AA Thought for the Day

March 16

Immunity
Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure
immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics.
It works when other activities fail.
~ Alcoholics Anonymous, p89

Thought to Ponder . . .
Into service out of self.

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

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

Honesty
"Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who
cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally
incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been
born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous
honesty. Their chances are less than average. There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental
disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest.
"Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 58

Thought to Consider . . .
Half measures availed us nothing.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
HOW
Honest, Open-minded and Willing

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

Greater Strength
>From "Letting go of old ideas:"
"It is now well established that willpower all by
itself is about as effective a cure for alcohol
addiction as it is for cancer....Most of us tried
going it alone, hoping either to control our drinking
or to stop, and we had no lasting success in either
endeavor.
"But we finally asked ourselves: Wouldn't it be
more intelligent to seek out and tap a strength
greater than our own than to persist in our futile
solo efforts...?"
c. 1998, Living Sober, page 73

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

"Life in contented sobriety seems to be a matter of looking at the reality of myself in my attitudes, actions, and character
rather than trying to run away from it."
Tasmania, Australia, September 2008
"The Reality of Myself"
AA Grapevine

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

"At a certain point in the drinking of every alcoholic, he passes
into a state where the most powerful desire to stop drinking is of
absolutely no avail. This tragic situation has already arrived in
practically every case long before it is suspected."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 24~

"Though we work out our solution on the spiritual as well as an
altruistic plane, we favor hospitalization for the alcoholic who is
very jittery or befogged. More often than not, it is imperative that
a man's brain be cleared before he is approached, as he has then
a better chance of understanding and accepting what we have to offer."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Doctor's Opinion, pg. xxvi~

With a proper display of honesty and morality, we’d stand a better chance of getting what we really wanted.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 72

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Losing Financial Fears
When a job still looked like a mere means of getting money rather than an opportunity for service, when the acquisition of money for financial independence looked more important than a right dependence upon God, we were the victims of unreasonable fears. And these were fears which would make a serene and useful existence, at any financial level, quite impossible.
But as time passed we found that with the help of A.A.'s Twelve Steps we could lose those fears, no matter what our material prospects were. We could cheerfully perform humble labor without worrying about tomorrow. If our circumstances happened to be good, we no longer dreaded a change for the worse, for we had learned that these troubles could be turned into great values, for ourselves and for others. TWELVE AND TWELVE, pp. 121-122

Prayer For The Day: Father, your Spirit lives in me, and I am swift to hear. I have learned it’s more important to listen than to be heard. I purpose to be slow to speak, and choose the words I speak with grace. I am slow to become angry. May my recreated human spirit, under the control of the Holy Spirit bear fruit — joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

AA Thought for the Day

March 17

Watch
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 anyone.
Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p 84

Thought to Ponder . . .
Sobriety is a gift, the price of which is eternal vigilance.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
S O B R I E T Y = Staying Off Booze Recovery Is Everything To You.

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

Prayer
"As the doubter tries the process of prayer,he should begin to add up the results.If he persists, he will surely find more
serenity,more tolerance, less fear, and less anger.He will acquire a quiet courage,the kind that isn't tension-ridden.He
can look at 'failure' and 'success'for what these really are.Problems and calamity will begin to mean his
instruction,instead of his destruction.Wonderful and unaccountable things will start to happen.
"Bill W., Box 1980: The AA Grapevine, June 1958As Bill Sees It, p. 321

Thought to Consider . . .
Trying to pray is praying.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
BS
Before Sobriety

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

Self-Care
>From "To Wives":
"Be determined that your husband's [or other loved one's] drinking is not going to spoil your relations with your children
or your friends. They need your companionship and your help. It is possible to have a full and useful life, though your
husband continues to drink. We know women who are unafraid, even happy under these conditions. Do not set your
heart on reforming your husband. You may be unable to do so, no matter how hard you try."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 111

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

"Surrender has nothing to do with giving up. It means to stop fighting."
Carrollton, Texas, February 1993
"The Gift of Sobriety"
AA Grapevine

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

"On 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. Under these conditions we
can employ our mental faculties with assurance, for after all God
gave us brains to use. Our thought-life will be placed on a much
higher plane when our thinking is cleared of wrong motives."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 86~

"Though we work out our solution on the spiritual as well as an
altruistic plane, we favor hospitalization for the alcoholic who is
very jittery or befogged. More often than not, it is imperative that
a man's brain be cleared before he is approached, as he has then
a better chance of understanding and accepting what we have to offer."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Doctor's Opinion, pg. xxvi~

Therefore, thoroughness ought to be the watchword when taking inventory.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 54

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Only God Is Unchanging
'Change is the characteristic of all growth. From drinking to sobriety, from dishonesty to honesty, from conflict to
serenity, from hate to love, from childish dependence to adult responsibility - all this and infinitely more represent change for the better.
'Such changes are accomplished by a belief in and a practice of sound principles. Here we must needs discard bad or
ineffective principles in favor of good ones that work. Even good principles can sometimes be displaced by the discovery of still better ones.
'Only God is unchanging; only He has all the truth there is. LETTER, 1966

Prayer For The Day: Loving Father, search me, and if there be any evil ways in me, correct them, and lead me into the ways everlasting. I pray that I may not be deformed from selfishness, but with a lowly and expectant heart run with patience and triumph the race that is set before me. Amen.

AA Thought for the Day

March 18

Pain
Someone who knew what he was talking about once remarked that pain
was the touchstone of all spiritual progress. How heartily we A.A.'s
can agree with him, for we know that the pains of alcoholism had to
come before sobriety, and emotional turmoil before serenity.
- 12 Step & 12 Traditions, pp. 93 - 94

Thought to Ponder . . .
Spiritual progress isn't what gets us sober, it's what keeps us sober.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
G R O W T H = God Reveals Other Ways To Heal.

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

Change
"Let us never fear needed change. Certainly we have to discriminate between changes for worse and changes for
better. But once a need becomes clearly apparent in an individual, in a group, or in AA as a whole, it has long since been
found out that we cannot stand still and look the other way.
"Bill W., Box 1980: The AA Grapevine, July 1965 As Bill Sees It, p. 115

Thought to Consider . . .
There is no progress without change.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
CHANGE
Choosing Honesty Allows New Growth Everyday

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

Independence
Step Three: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
"'If I keep on turning my life and my will over to the care of Something or Somebody else, what will become of me? I'll
look like the hole in the doughnut.' This, of course, is the process by which instinct and logic always seek to bolster
egotism, and so frustrate spiritual development. The trouble is that this kind of thinking takes no real account of the facts.
And the facts seem to be these: The more we become willing to depend upon a Higher Power, the more independent we
actually are. Therefore dependence, as A.A. practices it, is really a means to gaining true independence of the spirit."
1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 36

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

"Pain is one of our greatest teachers. Though I still find it difficult to accept today's pain and anxiety with any degree of
serenity -- as those more advanced in the spiritual life seem able to do -- I can, if I try hard, give thanks for present pain nevertheless."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., March 1962
"What Is Acceptance?"
The Language of the Heart

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

"When we became alcoholics, crushed by a self-imposed crisis we could
not postpone or evade, we had to fearlessly face the proposition that
either God is everything or else He is nothing. God either is or He isn't."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 53~

"...we have ceased fighting anything or anyone—even alcohol."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 84~

These emotional ”dry benders” often led straight to the bottle.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 90

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

R.S.V.P. - Yes or No?
Usually, we do not avoid a place where there is drinking - if we have a legitimate reason for being there. That includes
bars, night clubs, dances, receptions, weddings, even plain ordinary parties.
You will note that we made an important qualification. Therefore, ask yourself, 'Have I any good social, business, or
personal reason for going to this place? Or am I expecting to steal a little vicarious pleasure from the atmosphere?' Then
go or stay away, whichever seems better. But be sure you are on solid spiritual ground before you start and that your
motive in going is thoroughly good. Do not think of what you will get out of the occasion. Think of what you can bring to it.
If you are shaky, you had better work with another alcoholic instead! ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, 101-102

Prayer For The Day: Dear Father, please help me understand that a little kindness costs nothing to give and it's far more valuable.

AA Thought for the Day

March 19

God
We finally saw that faith in some kind of God was a part of our make-up,
just as much as the feeling we have for a friend. Sometimes we had to
search fearlessly, but He was there.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p . 55


Thought to Ponder . . .
I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't,
than live my life as if there isn't, and die to find out there is.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
W I L L I N G = When I Live Life, I Need God..

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

Release
"Who can render an account of all the miseries that have once been ours, and who can estimate the release and joy
that the later years have brought to us? Who could possibly tell the vast consequences of what God's work through AA
had already set in motion?
"Bill W., Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pp. 44-5
As Bill Sees It, p. 163

Thought to Consider . . .
"I have been given a quiet place in bright sunshine.
"Bill W., Box 1980: The AA Grapevine, Jan. 1958.
The Language of the Heart, p. 238

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
PUSH
Pray Until Something Happens

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

Power
>From "Listening to the Wind":
"Alcohol was only a symptom of much deeper problems of dishonesty and denial. Now it was a matter of coming to
grips with a Power greater than myself. That was very hard for me. How could all these white people even begin to think
they could understand me? So they brought a sober Indian woman up to work with me for a day. That was a very
powerful day. That Indian woman cut me no slack at all. I will never forget her. She convinced me I was not unique. She
said these white folks were the best thing that ever happened to me.
"Where would you be without them?" she asked. "What are the alternatives? You got any better ideas for yourself? How
many Indians do you know who are going to help you sober up?" At the time, I couldn't think of any. I surrendered behind
the tears of no answers and decided to do it their way. I found the Power greater than myself to be the magic above the
heads of the people in the meetings. I chose to call that magic Great Spirit."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 467

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

"New people are the lifeblood of AA. I am eternally grateful to them. By extension I am, therefore, grateful to Tradition
Three for making it possible for all who want what we have to come to AA."
Los Gatos, Calif., February 1993
"A Part of the Whole"
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~

"Though we work out our solution on the spiritual as well as an
altruistic plane, we favor hospitalization for the alcoholic who is
very jittery or befogged. More often than not, it is imperative that
a man's brain be cleared before he is approached, as he has then
a better chance of understanding and accepting what we have to offer."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Doctor's Opinion, pg. xxvi~

Then it is explained that the other Steps of the A.A. program can be practiced with Success only when Step Three is
given a determined and persistent trial.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 40

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Clearing a Channel
During the day, we can pause where situations must be met and decisions made, and renew the simple request 'Thy will, not mine, be done.'
If at these points our emotional disturbances happens to be great, we will more surely keep our balance provided we remember, and repeat to ourselves, a particular prayer or phrase that has appealed to us in our reading or meditations. Just saying it over and over will often enable us to clear a channel choked up with anger, fear, frustration, or misunderstanding, and permit us to return to the surest help of all -- our search for God's will, not our own, in the moment of stress. TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 102-103

Prayer For The Day: Father, help us to see and love in others what you see and love in them. Amen.

AA Thought for the Day

March 20

Fellowship
Yes, there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that.
It is a fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous. There you will
find release from care, boredom and worry. Your imagination
will be fired. Life will mean something at last.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p 84

Thought to Ponder . . .
A friend is one who sees through you and still enjoys the view.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
F E L L O W S H I P = Faith, Empathy, Learning, Love, Openness. Wisdom, Self-worth, Hope, Insight, Peace

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

Illusion
"Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows. Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people. The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death."
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 30

Thought to Consider . . .
"Many alcoholics are enthusiasts. They run to extremes.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
DENIAL
Don't Even Notice I Am Lying

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

Cooperation
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"In 1949 the American Psychiatric Association did exactly the same thing [recognizing A.A. as a valid aid for alcoholics]. I [Bill W.] read a paper at its annual meeting in Montreal. I wound up by describing the spiritual experience as we understand it in A.A. As I read, I doubted if even a handful of the audience could possibly agree with the views expressed in my paper. To my astonishment there was a sustained round of applause. But this was not at all a tribute to me or to the contents of my paper; it was instead a tribute to Alcoholics Anonymous, a tribute to a way of life which had worked for alcoholics when other approaches had failed. This generous response was evidence that our friends the psychiatrists were being much more tolerant of us than we had been of them. If we ourselves became more open-minded, then far greater co-operation with this profession would be assured.
"The Association promptly confirmed the view of its members in Montreal. My paper was carried in the American Journal of Psychiatry and we were permitted to reprint it in a pamphlet, now entitled Alcoholism the Illness.* Our standing with the psychiatric profession has increased greatly since that time.
"*Later retitled Three Talks to Medical Societies by Bill W., this pamphlet also includes Bill's paper before the Medical Society of the State of New York"
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 205

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

"If you haven't been to a meeting for a while, come, and add to the mix ... we need you. Come for yourself, come for the Fellowship, come to celebrate sobriety, and come for the alcoholic who still suffers."
San Francisco, Calif., February 1993
"Torn Asunder"
AA Grapevine

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

"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, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 79~

"To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main
purpose of this book."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Foreword To First Edition, pg. xiii~

But its object is always the same: to improve our conscious contact with God, with His grace, wisdom, and love.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 101

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Whose Responsibility?
'An A.A. group, as such, cannot take on all the personal problems of its members, let alone those of nonalcoholics in the world around us. The A.A. group is not, for example, a mediator of domestic problems, nor does it furnish personal financial aid to anyone.
'Though a member may sometimes be helped in such matters by his friends in A.A., the primary responsibility for the solutions of all his problems of living and growing rests squarely upon the individual himself. Should an A.A. group attempt this sort of help, its effectiveness and energies would be hopelessly dissipated.
'This is why sobriety -- freedom from alcohol -- through the teaching and practice of A.A.'s Twelve Steps, is the sole purpose of the group. If we don't stick to this cardinal principle, we shall almost certainly collapse. And if we collapse we cannot help anyone.' Letter, 1966

Prayer For The Day: Dear Lord, thank you for this day. Please give me the wisdom to understand that the only way to have a friend is by being a friend.

AA Thought for the Day

March 21

Turn It Over
Any of us can handle just one day;
all each of us has to try at is our own job, our own family life.
We don't have to try fixing up the whole world or understanding
what no theologian of any faith has ever understood.
We simply stop messing in God's business. . .
when we stop messing and worrying, we have turned our will
and our lives over to God (or Good) as we understand (or don't understand) Him.
- Came To Believe . . ., p. 116

Thought to Ponder . . .
God seldom becomes a reality until God becomes a necessity.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
G O D = Good Orderly Direction.

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

Rationalization
"There are cases where our ancient enemy, rationalization, has stepped in and has justified conduct which was really
wrong. The temptation here is to imagine that we had good motives and reasons when we really didn't. We
'constructively criticized' someone who needed it, when our real motive was to win a useless argument. We sometimes
hurt those we love because they' need to be taught a lesson, 'when we really want to punish. This perverse wish to hide
a bad motive underneath a good one, permeates human affairs from top to bottom.
"Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 94

Thought to Consider . . .
Recognizing someone else's human dignity cannot cost you your own.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
PUSH
Pray Until Something Happens

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

Rapture
>From "Total Surrender":
"What has always impressed me most about the program and myself is the constant, continuing challenge to try
recapturing some of the true and honest rapture I felt upon total surrender, when I first came into A.A. For me, that
special peace of mind has never been duplicated. Now, after all the accumulated twenty-four-hour periods, I realize that
it probably never will be. I have come close to it a few times, but it's never the same."Des Plaines, Illinois, USA"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 29

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

"We are losing all fear of those violent emotional storms which sometimes cross our alcoholic world; perhaps it
bespeaks our confidence that every storm will be followed by a calm; a calm which is more understanding, more
compassionate, more tolerant than any we ever knew before."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., August 1946
"Who Is a Member of Alcoholics Anonymous?"
The Language of the Heart

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

"Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to
Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give
freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the
Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you
trudge the Road of Happy Destiny."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 164~

"A body badly burned by alcohol does not often recover overnight nor do
twisted thinking and depression vanish in a twinkling. We are convinced
that a spiritual mode of living is a most powerful health restorative."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, Page 133~

Just as firmly bound by obligation are the members of Alcoholics Anonymous, who have demonstrated that they can
help problem drinkers as others seldom can.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 150

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Debits and Credits
Following a gossip binge, we can well ask ourselves these questions: 'Why did we say what we did? Were we only
trying to be helpful and informative? Or were we not trying to feel superior by confessing the other fellow's sins? Or,
because of fear and dislike, were we not really aiming to damage him?'
This would be an honest attempt to examine ourselves, rather than the other fellow.
Inventory-taking is not always done in red ink. It's a poor day indeed when we haven't done something right. As a matter
of fact, the waking hours are usually filled with things that are constructive. Good intentions, good thoughts, and good
acts are there for us to see.
Even when we have tried hard and failed, we may chalk that up as one of the greatest credits of all.
1. GRAPEVINE, AUGUST 1961
2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p.93

Prayer For The Day: Dear Lord, please help me find confidence in myself. Help me understand that when I have confidence in myself others will have confidence in me.

AA Thought for the Day

March 22

Prayer and Meditation
On 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, p 86

Thought to Ponder . . .
Prayer asks the question. Meditation listens for the answer.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
G I F T = God Is Forever There.

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

Tolerance
"Honesty with ourselves and others gets us sober,
but it is tolerance that keeps us that way.
In other words, once an alcoholic fully realizes
that he can't get well alone,
he will somehow find a way to get well and stay well
in the company of others.
It has been that way from the beginning of AA
and probably always will be so."
Bill W., Letter, 1943
As Bill Sees It, p. 312

Thought to Consider . . .
Together we can do what we could never do alone.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
TIME
Things I Must Earn

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

Nameless
>From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"[Tradition Eleven] represents more than a sound public relations policy. It is more than a denial of self-seeking. Tradition Eleven is certainly a constant reminder that personal ambition has no place in A.A., but it also implies that each member ought to become an active guardian of our fellowship in its relation with the general public.
"As we have seen, anonymity is the protective mantle that covers our whole society. But it is more than protection; it has another dimension, a spiritual significance. And this leads to Tradition Twelve, which reads: 'Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.'
"In my belief, the entire future of our fellowship hangs upon this vital principle. If we continue to be filled with the spirit and practice of anonymity, no shoal or reef can wreck us. If we forget this principle, the lid to Pandora's box will be off and the spirits of Money, Power, and Prestige will be loosed among us."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 131

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

"In AA, we discover that it is impossible to give without receiving, or receive without giving."
North Hollywood, Calif., February 1993
"The Gift of Sobriety"
AA Grapevine

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

"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~

"If a repetition is to be prevented, place the problem, along with
everything else, in God's hands."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, To Wives, Page 120~

Nor were we ever skillful in separating justified from unjustified anger.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 90

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

'Selfish'?
'I can see why you are disturbed to hear some A.A. speakers say, 'A.A. is a selfish program.' The word 'selfish' ordinarily implies that one is acquisitive, demanding, and thoughtless of the welfare of others. Of course, the A.A. way of life does not at all imply such undesirable traits.
'What do these speakers mean? Well, any theologian will tell you that the salvation of his own soul is the highest vocation that a man can have. Without salvation--however we may define this--he will have little or nothing. For us of A.A., there is even more urgency.
'If we cannot or will not achieve sobriety, then we become truly lost, right in the here and now. We are of no value to anyone, including ourselves, until we find salvation from alcohol. Therefore, our own recovery and spiritual growth have to come first--a right and necessary kind of self-concern.

Prayer For The Day: Dear Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for being the hope I need, the peace I look for, and the answer I seek.

AA Thought for the Day

March 23

Selfishness
So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves,
and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't
think so. Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must,
or it kills us! God makes that possible.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p 62

Thought to Ponder . . .
Avoidance is not the key; surrender opens the door.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Attitude Adjustment.

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

Isolating
"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.
Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand."
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 151

Thought to Consider . . .
Losers make promises;
winners make commitments.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*

KISS
Keep It Simple, Surrender

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

Whose
>From "'How Do You Pray?'":
"One of the men stopped me and said, 'How do you pray?' I said that I asked God not to take her, but to take me. He
then said, 'Why don't you ask that God give you the strength and courage to accept His will? Say, "Thy will, not mine, be done."'
"Yes, that was the first time in my life that I prayed for His will be done. As I look back, I see that I had always asked God
to do things my way."
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 23

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

"I can't imagine anything that would make me so mad, glad, or sad that I would want to go back to what I was before AA."
Napa, Calif., February 1993
"The Meaning of Success"
AA Grapevine

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

"...we then look at Step Six. We have emphasized willingness as
being indispensable. Are we now ready to let God remove from us all
the things which we have admitted are objectionable? Can He now take
them all-every one? If we still cling to something we will not let
go, we ask God to help us be willing."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 76~

"When we saw others solve their problems by a simple reliance upon the
Spirit of the Universe, we had to stop doubting the power of God. Our
ideas did not work. But the God idea did."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, Page 52~

These distinguished men had the nerve to say that most of the alcoholics under investigation were still childish,
emotionally sensitive, and grandiose.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 123

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Trouble Becomes an Asset
'I think that this particular General Service Conference holds promise and has been filled with progress--because it has had trouble. And it has converted that trouble into an asset, into some growth, and into a great promise.
'A.A. was born out of trouble, one of the most serious kinds of trouble that can befall an individual, the trouble attendant upon this dark and fatal malady of alcoholism. Every single one of us approached A.A. in trouble, in impossible trouble, in hopeless trouble. And that is why we came.
'If this Conference was ruffled, if individuals were deeply disturbed--I say, 'This is fine.' What parliament , what republic, what democracy has not been disturbed? Friction of opposing viewpoints is the very modus operandi on which they proceed. Then what should we be afraid of?' TALK, 1958

Prayer For The Day: Lord, it is in this place and in this time that you want me to grow. You give me the time I need to live as you want me to live. Help me to use my time and opportunities wisely. Help me to value and treasure all the people you put into my life, and lead me to live in thankfulness. Amen.

AA Thought for the Day

March 24

Destruction
Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid. It meant
destruction of self-centeredness. I must turn in all things
to the Father of Light who presides over us all.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p 14

Thought to Ponder . . .
New ideals and new attitudes bring a new life.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A B C = Accept, Begin, Continue.

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

Traditions
"The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous
are a distillate of our experience of living and working together.
They apply the spirit of the Twelve recovery Steps
to our group life and security.
They deal with the world outside and with each other;
they state our attitudes toward power and prestige,
toward property and money.
They would save us from tempting alliances
and major controversies;
they would elevate principles far above personal ambitions.
And as a token of this last, they request that we
maintain personal anonymity before the open public
as a protection to AA and as proof of the fact that
our society intends to practice true humility."
Bill W., The Language of the Heart, p. 96

Thought to Consider . . .
The reason they are called Principles is
because they always work.
If they didn't always work we'd just call them "good ideas."

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
WILLING
When I Live Life, I Need God

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

Growth
>From "A Vision for You":
"So our fellow worker will soon have friends galore. Some of them may sink and perhaps never get up, but if our experience is a criterion, more than half of those approached will become fellows of Alcoholics Anonymous. When a few men in this city have found themselves, and have discovered the joy of helping others to face life again, there will be no stopping until everyone in that town has had his opportunity to recover if he can and will."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pgs. 163-64

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

"My emotional bottom came in sobriety ... I actually had to sit and feel all those feelings I had worked so hard to drown out with alcohol."
New York, N.Y., January 2006
"Attitude Adjustment"
Beginner's Book: Getting and Staying Sober in AA

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

"Yes, there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that. It is a
fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous. There you will find release from
care, boredom and worry. Your imagination will be fired. Life will
mean something at last. The most satisfactory years of your
existence lie ahead."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 152~

"we have ceased fighting anything or anyone— even alcohol."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 84~

We can try to stop making unreasonable demands upon those we love.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 93

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

WE Cannot Live Alone
All of A.A.'s Twelve Steps ask us to go contrary to our natural desires; they all deflate our egos. When it come to ego deflation, few Steps are harder to take than the Fifth. Scarcely and Step is more necessary to long-time sobriety and peace of mind.
A.A. experience has taught us we cannot live alone with our pressing problems and the character defects which cause or aggravate them. If Step Four has revealed in stark relief those experiences we'd rather not remember, than the need to quit living by ourselves with those tormenting ghosts of yesterday gets more urgent than ever. We have to talk to somebody about them.
We cannot wholly rely on friends to solve all our difficulties. A good adviser will never do all our thinking for us. He knows that each final choice must be ours. He will therefore help to eliminate fear, expediency, and self-deception, so enabling us to make choices which are loving, wise, and honest.
1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 55
GRAPEVINE, AUGUST 1961

Prayer For The Day: Dear heavenly Father, I am grateful for Your constant provision. You have never failed me, Lord and I know that You never will. You are a faithful God, and I ask You to help me to trust You before my answer arrives. Lord, You are my source, and I know as I continue to look to You, I need never to worry about how You will provide. I just know that You will. Guard my mouth and remind me to speak what Your Word says about my situation. Deliver me from every vestige of fear, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I will always walk in faith. Lord, I pray that all my brothers and sisters in the family of God will also be granted this favor. May we each fulfill Your will in our lives. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

AA Thought for the Day

March 25

Solution
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, and we had come to believe
in the hopelessness and futility of life as we had been living it.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p 25

Thought to Ponder . . .
I want the gift of an untroubled mind.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H O W = Honest, Open-minded, Willing.

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

"There are those in AA whom we call 'destructive' critics.
They power-drive, they are 'politickers,'
they make accusations to gain their ends--
all for the good of AA, of course!
We ought to listen carefully to what they say.
Sometimes they are telling the whole truth;
at other times, a little truth.
If they are talking nonsense, we can ignore it,
or else try to persuade them.
There are few better means of self-survey
and of developing patience than the workouts
these usually well-meaning but erratic members
so often afford us."
Bill W., Twelve Concepts for World Service, p. 40
As Bill Sees It, p. 215

Thought to Consider . . .
Every problem arrives bearing a gift in its hands.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
GIFTS
Getting It From The Steps

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

Decision
Step Three: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
"Therefore, we who are alcoholics can consider ourselves fortunate indeed. Each of us has had his own near-fatal
encounter with the juggernaut of self-will, and has suffered enough under its weight to be willing to look for something
better. So it is by circumstance rather than by any virtue that we have been driven to A.A., have admitted defeat, have
acquired the rudiments of faith, and now want to make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to a Higher Power."
1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 37-38

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

"I'm better able to love people when the storm of my judgmental mind settles, when I understand and empathize rather
than criticize and condemn."
September 2008
"The Fine Art of Listening"
AA Grapevine

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

"Yes, there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that. It is a
fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous. There you will find release from
care, boredom and worry. Your imagination will be fired. Life will
mean something at last. The most satisfactory years of your
existence lie ahead."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 152

"...the main problem of the alcoholic centers in his mind, rather than in his body."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, Page 23~

"On the other hand -- and strange as this may seem to those who do not
understand -- once a psychic change has occurred, the very same person
who seemed doomed, who had so many problems he despaired of ever
solving them, suddenly finds himself easily able to control his desire
for alcohol, the only effort necessary being that required to follow a
few simple rules."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Doctors Opinion, pg. xxix~

Many people, nonalcoholics, report that as a result of the practice of A.A.’s Twelve Steps, they have been able to meet other difficulties of life.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 15

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Benefits of Responsibility
'Happily, A.A.'s per capita expenses are very low. For us to fail to meet them would be to evade a responsibility beneficial for us.
'Most alcoholics have said they had no troubles that money would not cure. We are a group that, when drinking, always held out a hand for funds. So when we commence to pay our own service bills, this is a healthy change.'
'Because of drinking, my friend Henry had lost a high-salaried job. There remained a fine house--with a budget three times his reduced earnings.
'He could have rented the house for enough to carry it. But no! Henry said he knew that God wanted him to live there, and He would see that the costs were paid. So Henry went on running up bills and glowing with faith. Not surprisingly, his creditors finally took over the place.
'Henry can laugh about it now, having learned that God more often helps those who are willing to help themselves.'
1. LETTER,1960
2. LETTER, 1966

Prayer For The Day: Almighty God, grant that I may never succumb to the controlling influences of the body, and lose the power of my mind. May I guard the dictates of my heart and keep my mind in command to obey thy will. Amen.

AA Thought for the Day

March 26

Curious
Doubtless you are curious to discover how and why, in the face of expert opinion to the
contrary, we have recovered from a hopeless condition of mind and body. If you are an
alcoholic who wants to get over it, you may already be asking—“What do I have to do?"
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p 20

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

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H O P E = Happy Our Program Exists.

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

Possibilities
"How shall we come to terms with seeming failure or success? Can we now adjust to either without despair or pride?
Can we accept poverty, sickness, loneliness, and bereavement with courage and serenity? The AA answer to these
questions about living is 'Yes, all of these things are possible.'"
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 112

Thought to Consider . . .
It works - it really does.
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 88

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
EGO
Easing God Out

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

Medicine
>From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"The medical aspect of alcoholism includes the problem of hospitalization, and here also great progress has been
made. Many hospitals have been reluctant to take alcoholics at all. State and Provincial institutions usually have required
alcoholics to stay for long periods of commitment. Therefore it has been difficult and it still is to persuade the average
general hospital to take in A.A. prospects for short periods of treatment and to grant sponsors the necessary visiting
privileges in co-operation with our local Intergroup Associations.
"It is good to report that this condition is rapidly changing for the better. Our pioneering activity in this field, together with
the use which A.A. Headquarters has been able to make of that experience, has a special interest for us all. Two
American hospitals have afforded fine examples of how medicine and A.A. can best co-operate. At St. Thomas Hospital
in Akron Dr. Bob, the wonderful Sister Ignatia, and the hospital staff presided over an alcoholic ward which had treated
several thousand alcoholics by the time of Dr. Bob's death in 1950. And beginning in 1945, Knickerbocker Hospital in
New York provided an A.A. ward under the care of our first friend in medicine, Dr. William D. Silkworth, who was
assisted with rare devotion and skill by nurse Teddy. By 1954, 10,000 alcoholics had been referred to Knickerbocker by
the New York Intergroup Association and had passed through this ward, the majority on their way to freedom. [c. 1959]"
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg.206

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

"When we early AAs got our first glimmer of how spiritually prideful we could be, we coined this expression: 'Don't try to
get too damned good by Thursday!'"
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., June 1961
"Humility for Today"
The Best of Bill

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

"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

"If you are as seriously alcoholic as we were, we believe there is no
middle-of-the-road solution. We were in a position where life was
becoming impossible, and if we had passed into the region from which
there is no return through human aid, we had but two alternatives:
One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of
our intolerable situation as best we could; and the other, to accept
spiritual help. This we did because we honestly wanted to, and were
willing to make the effort."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 25~

The answer, now seen in Tradition Three, was simplicity itself.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 141

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

'Room for Improvement'
WE have come to believe that A.A.'s recovery Steps and Traditions represent the approximate truths which we need for our particular purpose. The more we practice them, the more we like them. So there is little doubt that A.A. principles will continue to be advocated in the form they stand now.
If our basics are so firmly fixed as all this, then what is there left to change or to improve?
The answer will immediately occur to us. While we need not alter our truths, we can surely improve their application to ourselves, to A.A. as a whole, and to our relation with the world around us. We can constantly step up the practice of 'these principles in all our affairs.' GRAPEVINE, FEBRUARY 1961

Prayer For The Day: Dear heavenly Father, I come to You with a thankful heart for all the things You have done for me. I really cannot thank You enough. I do want to continue to be one of Your faithful servants. I must rely on You to fill me with Your love and strength every day in order to be obedient and serve You. Help me to be able to share Your love with all those who You allow me to be a witness to. Lord, help me to overcome the sin and weaknesses that hinder Your work in my life. I do ask for the grace to die to my ways and live unto Yours. Help me to be diligent in all the things that You have commissioned me to do. May I reflect Your glory and love to all who know me. I ask this in Your name, Amen.

AA Thought for the Day

March 27

Believe
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.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p 47

Thought to Ponder . . .
Spirituality is not based on logic, it is faith-driven.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
W I L L I N G = When I Live Life, I Need God.

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

"The philosophy of self-sufficiency doesn't pay off.
Plainly enough, it is a bone-crushing juggernaut
whose final achievement is ruin.
Therefore, we can consider ourselves
fortunate indeed.
Each of us has had his own near-fatal encounter
with the juggernaut of self-will,
and has suffered enough under its weight to
look for something better."
Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 37-8

Thought to Consider . . .
Attitudes are contagious--is yours worth catching?

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
AA
Attitude Adjustment

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

Blessings
>From "My Chance to Live":
"Growing up in A.A., I have been blessed with children who have never seen their mother drunk. I have a husband who
loves me simply because I am, and I have gained the respect of my family. What more could a broken-down drunk ask
for? Lord knows it is more than I ever thought possible, and ever so much more than I deserved. All because I was
willing to believe A.A. just might work for me too."
2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 318

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

"As AA grows, it is impossible to know everyone, but if I try to relate myself with just one other person, something will
happen, something remarkable."
Marietta, Ohio, April 1993
"The Guy at the End of the Bar"
AA Grapevine

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

"Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity
from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 89~

"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~

Could we then foresee that troublesome people were to become our principal teachers of patienceand tolerance?
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 141

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Life Is Not a Dead End
When a man or a woman has a spiritual awakening, the most important meaning of it is that he has now become able to do, feel, and believe that which he could not do before on his unaided strength and resources alone. He has been granted a gift which amounts to a new state of consciousness and being.
He has been set on a path which tells him he is really going somewhere, that life is not a dead end, not something to be endured or mastered. In a very real sense he has been transformed, because he has laid hold of a source of strength which he had hitherto denied himself. TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 106-107

Prayer For The Day: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for Your love and goodness to me. You have been very patient and merciful to me. Lord, I need that same love and mercy towards others. Father, I ask You to remove all deceit from my heart and cleanse me so that I might have a pure heart before You. Lord, I also ask that You give me faith and an overcoming spirit so that I will not walk in fear. Help me to trust You, even when my circumstances cause me doubt at times. Deliver me from doubt and unbelief in every area of my life. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

AA Thought for the Day

March 28

Dividends
. . . he has struck something better than gold. . . .
He may not see at once that he has barely scratched a limitless
lode which will pay dividends only if he mines it for the rest of
his life and insists on giving away the entire product.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 129


Thought to Ponder . . .
In AA, we discover that it is impossible to give without receiving,
or receive without giving.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H E A L = Helping Every Alcoholic Live.

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

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 AA dies.
Without unity, the heart of AA 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.
Back again in their caves,
alcoholics would reproach us and say,
'What a great thing AA might have been!'"
Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 130

Thought to Consider . . .
I am responsible.
when anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help,
I want the hand of AA always to be there.
And for that:
I am responsible

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
ABC
Acceptance, Belief, Change

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

Faith
>From "Fresh Snow":
"While some days may offer only a modicum of frantic serenity, twenty-six years later I still know the same inner
tranquility that comes with forgiveness of self and the acceptance of God's will. Each new morning, there is faith in
sobriety, sobriety not as mere abstinence from alcohol, but as progressive recovery in every facet of my life.
"Edmonton, Alberta, Canada"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 13

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

"One of the first insights Dr. Bob and I shared was that all true communication must be founded on mutual need. Never
could we talk down to anyone, certainly not to a fellow alcoholic. We saw that each sponsor would have to humbly admit
his own needs as clearly as those of his prospect."
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., July 1960
"The Language of the Heart"

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

"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~

"Having made our personal inventory, what shall we do about it? We have
been trying to get a new attitude, a new relationship with our Creator,
and to discover the obstacles in our path. We have admitted certain
defects; we have ascertained in a rough way what the trouble is; we
have put our finger on the weak items in our personal inventory. Now
these are about to be cast out. This requires action on our part,
which, when completed, will mean that we have admitted to God, to
ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of our defects.
This brings us to the Fifth Step in the program of recovery mentioned
in the preceding chapter."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 72~

Meditation is something which can always be further developed.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 101

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Keystone of the Arch
Faced with alcoholic destruction, we became open-minded on spiritual matters. In this respect alcohol was great
persuader. It finally beat us into a state of reasonableness.
We had to quit playing God. It didn't work. We decided that hereafter, in this drama of life, God was going to be our
Director. He would be the Principal; we, His agents.
Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new triumphal arch through which we passed to freedom.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
1.P. 48
2. P. 62

Prayer For The Day: Lord Jesus, I give you my hands - to do your work. I give you my feet - to go your way. I give you my eyes - to see as you do. I give you my tongue - to speak your words. I give you my mind - that you may think in me. I give you my spirit - that you may pray in me. Above all, I give you my heart that you may love, in me, your Father and all mankind. I give you my whole self that you may grow in me, so that it is you, Lord Jesus, who lives and works and prays in me. Amen.

AA Thought for the Day

March 29

Spiritual Growth
At the start, this was all we needed to commence spiritual growth,
to effect our first conscious relation with God as we understood Him.
. . .if we wished to grow we had to begin somewhere. So we used our
own conception, however limited it was.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p 47

Thought to Ponder . . .
Spiritual progress isn't what gets us sober, it's what keeps us sober.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
G O D = Gift Of Desperation.

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

Housecleaning
"Somehow, being alone with God
doesn't seem as embarrassing
as facing up to another person.
Until we actually sit down and talk aloud
about what we have so long hidden,
our willingness to clean house
is still largely theoretical.
When we are honest with another person,
it confirms that we have been honest
with ourselves and with God."
Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 60

Thought to Consider . . .
If we skip this vital step, we may not overcome drinking.
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 72

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
STEPS
Solutions To Every Problem in Sobriety

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

Selfless
>From "When A.A. Came of Age":
"As this tidal offering of top public approval swept in, we realized that it could do us incalculable good or great harm.
Everything would depend upon how it was channeled. We simply could not afford to take the chance of letting self-
appointed members present themselves as messiahs representing A.A. before the whole public. The promoter instinct
in us might be our undoing. If even one such person publicly got drunk or was lured into using A.A.'s name for his own
purposes, the damage might be irreparable. At this altitude (press, radio, films, and television [and the internet] ),
anonymity 100 per cent anonymity was the only possible answer. Here principles would have to come before
personalities, without exception.
"These experiences taught us that anonymity is real humility at work. It is an all-pervading spiritual quality which today
keynotes A.A. life everywhere."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 134

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

"Until I was at my complete bottom, alcohol wasn't even my problem. But thankfully, when I did hit bottom, AA was not
hard to find."
November 2013
"Why Not Tell the World?"
AA Grapevine

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

"The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep
and effective spiritual experiences which have revolutionized our
whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God's
universe. The central fact of our lives today is the absolute
certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a
way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish
those things for us which we could never do by ourselves."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 25~

"The age of miracles is still with us. Our own recovery proves that!"
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 153~

But in A.A. we slowly learned that something had to be done about our vengeful resentments, self-pity, and unwarranted pride.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 47

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

'Will Power and Choice'
'We A.A.'s know the futility of trying to break the drinking obsession by will power alone. However, we do know that it
takes great willingness to adopt A.A.'s Twelve Steps as a way of life that can restore us to sanity.
'No matter how grievous the alcohol obsession, we happily find that other vital choices can still be made. For example,
we can choose to admit that we are personally powerless over alcohol; that dependence upon a 'higher Power' is a
necessity, even if this be simply dependence upon an A.A. group. Then we can choose to try for a life of honesty and
humility, of selfless services to out fellows and to 'God as we understand Him.'
'As we continue to make these choices and so move toward these high aspirations, our sanity returns and the
compulsion to drink vanishes.' LETTER, 1966

Prayer For The Day: Lord God, help me to remember that I may not only be forgiven for my transgression, but with thy help I may be led away from the wrong. May I be content to follow where thou dost lead. Amen.

AA Thought for the Day

March 30

Anger
If we were to live, we had to be free of anger.
The grouch and the sudden rage were not for us.
Anger is the dubious luxury of normal men,
but for us alcoholics it is poison.
- As Bill Sees It, p. 5

Thought to Ponder . . .
Anger is the wind that blows out the light of reason.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Avoid Anger.

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

The Past
"Showing others who suffer how we were given help
is the very thing which makes
life seem so worthwhile to us now.
Cling to the thought that, in God's hands,
the dark past is the greatest possession you have--
the key to life and happiness for others.
With it you can avert death and misery for them."
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 124

Thought to Consider . . .
Get it - Give it - Grow in it.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
PACE
Positive Attitudes Change Everything

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

Privacy
>From "From Loneliness to Solitude":
"As the sober weeks go by, we can enjoy and treasure the few moments of solitude we are able to find in the rush and
hurry of life today. When we cease to fear loneliness and begin to cherish and use our solitude to advantage, we have
come a long way. We 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."
Houston, Texas, USA
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 109

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

"It was at my home group that I learned to trust the experiences of the early groups with meetings. We have a Traditions
meeting once a month and when I was new and heard the Traditions read out loud, the experiences of the early AA
meetings gave me the first notion that real people -- drunks like me -- started this program."
New York, N.Y., February 1990
"Out of the Hat"
AA Grapevine

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

"Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental
defense against the first drink. Except in a few rare cases, neither
he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a Higher Power."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 43~

"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

Where other people were concerned, we had to drop the word ”blame” from our speech and thought.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 47

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Review the Day
When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest, or afraid? Do we owe
an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves which should be discussed with another person at once? Were we
kind and loving toward all? What could we have done better? Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were
we thinking of what we could do for others, of what we could pack into the stream of life?
We must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse, or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to
ourselves and to others. After making our review, we ask God's forgiveness and inquire what corrective measure
should be taken. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 86

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.