AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 11, 2022 Lack of Perspective Shortly afterward I came home drunk. There had been no fight. Where had been my high resolve? I simply didn’t know. It hadn't even come to mind. Someone had pushed a drink my way, and I had taken it. Was I crazy? I began to wonder, for such an appalling lack of perspective seemed near being just that. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Bill's Story) p. 5 Thought to Ponder We are without defense against the first drink. AA-related 'Alconym' A A ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 10, 2022 Worse, Never Better All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervals—usually brief—were inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. Over any considerable period we get worse, never better. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (More About Alcoholism) p. 30 Thought to Ponder When we tr ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 9, 2022 The Truth I Know This great experience that released me from the bondage of hatred and replaced it with love is really just another affirmation of the truth I know: I get everything I need in Alcoholics Anonymous—and everything I need I get. And when I get what I need, I invariably find that it was just what I wanted all the time. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Freedom From Bondage) p. 552 Thought to Ponder The number one way to relieve pain is to forgive. AA- ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) Dear Readers, my apologies for the incorrect reference on yesterday's Daily Thought. The reading comes from The Family Afterward, p. 130. August 8, 2022 Beneficial Practice One of the many doctors who had the opportunity of reading this book in manuscript form told us that the use of sweets was often helpful, of course depending upon a doctor’s advice. He thought all alcoholics should constantly have chocolate available for its quick energy value at times of fatigue. He ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 7, 2022 Sense of Purpose This dream world has been replaced by a great sense of purpose, accompanied by a growing consciousness of the power of God in our lives. We have come to believe He would like us to keep our heads in the clouds with Him, but that our feet ought to be firmly planted on earth. That is where our fellow travelers are, and that is where our work must be done. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 79 Thought to Ponder Faith is our greatest gi ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 6, 2022 Strength and Direction Although these reparations take innumerable forms, there are some general principles which we find guiding. Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be given strength and direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences may be. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 79 Thought to Ponder Happiness is the result doing our next right thing in ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 5, 2022 Online Meetings Taking advantage of technological advances, for example, A.A. members with computers can participate In any meeting, anywhere, in meetings online, sharing with fellow alcoholics across the country or around the world. A.A.’s share experience, strength, and hope with each other, in order to stay sober and help other alcoholics. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Foreward to the 4th Edition) p. xxiv Thought to Ponder Modem-to-modem or face-to-face, A. ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 4, 2022 Step Eight Every A.A. has found that he can make little headway in this new adventure of living until he first backtracks and really makes an accurate and unsparing survey of the human wreckage he has left in his wake. To a degree, he has already done this when taking moral inventory, but now the time has come when he ought to redouble his efforts to see how many people he has hurt, and in what ways. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eight) p. 77 ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 3, 2022 Prayer Prayer, as commonly understood, is a petition to God. Having opened our channel as best we can, we try to ask for those right things of which we and others are in the greatest need. And we think that the whole range of our needs is well defined by that part of Step Eleven which says: ". . . knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out." A request for this fits in any part of our day. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (S ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 2, 2022 Defensive Emotions The moment we ponder a twisted or broken relationship with another person, our emotions go on the defensive. To escape looking at the wrongs we have done another, we resentfully focus on the wrong he has done us. This is especially true if he has, in fact, behaved badly at all. Triumphantly we seize upon his misbehavior as the perfect excuse for minimizing or forgetting our own. Right here we need to fetch ourselves up sharply. - Twelve ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 1, 2022 Repair the Damage Now we need more action, without which we find that "Faith without works is dead." Let's look at Steps Eight and Nine. We have a list of all persons we have harmed and to whom we are willing to make amends. We made it when we took inventory. We subjected ourselves to a drastic self-appraisal. Now we go out to our fellows and repair the damage done in the past. - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 76 Thought to Ponder It is ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) July 31, 2022 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ Principles Before Personalities And finally, we of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance. It reminds us that we are to place principles before personalities; that we are actually to practice a genuine humility. This to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all. - Alcoholics Ano ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) July 30, 2022 Step Ten We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) July 29, 2022 Built Anew By now the newcomer has probably arrived at the following conclusions: that his character defects, representing instincts gone astray, have been the primary cause of his drinking and his failure at life; that unless he is now willing to work hard at the elimination of the worst of these defects, both sobriety and peace of mind will still elude him; that all the faulty foundation of his life will have to be torn out and built anew on bedrock. - Tw ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) July 28, 2022 Clearly See Another great dividend we may expect from confiding our defects to another human being is humility—a word often misunderstood. To those who have made progress in A.A., it amounts to a clear recognition of what and who we really are, followed by a sincere attempt to become what we could be. Therefore, our first practical move toward humility must consist of recognizing our deficiencies. No defect can be corrected unless we clearly see what it is. ...Continue Reading