continue Reading