AA Thoughts For Today - June

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

June 1

Passing It On

I spend a great deal of time passing on what I learned to others
who want and need it badly. I do it for four reasons:
1. Sense of duty. 2. It is a pleasure.
3. Because in so doing I am paying my debt to the
man who took time to pass it on to me.
4. Because every time I do it I take out a little more
insurance for myself against a possible slip.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Doctor Bob's Nightmare) pp. 180 - 181

Thought to Ponder . . .
Only in giving do we receive in full measure.

AA-related 'Alconym'
S P O N S O R = Sober Person Offering Newcomers Suggestions On Recovery.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Four Horsemen
"The less people tolerated us,
the more we withdrew from society, from life itself.
As we became subjects of King Alcohol,
shivering denizens of his mad realm,
the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down.
It thickened, ever becoming blacker.
Some of us sought out sordid places,
hoping to find understanding companionship and approval.
Momentarily we did - then would come oblivion
and the awful awakening
to face the hideous Four Horsemen -
Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, Despair.
Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand!"
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 151

Thought to Consider . . .
Alcohol gave me wings to fly,
and then it took away the sky.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
A A = Absolute Abstinence

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Conception
From "Back to the Fundamentals":
"The answer I was looking for was on page 12, in Ebby's words to Bill: '"Why don't you choose your own conception of God?"'
"'I've tried everything else,' I thought, 'and I've got no place else to go. I might just as well.' I sat down at my desk, got a
pad of paper and a pencil, and asked myself, 'If you could pick the kind of God that you could believe in, what would He
be like?' I bore in mind the facts that I was an alcoholic and that I had been a perfectionist all my life. The world was
never perfect enough for me. Everything that I ever believed in, every ideal that I ever followed turned out to have feet of
clay. Here was my chance. For the first time in my life, I could create something perfect. All right!
"I wrote across the page, 'God is the perfection I've been searching for all my life. He is too perfect to have human
characteristics and faults.' That was the start.
"Then I wrote, 'God is the ultimate perfection. He is the perfect love, the perfect truth, the perfect goodness, the perfect
understanding, tolerance, mercy, forgiveness. God is so perfect that no matter how evil, how unclean we may be, He'll
forgive us if we ask, and grant us strength to overcome our shortcomings.'"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pgs. 63-64

*~*~*~*~*^Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Change is scary, even if it promises a better life."
Step by Step
Watsonville, Calif., June 2009
"As Long As I Stay Willing"

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quotes ^*~*~*~*~*

"Actually we were fooling ourselves, for deep down in every man,
woman, and child, is the fundamental idea of God. It may be obscured
by calamity, by pomp, by worship of other things, but in some form
or other it is there. For faith in a Power greater than ourselves, and
miraculous demonstrations of that power in human lives, are facts as
old as man himself."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 55~

"We never apologize to anyone for depending upon our Creator. We can
laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness.
Paradoxically, it is the way of strength. The verdict of the ages is
that faith means courage. All men of faith have courage. They trust
their God. We never apologize for God. Instead we let Him
demonstrate, through us, what He can do. We ask Him to remove our
fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once,
we commence to outgrow fear."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 68~

Our eyes begin to open to the immense values which have come straight out of painful ego-puncturing.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 74

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Deep down in every man, woman, and child is the fundamental idea of a God. It may be obscured by calamity, by
pomp, by worship of other things, but in some form or other it is there. For faith in a Power greater than ourselves, and
miraculous demonstrations of that Power in human lives are facts as old as man himself.
'Faith may often be given through inspired teaching or a convincing personal example of its fruits. It may sometimes be
had through reason. For instance, many clergymen believe that St. Thomas Aquinas actually proved God's existence by
sheer logic. But what can one do when all these channels fail? This was my own grievous dilemma.
'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!

Prayer For The Day: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for not only saving my soul, but for the promise of healing also. I do appreciate the many times over the years that You have healed me personally. I also thank you for the gift of healing as I have prayed and You have touched others with Your healing virtue. You truly are the Great Physician. I do appreciate that about You. Lord, I do want to always remain in a joyful attitude, no matter what might come my way. Fill me with Your love, joy and peace daily, so that I might be an example of Your goodness. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

June 2

Harms to Others

We might next ask ourselves what we mean when we say that
we have "harmed" other people. What kinds of "harm" do people
do one another, anyway? To define the word "harm" in a practical
way, we might call it the result of instincts in collision, which cause
physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual damage to people.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eight) p. 80

Thought to Ponder . . .
It is the highest form of self-respect to admit
mistakes and to make amends for them.

AA-related 'Alconym'
A C T I O N = Any Change To Improve Our Nature.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Happiness
"I feel myself a useful member of the human race at last.
I have something to contribute to humanity,
since I am peculiarly qualified, as a fellow-sufferer,
to give aid and comfort to those who have
stumbled and fallen over this business
of meeting life.
I get my greatest thrill of accomplishment
from the knowledge that I have played a part
in the new happiness achieved
by countless others like myself."
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 229

Thought to Consider . . .
The joy is in the journey, so enjoy the ride.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
B E S T = Been Enjoying Sobriety Today?

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Fairness
From "We Agnostics":
"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.
"Instead, we looked at the human defects of these people, and sometimes used their shortcomings as a basis of
wholesale condemnation. We talked of intolerance, while we were intolerant ourselves. We missed the reality and the
beauty of the forest because we were diverted by the ugliness of some of its trees. We never gave the spiritual side of
life a fair hearing."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pgs. 49-50

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"I don't know when it happened, but one day I felt like I belonged in my group of sober guys ... I didn't have to leave. "
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, December 2006
"Out of Isolation,"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"We try not to indulge in cynicism over the state of the nations, nor
do we carry the world's troubles on our shoulders. When we see a man
sinking into the mire that is alcoholism, we give him first aid and
place what we have at his disposal."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 132

"We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. 'Do I now
believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power
greater than myself?' As soon as a man can say that he does believe,
or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on
his way. It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this
simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 47

The joy of living is the theme of A.A.’s Twelfth Step, and action is its key word.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 106

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Suppose A.A. falls under sharp public attack or heavy ridicule, having little or no justification in fact. Our best defense in
these situations would be no defense whatever--namely, complete silence at the public level. If in good humor we let
unreasonable critics alone, they are apt to subside the more quickly. If their attacks persist and it is plain that they are
misinformed, it may be wise to communicate with them privately in a temperate and informative way.
If, however, a given criticism of A.A. is partly or wholly justified, it may be well to acknowledge this privately to the critics,
together with our thanks.
But under no conditions should we exhibit anger or any punitive intent.
What we must recognize is that we exult in some of our defects. Self-righteous anger can be very enjoyable. In a
perverse way we can actually take satisfaction from the fact that many people annoy us; it brings a comfortable feeling of superiority.

Prayer For The Day: Dear heavenly Father, I come to You with a thankful heart for all that You have done in my life. Thank you for the many answers to my prayers and I appreciate You always being there when I call. May our lives be a testimony of Your love. Forgive us when we fail You and help us to overcome all the things that would hinder us from being like You. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

June 3

Inability to Stop

To be gravely affected, one does not necessarily have to drink
a long time nor take the quantities some of us have. This is
particularly true of women. Potential female alcoholics often turn
into the real thing and are gone beyond recall in a few years.
Certain drinkers, who would be greatly insulted if called alcoholics,
are astonished at their inability to stop.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 33

Thought to Ponder . . .
When we try to control our drinking, we have already lost control.

AA-related 'Alconym'
A A = Answer Available.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Why Worry?
"There are many short phrases and expressions in AA
which make sound sense.
'First Things First': solving our immediate problems
before we try to solve all the others . . .
'Easy Does it.' Relax a little.
Try for inner contentment. No one individual
can carry all the burdens of the world.
Everyone has problems. Getting drunk won't solve them.
'Twenty-four hours a day.'
Today is the day. Doing our best,
living each day to the fullest is the art of living.
Yesterday is gone, and we don't know whether
we will be here tomorrow.
If we do a good job of living today,
and if tomorrow comes for us,
then the chances are we will do a good job when it arrives -
so why worry about it?"
1976 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 382

Thought to Ponder . . .
Every day is a gift.
That is why we call it the present.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S I T = Stay In Today

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Question
Step Six: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
"It is plain for everybody to see that each sober A.A. member has been granted a release from this very obstinate and
potentially fatal obsession. So in a very complete and literal way, all A.A.'s have 'become entirely ready' to have God
remove the mania for alcohol from their lives. And God has proceeded to do exactly that.
"Having been granted a perfect release from alcoholism, why then shouldn't we be able to achieve by the same means
a perfect release from every other difficulty or defect? This is a riddle of our existence, the full answer to which may be
only in the mind of God."
1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 64

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"I am not rich, I am not in good health, and I do not have a job, but AA only promised me sobriety. After thirty-three years
in this Fellowship, I am at peace and I am grateful.""
March 2006
"Miracles Daily,"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"Suppose we fall short of the chosen ideal and stumble? Does this mean we are going to get drunk. Some people tell
us so. But this is only a half-truth. It depends on us and on our motives."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Page 70~

"There is a solution. Almost none of us liked the self-searching,
the leveling of our pride, the confession of shortcomings which the
process requires for its successful consummation. But we saw that it
really worked in others..."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 25~

We know that little good can come to any alcoholic who joins A.A. unless he has first accepted his devastating weakness and all its consequences
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 21

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

An early fear was that of slips or relapses. At first nearly every alcoholic we approached began to slip, it indeed he sobered up at all. Others would stay dry six months or maybe a year and then take a skid. This was always a genuine catastrophe. We would all look at each other and say, Who next?
Today, through slips are a very serious difficulty, as a group we take them in stride. Fear has evaporated. Alcohol always threatens the individual, but we know that it cannot destroy the common welfare.
'It does not seem to pay to argue with 'slippers' about the proper method of getting dry. After all, why should people who are drinking tell people who are dry how it should be done?
'Just kid the boys along--ask them if they are having fun. If they are too noisy or troublesome, amiably keep out of their way.

Prayer For The Day: Loving Father, help me that I may realize the depth of thy love. If I may be discouraged over my failures, speak to me hopefully and lead me out where I may find the right way to succeed. May I not be kept in sorrow, but find each day the happiness that brings a thankful heart. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

June 4

Step Ten

Learning daily to spot, admit, and correct these flaws is the
essence of character-building and good living. An honest
regret for harms done, a genuine gratitude for blessings
received, and a willingness to try for better things tomorrow
will be the permanent assets we shall seek.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Ten) pp. 94 - 95

Thought to Ponder
Learning is the very essence of humility.
The two walk hand in hand.

AA-related 'Alconym'
C H A N G E = Choosing Humility Allows New Growth Everyday.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Instincts
"The idea keeps persisting that the instincts
are primarily bad and are the roadblocks
before which all spirituality falters.
I believe that the difference between good and evil
is not the difference between spiritual
and instinctual man;
it is the difference between proper and improper
use of the instinctual.
Recognition and right channeling of the instinctual
are the essence of achieving wholeness."
Bill W., Letter, 1954
1967AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 287

Thought to Consider . . .
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
G R A C E = Gently Releasing All Conscious Expectations

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Model
From "The Man Who Mastered Fear":
"Poor health and a complete lack of money necessitated my remaining with Dr. Bob and Anne for very close to a year. It
would be impossible for me to pass over this year without mentioning my love for, and my indebtedness to, these two
wonderful people who are no longer with us. They made me feel as if I were a part of their family, and so did their
children. The example that they and Bill W., whose visits to Akron were fairly frequent, set for me of service to their
fellow men imbued me with a great desire to emulate them."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pgs. 251-52

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"A little voice deep inside me said, 'Hello, I am here.' It was a small voice, and sounded as if it were buried underneath
the cushions of my couch. It was my soul ... I had forgotten it.""
Apex, N.C., March 2006
"A Soul Checks In,"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"Let no alcoholic say he cannot recover unless he has his family
back. This just isn't so. In some cases the wife will never come
back for one reason or another. Remind the prospect that his
recovery is not dependent upon people. It is dependent upon his
relationship with God. We have seen men get well whose families have
not returned at all. We have seen others slip when the family came
back too soon."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 99~

"We believe, and so suggested a few years ago, that the action of
alcohol on these chronic alcoholics is a manifestation of an allergy;
that the phenomenon of craving is limited to this class and never
occurs in the average temperate drinker. These allergic types can
never safely use alcohol in any form at all; and once having formed
the habit and found they cannot break it, once having lost their self-
confidence, their reliance upon things human, their problems pile up
on them and become astonishingly difficult to solve."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Doctor's Opinion, pg. xxviii~

Until now, our lives have been largely devoted to running from pain and problems.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 74

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

We give thanks to our Heavenly Father, who through so many friends and through many means and channels, has
allowed us to construct this wonderful edifice of the spirit in which we are now dwelling--this cathedral whose
foundations already rest upon the corners of the earth.
On its great floor we have inscribed our Twelve Steps of recovery. On the side walls, the buttresses of A.A. Traditions
have been set in place to contain us in unity for as long as God may will it so. Eager hearts and hands have lifted the
spire of our cathedral into its place. That spire bears the name of service. May it ever point straight upward toward God.
'Its is not only to the few that we owe the remarkable developments in our unity and in our ability to carry A.A.'s
message everywhere. It is to the many; indeed, it is to the labors of all of us that owe these prime blessings.

Prayer For The Day: Prayer for the Morning:
Good morning, dear Father; thank you for this day,
Help me to follow you in every way.
Let me speak as you speak, and do as you do;
Let me help others, as you help them, too.
Help me to be honest, don't let me play games,
Help me to grow, yet still stay the same.
Help me not to be selfish, to give of my heart, my mind and my labor;
Give all - not just part.
Help me to love others, my family, my friends,
Bless all of my foes, help me make amends.
Help me be kind, Father, where I am needed, let
Me give warm attention, and see all needs are met.
Help keep me busy, to strive for the best,
Help me not to be lazy, but find needed rest.
Let me come to you, Father, throughout the day,
Often to thank you, often to pray.
Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

June 5

Reputation

More than most people, the alcoholic leads a double life. He is very
much the actor. To the outer world he presents his stage character.
This is the one he likes his fellows to see. He wants to enjoy a
certain reputation, but knows in his heart he doesn't deserve it.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 73

Thought to Ponder . . .
Character is what I am; reputation is what people think I am.

AA-related 'Alconym'
F E A R = Fighting Ego Against Reality.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Carry the Message
"We sit at AA meetings and listen,
not only to receive something,
but to give reassurance and support
which our presence can bring.
If our turn comes to speak at a meeting,
we again try to carry AA's message.
Whether our audience is one or many,
it is still Twelfth Step work."
Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 110

Thought to Consider....
That light at the end of the tunnel may be you.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
T R U S T =Teaching Recovery Using Steps and Traditions

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Development
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"As the [Big Book] chapters were slowly roughed out I read them to the New York group at its weekly meeting in our
parlor at Clinton Street, and copies were sent to Dr. Bob for checking and criticisms in Akron, where we had nothing but
the warmest support. But in the New York meeting the chapters got a real mauling. I redictated them and Ruth retyped
them over and over. In spite of the heated arguments, the New York group's criticisms did help a lot, and to some extent
the enthusiasm and confidence increased."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 159

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"I opened up the imaginary closet in my mind where I kept all the well-nurtured hurts and tossed them into my past,
where they belonged. Into this newly cleaned-out space, I started storing my goals and the hopes and dreams of what I
wanted to achieve in life."
Canaan, Connecticut, June 1997
"Making Room to Grow Up"
Step By Step

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality
safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem
has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor
are we afraid. That is our experience. That is how we react so long
as we keep in fit spiritual condition."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, Page 85~

"No words can tell of the loneliness and despair I found in that
bitter morass of self-pity. Quicksand stretched around me in all
directions. I had met my match. I had been overwhelmed. Alcohol
was my master."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 8~

No defect can be corrected unless we clearly see what it is.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 58

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

An improved perception of humility starts a revolutionary change in our outlook. Out eyes begin to open to the immense
values which have come straight out of painful ego-puncturing. Until now, our lives have been largely devoted to running
from pain and problems. Escape via the bottle was always our solution.
Then, in A.A., we looked and listened. Everywhere we saw failure and misery transformed by humility into priceless assets.
To those who have made progress in A.A., humility amounts to a clear recognition of what and who we really are,
followed by a sincere attempt to become what we could be.

Prayer For The Day: Tender Jesus, meek and mild, Look on me, a little child; Help me, if it is Thy will, To recover from all ill. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

June 6

A Good Beginning

In this book you read again and again that faith did for us what
we could not do for ourselves. We hope you are convinced now
that God can remove whatever self-will has blocked you off from
Him. If you have already made a decision, and an inventory of
your grosser handicaps, you have made a good beginning.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) pp. 70 - 71

Thought to Ponder . . .
If I have the courage to begin, I have the courage to succeed.

AA-related 'Alconym'
F E A R = Face Everything And Recover.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Growing Up
"How many of us would presume to declare,
'Well, I'm sober and I'm happy.
What more can I want, or do?
I'm fine the way I am.'
We know that the price of such
self-satisfaction is an inevitable backslide,
punctuated at some point
by a very rude awakening.
We have to grow or else deteriorate.
For us, the status quo can only be for today,
never for tomorrow.
Change we must;
we cannot stand still."
Bill W., Box 1980: The AA Grapevine, June 1961
As Bill Sees It, p. 25

Thought to Consider....
The program has helped me grow up enough
to be a kid again.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
WISDOM
When Into Self, Discover Our Motives

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Commitment
From "Destinations":
"That first step is very important, whether it is the first step of a beloved child learning to walk or the First Step, taken by
a man on his way to a new life. Looking into my little ones' faces, I can see the same qualities that we need for the
Twelve Steps of A.A.: daring, to stake everything on the attempt; a sense of direction, to be followed with no swerving,
no detour; decision, to move forward with out hesitation or reservation; determination, to make it all the way.
Destination: a full life, a free life, a serene life. Albany, Australia"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 93

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"There will always be people in the Fellowship with whom I don't see eye-to-eye, but that doesn't mean we can't work
together. The Fellowship wouldn't be what it is today if we always saw eye-to-eye on everything."
Goffstown, New Hampshire, September 1994
"Principles Before Personalities,"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"Remember that we deal with alcohol, cunning, baffling, powerful!
Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all
power that One is God. May you find Him now!"
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Page 58~

"We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that
we were alcoholics."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 30~

At the very least, we shall have to come to grips with some of our worst character defects and take action toward their removal as quickly as we can.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 69

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

We recall, a little ruefully, how much store we used to set by imagination as it tried to create reality out of bottles. Yes, we revealed in that sort of thinking, didn't we? And, through sober nowadays, don't we often try to do much the same thing?
Perhaps our trouble was not that we used our imagination. Perhaps the real trouble was our almost total inability to point imagination toward the right objectives. there's nothing the matter with truly constructive imagination; all sound achievement rests upon it. After all, no man can build a house until he first visions a plan for it.

Prayer For The Day: Lord our God, inspire us to make our choices well and understand our responsibilities and the consequences of what we do. Help us to make good use of the opportunities that come to us. Lead us to be positive in our attitude, that we may work well with others and live this day to the full. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

June 7

Entirely Ready

So Step Six—"Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of
character"—is A.A.'s way of stating the best possible attitude one can take
in order to make a beginning on this lifetime job. This does not mean that we
expect all our character defects to be lifted out of us as the drive to drink was.
A few of them may be, but with most of them we shall have to be content with
patient improvement. The key words "entirely ready" underline the fact that
we want to aim at the very best we know or can learn.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Six) p. 65

Thought to Ponder . . .
We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.

AA-related 'Alconym'
A R T = Always Remain Teachable.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Freedom
"Through AA, we can experience freedom from self.
After all, it was self ( you, me ) that stood in our own way,
that ran the show and ran ourselves into bankruptcy,
that hurt the ones we loved.
All Twelve Steps of AA are designed to kill the old self
( deflate the old ego )
and build a new, free self."
1976 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 459

Thought to Consider . . .
Within our wonderful new world,
we have found freedom from our fatal obsession.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F I N E = Free, Independent, New and Energetic

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Development
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"As the chapters were slowly roughed out I read them to the New York group at its weekly meeting in our parlor at
Clinton Street, and copies were sent to Dr. Bob for checking and criticisms in Akron, where we had nothing but the
warmest support. But in the New York meeting the chapters got a real mauling. I redictated them and Ruth retyped
them over and over. In spite of the heated arguments, the New York group's criticisms did help a lot, and to some extent
the enthusiasm and confidence increased."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 159

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"I started going to meetings a little early and resisted the urge to bolt out the door the moment the Lord's Prayer was
finished. I thought I might try some of that 'get active' stuff, so I volunteered to make coffee at a meeting I liked to attend
... It wasn't long before I found myself in the middle of Alcoholics Anonymous."
I Am Responsible
Manchester, New Hampshire, September 2000
"The Key to Belonging,"
I Am Responsible: The Hand of AA

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"We are people who normally would not mix. But there exists among us
a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is
indescribably wonderful."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 17~

These men had found something brand new in life. Though they knew
they must help other alcoholics if they would remain sober, that
motive became secondary. It was transcended by the happiness they
found in giving themselves for others.
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 159~

Still more wonderful is the feeling that we do not have to be specially distinguished among our fellows in order to be
useful and profoundly happy.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 124

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

We found that the principals of tolerance and love had to be emphasized in actual practice. We can never say (or
insinuate) to anyone that he must agree to our formula or be excommunicated. The atheist may stand up in an A.A.
meeting still denying the Deity, yet reporting how vastly he has been changed in attitude and outlook. Much experience
tells us he will presently change his mind about God, but nobody tells him he must do so.
In order to carry the principle of inclusiveness and tolerance still further, we make no religious requirement of anyone. All
people having an alcoholic problem who wish to get rid of it and so make a happy adjustment with the sincerity is
needed. But we do not demand even this.
In such as atmosphere the orthodox, the unorthodox, and the unbeliever mix happily and usefully together. An
opportunity for spiritual growth is open to all.

Prayer For The Day: Lord, show me how to learn from others, how to be patient, and how to persevere. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

June 8

My Creator . . .

"My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good
and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect
of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and
my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your
bidding. Amen." We have then completed Step Seven.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 76

Thought to Ponder . . .
I don’t get to choose which defects God will remove.

AA-related 'Alconym'
P U S H = Pray Until Something Happens.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Fellowship
"We are average Americans.
All sections of this country and many of its occupations
are represented,
as well as many political, economic, social,
and religious backgrounds.
We are people who normally would not mix.
But there exists among us a fellowship,
a friendliness, and an understanding
which is indescribably wonderful ...
The tremendous fact for every one of us
is that we have discovered a common solution."
1976 AAWS, Alcholics Anonymous, p. 17

Thought to Ponder ...
The Journey is the Destination.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
B E S T = Been Enjoying Sobriety Today?

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Commitment
From "Destinations":
"That first step is very important, whether it is the first step of a beloved child learning to walk or the First Step, taken by
a man on his way to a new life. Looking into my little ones faces, I can see the same qualities that we need for the
Twelve Steps of A.A.: daring, to stake everything on the attempt; a sense of direction, to be followed with no swerving,
no detour; decision, to move forward without hesitation or reservation; determination, to make it all the way. Destination:
a full life, a free life, a serene life. "Albany, Australia"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 93

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Our resentments, anxieties and depressions were definitely caused, we claimed, by our unfortunate circumstances and by the inconsiderate behavior of other people. To our consternation, our sponsors didn't seem impressed ... They just grinned and said, 'Why don't we sit down and take a hard look at all of AA's Twelve Steps? Maybe you have been missing a lot -- in fact, nearly everything."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., July 1965
"Responsibility Is Our Theme"
The Language of the Heart

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again: 'Once an
alcoholic, always an alcoholic.' Commencing to drink after a period
of sobriety, we are in a short time as bad as ever."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 33

"It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on
our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a
subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is
a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 85~

We know that little good can come to any alcoholic who joins A.A. unless he has first accepted his devastating
weakness and all its consequences.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 21

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

The real question is whether we can learn anything from our experiences upon which we may grow and help others to
grow in the likeness and image of God.
We know that if we rebel against doing that which is reasonably possible for us, then we will be penalized. And we will
be equally penalized if we presume in ourselves a perfection that simply is not there.
Apparently, the course of relative humility and progress will have to lie somewhere between these extremes. In our slow
progress away from rebellion, true perfection is doubtless several millennia away.

Prayer For The Day: Lord, I pray that you may lift up the light of your countenance upon me, and give me peace; in my going out and in my coming in; in my sitting down and my rising up; in my work and in my play; in my joy and in my sorrow, in my laughter and in my tears.

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AA Thought for the Day

June 9

All Will Be Well

The moment we catch even a glimpse of God's will, the moment
we begin to see truth, justice, and love as the real and eternal
things in life, we are no longer deeply disturbed by all the seeming
evidence to the contrary that surrounds us in purely human affairs.
We know that God lovingly watches over us. We know that when
we turn to Him, all will be well with us, here and hereafter.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eleven) p. 105

Thought to Ponder . . .
"How can I best serve Thee—Thy will (not mine) be done."

AA-related 'Alconym'
F A I T H = Father, Always In Thy Hands.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Wants or Needs?
"We are taught to differentiate between our wants
(which are never satisfied)
and our needs (which are always provided for).
We cast off the burdens of the past
and the anxieties of the future,
as we begin to live in the present, one day at a time.
We are granted
'the serenity to accept the things we cannot change'
- and thus lose our quickness to anger
and our sensitivity to criticism."
1976 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 560

Thought to consider ...
Don't give up before the miracle happens.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S T E P S = Solutions To Every Problem in Sobriety

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Doubt
From "We Agnostics":
"Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem. That means we
have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk
about God. Here difficulty arises with agnostics. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we
discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. But his face falls when we speak of spiritual matters,
especially when we mention God, for we have re-opened a subject which our man thought he had neatly evaded or
entirely ignored. "We know how he feels. We have shared his honest doubt and prejudice."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 44

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"I can change my viewpoint anytime I want to. I can look at things from down, by lying back and waiting for someone to
rescue me. Or I can stand tall and look at the way things are as the way they're meant to be."
York Harbor, Maine, September 1994
"Attitude Adjustment,"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"We found that as soon as we were able to lay aside prejudice and
express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater than
ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible
for any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is God."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 46~

"Let no alcoholic say he cannot recover unless he has his family
back. This just isn't so. In some cases the wife will never come
back for one reason or another. Remind the prospect that his
recovery is not dependent upon people. It is dependent upon his
relationship with God. We have seen men get well whose families have
not returned at all. We have seen others slip when the family came
back too soon."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 99~

We had lacked the perspective to see that character-building and spiritual values had to come first, and that material
satisfactions were not the purpose of living.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 71

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

We alcoholics are the biggest rationalizers in the world. Fortified with the excuse that we are doing great things for A.A.,
we can, through broken anonymity, resume our old and disastrous pursuit of personal power and prestige, public
honors, and money--the same implacable urges that, when frustrated, once caused us to drink.
Dr. Bob was essentially a far more humble person than I, and anonymity came rather easily to him. When it was sure
that he was mortally afflicted, some of his friends suggested that there should be a monument erected in honor of him
and his wife, Anne--befitting a founder and his lady. Telling me about this, Dr. Bob grinned broadly and said, 'God bless
'em. They mean well. But let's you and me get buried just like other folks.'
In the Akron cemetery where Dr. Bob and Anne lie, the simple stone says not a word about A.A. This final example of
self-effacement is of more permanent worth to A.A. than any amount of public attention or any great monument.

Prayer For The Day: Lord our God, may I learn to treat others generously, with respect, and with care and understanding, that we may all bring out the best in one another. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

June 10

Tremendous Urge

Many of us felt that we had plenty of character. There was a
tremendous urge to cease forever. Yet we found it impossible.
This is the baffling feature of alcoholism as we know it—this utter
inability to leave it alone, no matter how great the necessity or the wish.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (More About Alcoholism) p. 34

Thought to Ponder . . .
Alcohol — cunning, baffling, powerful!

AA-related 'Alconym'
A A = Alcoholic's Answer.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Anger
"Then the miracle happened - to me!
It isn't always so sudden with everyone,
but I ran into a personal crisis which filled me
with a raging and righteous anger.
And as I fumed helplessly and planned
to get good and drunk and show them,
my eye caught a sentence to
the book lying open on my bed.
'We cannot live with anger.'
The walls crumpled - and the light streamed in.
I wasn't trapped. I wasn't helpless.
I was free, and I didn't have to drink to 'show them.'
This wasn't 'religion' - this was freedom!
Freedom from anger and fear,
freedom to know happiness and love."
1976 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 228

Thought to Consider ...

Anger is the hot wind that extinguishes
the light of reason.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
NUTS Not Using The Steps?

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Beginning
from: "Two alcoholics meet"
"'I have placed both operation and myself in God's hands. I'm going to do what it takes to get sober and stay that way.'
"Just before they stopped [at the hospital, where Dr. Bob was to perform surgery], Bill, who also had his practical side,
gave him a bottle of beer...The bottle of beer Bill gave him that morning was the last drink he [Dr. Bob] ever had.
"Although arguments have been and will be made for other significant occasions in A.A. history, it is generally agreed
that Alcoholics Anonymous began there, in Akron, on that date: June 10, 1935."
1980, Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, pages 74-75

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Alone in the town, I was scared to death of getting drunk. I was no longer a teacher or a preacher, I was an alcoholic
who knew that he needed another alcoholic, as much as that one could possibly need me. Driven by that urge, I was
soon face to face with Dr. Bob."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., July 1965
"A Fragment of History: Origin of the Twelve Steps"
The Language of the Heart

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil from
it as from a hot flame. We react sanely and normally, and we will
find that this has happened automatically. We will see that our new
attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or
effort on our part. It just comes!"
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 84~

"Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get
well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in
God and clean house."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 98~

During this process of learning more about humility, the most profound result of all was the change in our attitude toward God.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 75

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

We do not relate intimate experiences of another member 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 aimed at someone else produces the contrary effect.
A continuous look at our assets and liabilities, and a real desire to learn and grow by this means are necessities for us. We alcoholics have learned this the hard way. More experienced people, of course, in all times and places have practiced unsparing self-survey and criticism.

Prayer For The Day: Lord, lead me to look for the positive in all people and in all situations. May I help bring light to those in darkness, and encouragement to those who feel unhappy. May I show as much care for others as I would like them to show for me. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

June 11

Intends to Stick

Every man and woman who has joined A.A. and intends to stick
has, without realizing it, made a beginning on Step Three. Isn't it
true that in all matters touching upon alcohol, each of them has
decided to turn his or her life over to the care, protection, and
guidance of Alcoholics Anonymous? Already a willingness has
been achieved to cast out one's own will and one's own ideas
about the alcohol problem in favor of those suggested by A.A.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Three) p. 35

Thought to Ponder
What have I been given today?
Am I willing to reach out and grasp it?

AA-related 'Alconym'
A C T = Action Changes Things.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Gratitude
"Another exercise that I practice
is to try for a full inventory of my blessings
and then for a right acceptance of the many gifts that are mine -
both temporal and spiritual.
Here I try to achieve a state of joyful gratitude.
When such a brand of gratitude is repeatedly affirmed
and pondered,
it can finally displace the natural tendency
to congratulate myself on whatever progress
I may have been enabled to make in some areas of living.
I try hard to hold fast to the truth
that a full and thankful heart cannot entertain great conceits.
When brimming with gratitude,
one's heartbeat must surely result in outgoing love,
the finest emotion that we can ever know."
Bill W., March 1962
1988AAGrapevine, The Language of the Heart, p. 271

Thought to Consider . . .
I have learned what a heart full of gratitude feels like.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
T H I N K = The Happiness I Never Knew

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Illness
From "Building a New Life":
"That year I went to an alcohol treatment program twice. The first time I was in treatment, I was shaving at the mirror in
the bathroom and it seemed to me that my beard was growing back in as fast as I could shave it off. Even though I was
in a hospital gown, I escaped, running down the streets and jumping up and over fences. I was on the porch of a
woman's house banging on the door for her to let me in when the police arrived. I tried to convince them she was my
wife and my children were inside, but they saw the hospital bracelet on my wrist, and they took me back to the program.
"The doctor told me that if I went into D.T.'s like that again I might not come out."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 482

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Instead of looking backward into the dreariness of my past, I'm looking forward to a bright future because I've finally taken responsibility for my life."
Canaan, Conn., June 1997
"Making Room to Grow Up"
Step By Step: Real AAs, Real Recovery

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"In this book you read again and again that faith did for us what we
could not do for ourselves. We hope you are convinced now that God can remove whatever self-will has blocked you off
from Him. If you have already made a decision, and an inventory of your grosser handicaps,
you have made a good beginning. That being so you have swallowed and
digested some big chunks of truth about yourself."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 70~

"Selfishness—self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of
our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-
seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they
retaliate. Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation,
but we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made
decisions based on self which later placed us in a position to be hurt."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 62~

Even these “last-gaspers” often had difficulty in realizing how hopeless they actually were.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 22

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

We need to distinguish sharply between spiritual simplicity and functional simplicity.
When we say that A.A. advocates no theological proposition except God as we understand Him, we greatly simplify A.A.
life by avoiding conflict and exclusiveness.
But when we get into questions of action by groups, by areas, and by A.A. as a whole, we find that we must to some
extent organize to carry the message--or else face chaos. And chaos is not simplicity.
I learned that the temporary or seeming good can often be the deadly enemy of the permanent best. When it comes to
survival for A.A., nothing short of our very best will be good enough.

Prayer For The Day: Gracious Father, I beseech thee to give me wisdom for kind thoughts and deeds. Teach me true hospitality, that I may be gracious in my own home and appreciative in the home of others. May I not temper my hospitality for certain reasons, but have a genuine welcome for all. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

June 12

Better and Happier

The emphasis on inventory is heavy only because a great many of us
have never really acquired the habit of accurate self-appraisal. Once
this healthy practice has become grooved, it will be so interesting and
profitable that the time it takes won't be missed. For these minutes and
sometimes hours spent in self-examination are bound to make all the
other hours of our day better and happier.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Ten) pp. 89 - 90

Thought to Ponder . . .
Am I doing to others as I would have them do to me—today?

AA-related 'Alconym'
S O B E R = Spiritually On Beam; Everything's Right.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Sacrifices
"At the beginning we sacrificed alcohol.
We had to, or it would have killed us.
But we couldn't get rid of alcohol
unless we made other sacrifices.
Big-shotism and phony thinking had to go.
We had to toss self-justification, self-pity,
and anger right out the window.
We had to quit the crazy contest for personal prestige
and big bank balances.
We had to take personal responsibility for our sorry state
and quit blaming others for it.
Were these sacrifices? Yes, they were.
To gain enough humility and self-respect
to stay alive at all we had to give up
what had really been our dearest possessions -
our ambitions and our illegitimate pride."
Bill W., January 1955
1988AAGrapevine, The Language of the Heart, p. 210

Thought to Consider . . .
Sobriety is a journey, not a destination

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S O B E R = Son Of a Basket, Everything's Real

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Core
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"On many a day I felt like throwing the book out the window.
"I was in this anything-but-spiritual mood on the night when the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous were written. I
was sore and tired clear through. I lay in bed at 182 Clinton Street with pencil in hand and with a tablet of scratch paper
on my knee. I could not get my mind on the job, much less put my heart in it. But here was one of those things that had
to be done. Slowly my mind came into some kind of focus.
"Since Ebby's visit to me in the fall of 1934 we had gradually evolved what we called 'the word-of-mouth program.' Most
of the basic ideas had come from the Oxford Groups, William James, and Dr. Silkworth."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 160

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Where before there was a gaping hole of emptiness, I seek within me that faint ember of self-love, self-worth, and desire for goodness."
Westfield, Mass., July 1997
"The Faint Ember"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"Faith without works was dead, he said. And how appallingly true for
the alcoholic! For if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his
spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could
not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead. If he did not
work, he would surely drink again, and if he drank, he would surely
die. Then faith would be dead indeed. With us it is just like that."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 14~

"If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch and the
brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious luxury of normal
men, but for alcoholics these things are poison."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 66~

Many of us also like the experience of an occasional retreat from the outside world where we can quiet down for an
undisturbed day or so of self-overhaul and meditation.”
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 89

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Who can render an account of all the miseries that once were ours, and who can estimate the release and joy that the
later years have brought to us? Who can possibly tell the vast consequences of what God's work through A.A. has
already set in motion?
And who can penetrate the deeper mystery of our wholesale deliverance from slavery, a bondage to a most hopeless
and fatal obsession which for centuries possessed the minds and bodies of men and women like ourselves?
We think cheerfulness and laughter make for usefulness. Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into
merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past. But why shouldn't we laugh? We have recovered, and
have helped others to recover. What greater cause could there be for rejoicing than this?

Prayer For The Day: Dear heavenly Father, we do appreciate Your patience and love toward us. May we show this same love to those around us; especially to those with whom we might have a disagreement. Lord, grant us grace to be gracious and not get into contention with others. Lord, remove murmuring and disputing from our hearts and let us be joyful and peace makers. Father, guard our tongues that we do not say things that we will later regret. Forgive us when we fail You and give us Your grace to forgive others who have hurt us. We ask this in Your son, Jesus' name. Amen.

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AA Thought for the Day

June 13

Realism and Honesty

More realism and therefore more honesty about ourselves are
the great gains we make under the influence of Step Five. As
we took inventory, we began to suspect how much trouble self-
delusion had been causing us. This had brought a disturbing
reflection. If all our lives we had more or less fooled ourselves,
how could we now be so sure that we weren't still self-deceived?
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Five) pp. 58 - 59

Thought to Ponder . . .
Most of us would declare that without a fearless admission of
our defects to another human being we could not stay sober.

AA-related 'Alconym'
H O W = Honesty, Open-mindedness, Willingness.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Change
"How many of us would presume to declare,
'Well, I'm sober and I'm happy.
What more can I want, or do? I'm fine the way I am.'
We know that the price of such self-satisfaction is
an inevitable backslide,
punctuated at some point by a very rude awakening.
We have to grow or else deteriorate.
For us, the status quo can only be for today,
never for tomorrow.
Change we must; we cannot stand still."
Bill W., Grapevine, February 1961
1967AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 25

Thought to Consider . . .
There are only two things an alcoholic doesn't like -
the way things are, and change.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
C H A N G E = Choosing Honesty Allows New Growth Every day

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Future
From "Heard at Meetings":
"'It is wise to pray for the future, but not to worry about it, because we can't live it until it becomes the present. The depth
of our anxiety measures the distance we are from God.' - Sydney, Australia"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 26

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"The compulsion among most of us to survive and to grow soon becomes far stronger than the temptation to drink, or
to misbehave. Literally, we must 'do or die.' So we make the choice to live. This, in turn, means the choice of AA
principles, practices and attitudes that can salvage us from total disaster by insuring our sobriety."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., May 1960
"What Is Freedom in AA?"
The Language of the Heart

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"Actually we were fooling ourselves, for deep down in every man,
woman, and child, is the fundamental idea of God. It may be obscured
by calamity, by pomp, by worship of other things, but in some form
or other it is there. For faith in a Power greater than ourselves, and
miraculous demonstrations of that power in human lives, are facts as
old as man himself."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 55~

"Cessation of drinking is but the first step away from a highly
strained, abnormal condition."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 122~

We have gained some understanding of the ancient words ‘Freely ye have received, freely give.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 166

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

The practice of admitting one's defects to another person is, of course, very ancient. It has been validated in every
century, and it characterizes the lives of all spiritually centered and truly religious people.
But today religion is by no means the sole advocate of this saving principle. Psychiatrists and psychologists point out
the deep need every human being has for practical insight and knowledge of his own personality flaws and for a
discussion of them with an understanding and trustworthy person.
So far as alcoholics are concerned, A.A. would go even further. Most of us would declare that without a fearless
admission of our defects to another human being, we could not stay sober. It seems plain that the grace of God will not
enter to expel our destructive obsessions until we are willing to try this.

Prayer For The Day: “A Prayer During Times Of Fear” - Father, You want us to have peace instead of fear. Therefore You speak to our hearts many times, “Fear not” and give us many reasons why we are not to be fearful people. The most compelling reason that we need not fear is that You promise never to leave us nor forsake us. You are our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. So we ask that You embolden us and fill our hearts with courage in place of fear. As someone once said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”

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AA Thought for the Day

June 14

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 Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eight) p. 78

Thought to Ponder . . .
Self-righteousness is a loud din raised to drown the voice of guilt within us.

AA-related 'Alconym'
J A D E = Justify, Argue, Defend, or Explain.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Traditions
"The Twelve Traditions point straight
at many of our individual defects.
By implication they ask each of us to lay aside
pride and resentments.
They ask for personal as well as group sacrifice.
They ask us never to use the AA name
in any quest for personal power or distinction or money.
The Traditions guarantee the equality
of all members and the independence of all groups.
They show how we may best relate ourselves to each other
and to the world outside."
Bill W.,
1967AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 96

Thought to Consider . . .
If you have the courage to begin,
you have the courage to succeed.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
A A's - R - U S = Alcoholics Anonymous Recovery Unity Service

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Core
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"On many a day I felt like throwing the book out the window. "I was in this anything-but-spiritual mood on the night when
the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous were written. I was sore and tired clear through. I lay in bed at 182 Clinton
Street with pencil in hand and with a tablet of scratch paper on my knee. I could not get my mind on the job, much less
put my heart in it. But here was one of those things that had to be done. Slowly my mind came into some kind of focus.
"Since Ebby's visit to me in the fall of 1934 we had gradually evolved what we called 'the word-of-mouth program.' Most
of the basic ideas had come from the Oxford Groups, William James, and Dr. Silkworth."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 160

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"I'm working diligently to improve my character. I work daily on trying to reign in my impetuous temper, my obsession with reaction rather than reflection, and that silly ego that keeps rearing its ugly head.
"I'm grateful for AA's reference to progress rather than perfection. Despite my shortcomings, with the help of the AA program and my brothers in AA, improvements will continue to be made"
April 2011
"Mistakes Have Been Made,"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"'My old manner of life was by no means a bad one, but I would not
exchange its best moments for the worst I have now. I would not go
back to it even if I could.'"
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 43~

"...I humbly offered myself to God, as I then I understood Him, to do
with me as He would. I placed myself unreservedly under His care and
direction. I admitted for the first time that of myself I was
nothing; that without Him I was lost. I ruthlessly faced my sins and
became willing to have my new-found Friend take them away, root and branch."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 13~

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

We now see that in twelfth-stepping the immediate results are not so important. Some people start out working with others and have immediate success. They are likely to get cocky. Those of us who are not so successful at first get depressed.
As a matter of fact, the successful worker differs from the unsuccessful only in being lucky about his prospects. He simply hits newcomers who are ready and able to stop at once. Given the same prospects, the seemingly unsuccessful person would have produced almost the same results. You have to work on a lot of newcomers before the law of averages commences to assert itself.
All true communication must be founded on mutual need. We saw that each sponsor would have to admit humbly his own needs as clearly as those of his prospect.

Prayer For The Day: Dear heavenly Father, I do thank you for Your goodness to me. Lord, help me to guard my mouth so that those things that are edifying and good will come out and not those things that contribute to a negative lifestyle. May I bless others with my tongue and never be guilty of cursing anyone. Let my words be gracious and may they bring healing to others. Let my words be kind and gentle and loving. May I reflect Your goodness in all that I do. Forgive me when I say the wrong things. Let me speak and pray the Word of God over my life and others. Give us all grace to say things that bring life into this world. I ask this in Jesus' Holy name. Amen.

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

June 15

Step Eight

We shall want to hold ourselves to the course of admitting the things
we have done, meanwhile forgiving the wrongs done us, real or
fancied. We should avoid extreme judgments, both of ourselves and
of others involved. We must not exaggerate our defects or theirs. A
quiet, objective view will be our steadfast aim.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eight) pp. 81 - 82

Thought to Ponder . . .
The 3 A's -- Awareness, Acceptance, Action.

AA-related 'Alconym'
A A = Accountable Actions.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Foundation
"There is a direct linkage among self-examination,
meditation, and prayer.
Taken separately, these practices can bring
much relief and benefit.
But when they are logically related and interwoven,
the result is an unshakable foundation for life.
Now and then we may be granted a glimpse of
that ultimate reality which is God's kingdom.
And we will be comforted and assured
that our own destiny in that realm will be secure
for so long as we try, however falteringly,
to find and do the will of our own Creator."
1952AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 98

Thought to Consider . . .
Prayer is asking a question.
Meditation is listening for the answer.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
A S A P = Always Say A Prayer

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Future
From "Heard at Meetings":
"'It is wise to pray for the future, but not to worry about it, because we can't live it until it becomes the present. The depth
of our anxiety measures the distance we are from God.' - Sydney, Australia"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 26

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"One day it will be left to the young people now in our Fellowship to carry on the original spirit and traditions of AA, even
though the buzz words and trends will come and go. It will be up to us to teach newcomers how to maintain the type of
sobriety that achieves the promises of the Big Book and dispels some of the fables of recovery popular today. It will be
up to us to help the newcomer from the street dry out, shakes and pukes and all. We will be left to teach the little things:
how to sit at the front, not the back of the room, say hello to the new guy, wash coffee cups and ashtrays. One day it will
be up to us to uphold the Traditions. It will be up to us to keep it simple."
Bury St. Edmunds, England, September 1994
"We Who Are Next in Line,"
I Am Responsible: The Hand of AA

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"For the type of alcoholic who is able and willing get well, little
charity, in the ordinary sense of the word, is need or wanted. The men
who cry for money and shelter before conquering alcohol, are on the
wrong track."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 97

We know that while the alcoholic keeps away from drink, as he may do
for months or years, he reacts much like other men. We are equally
positive that once he takes any alcohol whatever into his system,
something happens, both in the bodily and mental sense, which makes
it virtually impossible for him to stop. The experience of any
alcoholic will abundantly confirm this."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 22~

And they have increasingly found a peace of mind which can stand firm in the face of difficult circumstances.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 104

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Though we of A.A. find ourselves living in a world characterized by destructive fears as never before in history, we see
great areas of faith, and tremendous aspirations toward justice and brotherhood. Yet no prophet can presume to say
whether the world outcome will be blazing destruction or the beginning, under God's intention, of the brightest era yet
known to mankind.
I am sure we A.A.'s will comprehend this scene. In microcosm, we have experienced this identical state of terrifying
uncertainty, each in his own life. In no sense pridefully, we can say that we do not fear the world outcome, whichever
course it may take. This is because we have been enabled to deeply feel and say, 'We shall fear no evil--Thy will, not
ours, be done.'

Prayer For The Day: May I go forth filled with the joy and confidence of your Spirit; and may everything I do this day, in word or deed, be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Amen.