AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 23, 2022  Carry A.A.'s MessageTo watch the eyes of men and women open with wonder as they move from darkness into 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 receive as we carry A.A.'s messag ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 22, 2022A New LifeIs sobriety all that we are to expect of a spiritual awakening? No, sobriety is only a bare beginning; it is only the first gift of the first awakening. If more gifts are to be received, our awakening has to go on. As it does go on, we find that bit by bit we can discard the old life—the one that did not work—for a new life that can and does work under any conditions whatever.- As Bill Sees It, No. 8Thought to Ponder . . .The greatest gift that can ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 21, 2022Deny An OpportunityWe find it a waste of time to keep chasing a man who cannot or will not work with you. If you leave such a person alone, he may soon become convinced that he cannot recover by himself. To spend too much time on any one situation is to deny some other alcoholic an opportunity to live and be happy.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Working With Others) p. 96Thought to Ponder . . .A.A. is not for people who need it, it's for people who work it.AA-relate ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 20, 2022Unity - The Heart of A.A."Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity." The unity of Alcoholics Anonymous is the most cherished quality our Society has. Our lives, the lives of all to come, depend squarely upon it. We stay whole, or A.A. dies. Without unity, the heart of A.A. would cease to beat; our world arteries would no longer carry the life-giving grace of God; His gift to us would be spent aimlessly.- Twelve ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 19, 2022Profound Personality Change"It has often been said of A.A. that we are interested only in alcoholism. That is not true. We have to get over drinking in order to stay alive. But anyone who knows the alcoholic personality by firsthand contact knows that no true alky ever stops drinking permanently without undergoing a profound personality change."- As Bill Sees It, (Letter, 1940) No. 1Thought to Ponder . . .If I don't change, my sobriety date will.AA- ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 18, 2022SolitudeWe realize a little solitude is necessary to think and to try to work some of the Steps. In solitude, we take our inventories. In solitude, we admit to ourselves the exact nature of our wrongs. In solitude, our spirits seek that Power greater than we are;  in solitude, we seek through prayer and meditation to be aware of God’s will for us.- Came to Believe . . ., p. 109Thought to Ponder . . .We can't grow without giv ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 17, 2022A Useful ProgramMany could recover if they had the opportunity we have enjoyed. How then shall we present that which has been so freely given us? We have concluded to publish an anonymous volume setting forth the problem as we see it. We shall bring to the task our combined experience and knowledge. This should suggest a useful program for anyone concerned with a drinking problem.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (There Is A Solution) p. 19Thought to Ponder . . .When a ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 16, 2022MotivesIn most cases our motives won't be hard to see and understand. When prideful, angry, jealous, anxious, or fearful, we acted accordingly, and that was that. Here we need only recognize that we did act or think badly, try to visualize how we might have done better, and resolve with God's help to carry these lessons over into tomorrow, making, of course, any amends still neglected.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Ten) p. 94Thought to Ponder . . ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 15, 2022ForgivenessWe've repeatedly strained the patience of our best friends to a snapping point, and have brought out the very worst in those who didn't think much of us to begin with. In many instances we are really dealing with fellow sufferers, people whose woes we have increased. If we are now about to ask forgiveness for ourselves, why shouldn't we start out by forgiving them, one and all?- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eight) p. 78Thought to Ponde ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 14, 2022You Are ReadyIf 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, (How It Works) p. 58Thought to Ponder . . .What have I been given today? Am I willing to reach out ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 13, 2022Our MistakesPutting out of our minds the wrongs others had done, we resolutely looked for our own mistakes. Where had we been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking and frightened? Though a situation had not been entirely our fault, we tried to disregard the other person involved entirely. Where were we to blame? The inventory was ours, not the other man’s.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 67Thought to Ponder . . .The first step in overcoming mistakes is to ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 12, 2022Ups and DownsThe quick inventory is aimed at our daily ups and downs, especially those where people or new events throw us off balance and tempt us to make mistakes. In all these situations we need self-restraint, honest analysis of what is involved, a willingness to admit when the fault is ours, and an equal willingness to forgive when the fault is elsewhere.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Ten) p. 91Thought to Ponder . . .Nothing pays off like re ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 11, 2022Faith and ActionBut he will be curious to learn why his own convictions have not worked and why yours seem to work so well. He may be an example of the truth that faith alone is insufficient. To be vital, faith must be accompanied by self sacrifice and unselfish, constructive action.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Working With Others) p. 93Thought to Ponder . . .If faith without works is dead; then willingness without action is fantasy.AA-related 'Alconym'A C T &nbs ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 10, 2022Foolish IdeaHe had much knowledge about himself as an alcoholic. Yet all reasons for not drinking were easily pushed aside in favor of the foolish idea that he could take whiskey if only he mixed it with milk! Whatever the precise definition of the word may be, we call this plain insanity. How can such a lack of proportion, of the ability to think straight, be called anything else?- Alcoholics Anonymous, (More About Alcoholism) pp. 36 - 37Thought to Ponder . ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)December 9, 2022Consider CarefullyThe most common symptoms of emotional insecurity are worry, anger self-pity, and depression. These stem from causes which sometimes seem to be within us, and at other times to come from without. To take inventory in this respect we ought to consider carefully all personal relationships which bring continuous or recurring trouble. It should be remembered that this kind of insecurity may arise in any area where instincts are threatened.- Twelve ...Continue Reading