~A.A.
Thoughts
For The
Day~
^*^*^*^*^
(\ ~~
/)
( \(AA)/ )
(_ /AA\ _)
/AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Booby
Traps
"We must avoid quick-tempered criticism and furious,
power-driven argument. The same goes for sulking and silent
scorn. These are emotional booby traps baited with pride and
vengefulness. Our first job is to sidestep the
traps. When we are tempted by the bait, we should train
ourselves to step back and think. For we can neither think nor
act to good purpose until the habit of self-restraint has become automatic."
c.1952 AAWS
Twelve
Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 91
Thought
to Consider . . .
Nothing
pays off like restraint of tongue and pen.
*~*AACRONYMS*~*
B A T H
Behavior, Attitude, Thinking,
Habits
*~*^Just
For
Today!^*~*
Greatest
Possession
From: "The Family
Afterward"
"This
painful past may be of infinite value to other families still struggling with
their problem. We think each family which has been relieved owes something to
those who have not, and when the occasion requires, each member of it should be
only too willing to bring former mistakes, no matter how grievous, out of their
hiding places. Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very
thing which makes life seem so worth while 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."
2001, AAWS, Inc., Alcoholics Anonymous, page
124
*^Daily
Reflections^*
EXACTLY ALIKE
Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright
spot of our lives.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 89
A man came to the meeting drunk, interrupted the speakers, stood
up and took his shirt off, staggered loudly back and forth for coffee,
demanded to talk, and eventually called the group's secretary an unquotable
name and walked out. I was glad he was there - once again I saw what I still
could be. I don't have to be drunk to want to be the exception and the
center of attention. I have often felt abused and responded abusively when I
was simply being treated as a garden variety human being. The more the
man tried to insist he was different, the more I realized that he and I were
exactly alike.
Copyright 1990
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES,
INC.
*~*^As
Bill
Sees
It^*~*
Troubles of Our Own Making
"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.
<<< >>>
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!"
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 62
*~*^Big
Book
Quote^*~*
"If we are sorry for what
we have done, and have the honest desire to let God take us to better things,
we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson. If we are
not sorry, and our conduct continues to harm others, we are quite sure to
drink. We are not theorizing. These are facts out of our
experience."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th
Edition
How It Works, pg.
70
*^Twenty
Four
Hours A
Day^*
A.A. Thought for the Day
Having got this far, shall we pause
and ask ourselves some searching questions? We need to check up on ourselves
periodically. Just how good an A.A. am I? Am I attending meetings regularly?
Am I doing my share to carry the load? When there is something to be
done, do I volunteer? Do I speak at meetings when asked, no matter how
nervous I am? Do I accept each opportunity to do twelfth-step work as a
challenge? Do I give freely of my time and money? Am I trying to spread A.A.
wherever I go? Is my daily life a demonstration of A.A. principles? Am I a
good A.A.?
Meditation for
the Day
How do I get strength to be effective and to accept
responsibility? By asking the Higher Power for the strength I need each day.
It has been proved in countless lives that for every day I live, the
necessary power shall be given me. I must face each challenge that comes' to
me during the day, sure that God will give me the strength to face it. For
every task that is given me, there is also given me all the power necessary
for the performance of that task. I do not need to hold back.
Prayer for the
Day
I pray that I may accept every task as
a challenge. I know I cannot wholly fail if God is with me. Hazelden
Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012