Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Thoughts For The Day~*~Defiance ^*^*^ May 21

~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~    /)
(    \(AA)/    )
(_ /AA\ _)
/ AA \
^*^*^*^*^

Defiance

"As psychiatrists have often observed, defiance is the outstanding characteristic of many an alcoholic. When we encountered A.A., the fallacy of our defiance was revealed. At no time had we asked what God's will was for us; instead we had been telling Him what it ought to be. No man, we saw, could believe in God and defy Him, too. Belief meant reliance, not defiance. In A.A. we saw the fruits of this belief: men and women spared from alcohol's final catastrophe."
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 31 

Thought to Consider . . . 

While it isn't always easy, if I keep it simple, it works.


*~*AACRONYMS*~*

L O V E
Living Our Valuable Experiences


*~*^Just For Today!^*~*
 
Beginning
From "Tightrope":

"My sponsor was a living damper on my intolerance. But even more, he told me that it would be all right for me to doubt God, that A.A. was not a religious program and, to belong, I did not have to adhere to any set of beliefs. He suggested that for me a good starting point would simply be recognition of the fact that I had failed in running the world in short, acceptance of the fact that I was not God. He also suggested that I might try occasionally to act as if I believed. Somewhere I had heard that it is easier to act yourself into a new way of thinking than to think yourself into a new way of acting, and this made sense in the context of 'acting as if.'"

2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition
Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 366


*^Daily Reflections^*

A LIST OF BLESSINGS 


One exercise that I practice is to try for a full inventory of my blessings . . . 
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 37 

What did I have to be grateful for? I shut myself up and started listing the blessings for which I was in no way responsible, beginning with having been born of sound mind and body. I went through seventy-four years of living right up to the present moment. The list ran to two pages, and took two hours to compile; I included health, family, money, A.A. - the whole gamut. 

Every day in my prayers, I ask God to help me remember my list, and to be grateful for it throughout the day. When I remember my gratitude list, it's very hard to conclude that God is picking on me.

Copyright 1990
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.


*~*^As BilSees It^*~*

"Restore Us to Sanity"


"Few indeed are the practicing alcoholics who have any idea how irrational they are, or seeing their irrationality, can bear to face it. For example, some will be willing to term themselves 'problem drinkers,' but cannot endure the suggestion that they are in fact mentally ill. They are abetted in this blindness by a world which does not understand the difference between sane drinking and alcoholism. 'Sanity' is defined as 'soundness of mind.' Yet no alcoholic, soberly analyzing his destructive behavior, whether the destruction fell on the dining-room furniture or his own moral fiber, can claim 'soundness of mind' for himself."
TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 32-33

*~*^Big Book Quote^*~*


"Although financial recovery is on the way for many of us, we found we could not place money first. For us, material well-being always followed spiritual progress; it never preceded."

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition
The Family Afterward, pg. 127


*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*

A.A. Thought for the Day


One of the finest things about A.A. is the sharing. Sharing is a wonderful thing because the more you share the more you have. In our old drinking days, we didn't do much sharing. We used to keep things to ourselves, partly because we were ashamed, but mostly because we were selfish. And we were very lonely because we didn't
share. When we came into A.A., the first thing we found was sharing. We heard other alcoholics frankly sharing their experiences with hospitals, jails, and all the usual mess that goes with drinking. Am I sharing? 

Meditation for the Day

Character is developed by the daily discipline of duties done. Be obedient to the heavenly vision and take the straight way. Do not fall into the error of calling "Lord, Lord," and doing not the things that should be done. You need a life of prayer and meditation, but you must still do your work in the busy ways of life. The busy person is wise to rest and wait patiently for God's guidance. If you are obedient to the heavenly vision, you can be at peace. 

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be obedient to the heavenly vision. I pray if I fall, I will pick myself up and go on.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012


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Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Thoughts For The Day~*~Communicate ^*^*^ May 20

~A.AThoughtFor The Day~
^*^*^*^*^

(\    ~~    /)
(     \(
AA)/     )
(_ /
AA\ _)
/
AA\

^*^*^*^*^

Communicate

"From the beginning, communication in A.A. has been no ordinary transmission of helpful ideas and attitudes. It has been unusual and sometimes unique. Because of our kinship in suffering, and because our common means of deliverance are effective for ourselves only when constantly carried to others, our channels of contact have always been charged with the language of the heart." 
Bill W., July 1960 
1988 AA Grapevine
The Language of the Heart, p. 243


Thought to Consider . . . 

T
o help each other, is to help ourselves.

*~*AACRONYMS*~*

Y A N A
You Are Not Alone


*~*^Just For Today!^*~*
 
Honesty
STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

"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? How could we be certain that we had made a true catalog of our defects and had really admitted them, even to ourselves? Because we were still bothered by fear, self-pity, and hurt feelings, it was probable we couldn't appraise ourselves fairly at all. Too much guilt and remorse might cause us to dramatize and exaggerate our shortcomings. Or anger and hurt pride might be the smoke screen under which we were hiding some of our defects while we blamed others for them. Possibly, too, we were still handicapped by many liabilities, great and small, we never knew we had.


Hence it was most evident that a solitary self-appraisal, and the admission of our defects based upon that alone, wouldn't be nearly enough. We'd have to have outside help if we were surely to know and admit the truth about ourselves - the help of God and another human being."

1952 AAWS Inc. Printed 2005
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 58-59


*^Daily Reflections^*

ONE DAY AT A TIME


Above all, take it one day at a time.
AS BILL SEES IT, p.11

Why do I kid myself that I must stay away from a drink for only one day, when I know perfectly well I must never drink again as long as I live? I am not kidding myself because one day at a time is probably the only way I can reach the long-range objective of staying sober.

If I determine that I shall never drink again as long as I live, I set myself up. How can I be sure I won't drink when I have no idea what the future may hold?

On a day-at-a-time basis, I am confident I can stay away from a drink for one day. So I set out with confidence. At the end of the day, I have the reward of achievement. Achievement feels good and that makes me want more!

Copyright 1990
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.


*~*^As BilSees It^*~*

Defects and Repairs

"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."
<<< >>>
"Guilt is really the reverse side of the coin of pride. Guilt aims at self-destruction, and pride aims at the destruction of others."
<<< >>>
"The moral inventory is a cool examination of the damages that occurred to us during life and a sincere effort to look at them in a true perspective. This has the effect of taking the ground glass out of us, the emotional substance that still cuts and inhibits."
1. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 73
2. GRAPEVINE, JUNE 1961
3. LETTER, 1957


*~*^Big Book Quote^*~*

"We alcoholics are sensitive people. It takes some of us a long time to outgrow that serious handicap."
Alcoholics Anonymous 4th Edition
The Family Afterward, pg. 125

*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*

A.A. Thought for the Day

If we get up in a meeting and tell something about ourselves in order to help the other person, we feel a whole lot better. It's the old law of the more you give the more you get. Witnessing and confession are part of keeping sober. You never know when you may help somebody. Helping others is one of the best ways to stay sober yourself and the satisfaction you get out of helping a fellow human being is one of the finest experiences you can have. Am I helping others?
 
Meditation for the Day

Without God, no real victory is ever won. All the military victories of great conquerors have passed into history. The world might be better off without military conquerors. The real victories are won in the spiritual realm. "He that conquers himself is greater than he who conquers a city." The real victories are victories over sin and temptation, leading to a victorious and abundant life. Therefore, keep a brave and trusting heart. Face all your difficulties in the spirit of conquest. Remember that where God is, there is the true victory. 

Prayer for the Day

I pray that the forces of evil in my life will flee before God's presence. I pray that with God I will win the real victory over myself. 

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

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Monday, May 18, 2026

Thoughts For The Day~*~Attitudes ^*^*^ May 19

~A.AThoughtFor The Day~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~    /)
(     \(AA)/     )
(_ /AA\ _)
/AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Attitudes

"We find that our old attitudes toward our instincts need to undergo drastic revisions. Our desires for emotional security and wealth, for personal prestige and power, for romance, and for family satisfactions - all these have to be tempered and redirected. If we place instincts first, we have got the cart before the horse; we shall be pulled backward into disillusionment. But when we are willing to place spiritual growth first - then and only then do we have a real chance."
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 114 

Thought to Consider . . . 

I have learned that my actions are far more important than my thoughts.

*~*AACRONYMS*~*

E G O
Easing God Out

*~*^Just For Today!^*~*

Open
From "A Vision for You":

"But life among Alcoholics Anonymous is more than attending gatherings and visiting hospitals. Cleaning up old scrapes, helping to settle family differences, explaining the disinherited son to his irate parents, lending money and securing jobs for each other, when justified - these are everyday occurrences. No one is too discredited or has sunk too low to be welcomed cordially - if he means business. Social distinctions, petty rivalries and jealousies - these are laughed out of countenance. Being wrecked in the same vessel, being restored and united under one God, with hearts and minds attuned to the welfare of others, the things which matter so much to some people no longer signify much to them. How could they?"

2001 AAWS, Inc. Fourth Edition
Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 161


*^Daily Reflections^*

GIVING WITHOUT STRINGS 

And he well knows that his own life has been made richer, as an extra dividend of giving to another without any demand for a return.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 69 

The concept of giving without strings was hard to understand when I first came into the program. I was suspicious when others wanted to help me. I thought, "What do they want in return?" But I soon learned the joy of helping another alcoholic and I understood why they were there for me in the beginning. My attitudes changed and I wanted to help others. Sometimes I became anxious, as I wanted them to know the joys of sobriety, that life can be beautiful. When my life is full of a loving God of my understanding and I give that love to my fellow alcoholic, I feel a special richness that is hard to explain.
Copyright 1990
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.


*~*^As BilSees It^*~*

Give Thanks

"Though I still find it difficult to accept today's pain and anxiety with any great degree of serenity - as those more advanced in the spiritual life seem able to do - I can give thanks for present pain nevertheless.

I find the willingness to do this by contemplating the lessons learned from past suffering - lessons which have led to the blessings I now enjoy. I can remember how the agonies of alcoholism, the pain of rebellion and thwarted pride, have often led me to God's grace, and so to a new freedom."
GRAPEVINE, MARCH 1962

*~*Big Book Quote ^*~*

"But my friend sat before me, and he made the pointblank declaration
that God had done for him what he could not do for himself. His human will had failed. Doctors had pronounced him incurable. Society was about to lock him up. Like myself, he had admitted complete defeat. Then he had, in effect, been raised from the dead, suddenly taken from the scrap heap to a level of life better than the best he had ever known!"
Alcoholics Anonymous 4th Edition
Bill's Story, pg. 11

*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*

A.A. Thought for the Day

Fellowship is a big part of staying sober. The doctors call it group therapy. We never go to an A.A. meeting without taking something out of it. Sometimes we don't feel like going to a meeting and we think of excuses for not going. But we usually end up by going anyway and we always get some lift out of every meeting. Meetings are part of keeping sober. And we get more out of a meeting if we try to contribute something to it. Am I contributing my share at meetings?

Meditation for the Day

"He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings." The first part, "He brought me up out of a horrible pit," means that by turning to God and putting my problems in His hands, I am able to overcome my sins and temptations. "He set my feet upon a rock" means that when I trust God in all things, I have true security. "He established my goings" means that if I honestly try to live the way God wants me to live, I will have God's guidance in my daily living. 

Prayer for the Day

I pray that my feet may be set upon a rock. I pray that I may rely on God to guide my comings and goings.
Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

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Nightly Open Online A.A. Meeting! We also host the 4th Dimensioners, a Nightly Open Online A.A. Meeting every evening at 9 pm Eastern Time. Go to http://ZoomAAMeetings.com to attend. No Password - You must log in to your free Zoom account for verification.
 
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