AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net)February 26, 2023~ Scroll Down for Share ~A Design For LivingWe, in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, "a design for living" that really works.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (There Is A Solution) p. 28  Thought to PonderThe Twelve Steps -- a manuscript for rational living.  AA-related 'Al ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)February 25, 2023LiabilitiesNearly every serious emotional problem can be seen as a case of misdirected instinct. When that happens, our great natural assets, the instincts, have turned into physical and mental liabilities. Step Four is our vigorous and painstaking effort to discover what these liabilities in each of us have been, and are.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Four) p. 42Thought to Ponder . . .The Three A's .. Awareness, Acceptance, Action.AA-related 'Al ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)February 24, 2023ConditionsWe thought “conditions” drove us to drink, and when we tried to correct these conditions and found that we couldn’t to our entire satisfaction, our drinking went out of hand and we became alcoholics. It never occurred to us that we needed to change ourselves to meet conditions, whatever they were.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Four) p. 47Thought to Ponder . . .If you want to change who you are, change what you do.AA-related 'Alconym'A C ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)February 23, 2023The Old Game AgainNow and then a serious drinker, being dry at the moment says, “I don’t miss it at all. Feel better. Work better. Having a better time.” As ex-problem drinkers, we smile at such a sally. We know our friend is like a boy whistling in the dark to keep up his spirits. He fools himself. Inwardly he would give anything to take half a dozen drinks and get away with them. He will presently try the old game again, for he isn’t happy about his sobriet ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)February 22, 2023The Insanity ReturnsBut with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 66Thought to Ponder . . .Resentment is like taking poison and ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)February 21, 2023The Elder StatesmanThe elder statesman is the one who sees the wisdom of the group’s decision, who holds no resentment over his reduced status, whose judgment, fortified by considerable experience, is sound, and who is willing to sit quietly on the sidelines patiently awaiting developments.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Tradition Two) p. 135Thought to Ponder . . ."Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern."AA-related 'Alconym' ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)February 20, 2023Meditation and PrayerWhen we refuse air, light, or food, the body suffers. And when we turn away from meditation and prayer, we likewise deprive our minds, our emotions, and our intuitions of vitally needed support. As the body can fail its purpose for lack of nourishment, so can the soul. We all need the light of God's reality, the nourishment of His strength, and the atmosphere of His grace.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eleven) pp. 97 - 98Thou ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net)February 19, 2023~ Scroll Down for Share ~Tradition TwoFor our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition) p. 562  Thought to PonderGod grant that AA may ever stay simple.  AA-related 'Alconym'T R U S T  =  Try Relying Upon Steps and Traditions.A Member Shares:Hi, I'm Ira and ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)February 18, 2023Three Pertinent IdeasOur description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas: (a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives. (b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism. (c) That God could and would if He were sought.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 60Thought to Ponder . . .I can't, God can, I'll ask Him to.AA-related 'Alconym'I ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)February 17, 2023Under All Conditions"Belief meant reliance, not defiance. In A.A. we saw the fruits of this belief: men and women spared from alcohol's final catastrophe. We saw them meet and transcend their other pains and trials. We saw them calmly accept impossible situations, seeking neither to run nor to recriminate. This was not only faith; it was faith that worked under all conditions."- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Two) p. 31Thought to Ponder . ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)February 16, 2023I'm sorry for the mess up on the 'alconym' yesterday. The word should have been PRAYER not CHAOS. I will say this, when things are chaotic, prayer is the answer.Thoroughness and HonestyWe went back through our lives. Nothing counted but thoroughness and honesty. When we were finished we considered it carefully. The first thing apparent was that this world and its people were often quite wrong. To conclude that others were wrong was as far as mo ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)February 15, 2023We Ask GodOn awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 86Thought to Ponder . . .Prayer asks the question. Meditation listens for the answer.AA-related 'Alconym'P R A Y E R  =   Praying Regularly Allows Your Ever-growing R ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)February 14, 2023Willful DesiresWhen 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 ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy aa-alive.net)February 13, 2023Spiritual LifeThe spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it. Unless one’s family expresses a desire to live upon spiritual principles we think we ought not to urge them. We should not talk incessantly to them about spiritual matters. They will change in time. Our behavior will convince them more than our words. We must remember that ten or twenty years of drunkenness would make a skeptic out of anyone.- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 83Though ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net)February 12, 2023~ Scroll Down for Share ~Quantity or Quality"About this slip business -- I would not be too discouraged. I think you are suffering a great deal from a needless guilt. For some reason or other, the Lord has laid out tougher paths for some of us, and I guess you are treading one of them. God is not asking us to be successful. He is only asking us to try to be. That, you surely are doing, and have been doing. So I would not stay away from A.A. through any f ...Continue Reading