AA Thoughts For Today - December

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AA Thought for the Day

December 30

Smile!
I smile because in my organization I am unorganized.
I smile because I need not be a professional who has opinions he must cram down your throat.
I smile because I can at last be myself,
and if I don't attract anyone, at least I won't promote anyone.
But mainly I smile because you—all of you in AA—
have given me the opportunity to fight for your principles rather than my personality.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 1], p. 104

Thought to Ponder . . .
AA has taught me the knack of being myself.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Always Awesome.

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

Motives
We were depressed and complained we felt bad,
when in fact we were mainly asking
for sympathy and attention.
This odd trait of mind and emotion,
this perverse wish to hide a bad motive
underneath a good one,
permeates human affairs from top to bottom.
This subtle and elusive kind of self-righteousness
can underlie the smallest act or thought.
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.
c. 1952AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 94-5

Thought to Consider . . .
The best things in life aren't things.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
P U T = Patience, Understanding, Tolerance

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

Pleasure
>From "The Joy of Living":
"A.A. *is* a joyful program! Even so, I occasionally balk at taking the necessary steps to move ahead, and find myself
resisting the very actions that could bring about the joy I want. I would not resist if those actions did not touch some
vulnerable area of my life, an area that needs hope and fulfillment. Repeated exposure to joyfulness has a way of
softening the hard, outer edges of my ego. Therein lies the power of joyfulness to help all members of A.A."
1990 AAWS, Inc. Daily Reflections, pg. 372

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

"Serenity is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."
Tacoma, Wash., April 1984
"Short Takes"
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~

Lack of power, that was our dilemma. we had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater
than ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power?
page 45 Alcoholics Anonymous

A continuous look at our assets and liabilities, and a real desire to learn and grow by this means, are necessities for us.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.88

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

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.

Prayer for the Day: God created me to express a full and happy life. Every second of every day spiritual energy flows through every cell, organ, muscle, tissue and fiber of my being, revitalizing and renewing me. I do not allow symptoms or medical terms to alarm me. I am filled with the spirit of health. I make positive statements about my health. I am complete and whole because the spirit of God fills me with ever-renewing life.