Thoughts For The Day~*~Gratitude ^*^*^ November 22
Transitions Daily
~*~A.A.
Thoughts
For
The Day~*~
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Gratitude
"A complete change takes place in our approach to
life. Where we used to run from responsibility, we find ourselves
accepting it with gratitude that we can successfully shoulder it. Instead
of wanting to escape some perplexing problem, we experience a thrill of
challenge in the opportunity it affords for another application of AA
techniques, and we find ourselves tackling it with surprising
vigor."
c. 1976AAWS,
Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 311-12
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Thought
to Consider . . .
When brimming with
gratitude, one's heartbeat must surely result in outgoing love, the
finest emotion we can ever know.
Bill W., March 1962
*~*AACRONYMS*~*
T H I N K = The Happiness I Never
Knew
*~*^Just
For
Today!^*~*
Awareness
"The
[Saturday Evening Post] article appeared in the March 1, 1941, issue.
Jack's [Alexander] extensive investigation and his remarkable capacity for
sympathy and rapport with us produced a piece which had immense impact. By mail
and telegram a deluge of pleas for help and orders for the book Alcoholics
Anonymous, first in hundreds and then in thousands, hit Box 658.
Pawing at random through the incoming mass of heartbreaking appeals, we found
ourselves crying. What on earth could we do with them? We were really
swamped.
"We saw that we
must have help. So we rounded up every A.A. woman and every A.A. wife who could
use a typewriter. The upper floor of the Twenty-Fourth Street Club was converted
into an emergency headquarters. For days [A.A. office manager] Ruth and the
volunteers tried to answer the ever increasing tide of mail. They were almost
tempted into using form letters. But experience had shown that this would not do
at all. A warm personal communication must be sent to every prospect and
his family."
2001 AAWS,
Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 191
ONLY TWO SINS
. . .there are only two sins; the first is to interfere with the growth of another human being, and the second is to interfere with one's own growth.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 542
Happiness is such an elusive state. How often do my "prayers" for others involve "hidden" prayers for my own agenda? How often is my search for happiness a boulder in the path of growth for another, or even myself? Seeking growth through humility and acceptance brings things that appear to be anything but good, wholesome and vital. Yet in looking back, I can see that pain, struggles and setbacks have all contributed eventually to serenity through growth in the program.
I ask my Higher Power to help me not cause another's lack of growth today -- or my own.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*^As
Bill
Sees
It^*~*
Welcome Criticism
"Thanks much for your letter of criticism. I'm certain that
had it not been for its strong critics, A.A. would have made slower
progress. "For myself, I have come to set a high value on the people who have
criticized me, whether they have seemed reasonable critics or unreasonable ones.
Both have often restrained me from doing much worse than I actually have done.
The unreasonable ones have taught me, I hope, a little patience. But the
reasonable ones have always done a great job for all of A.A.-and have taught me
many a valuable lesson."
LETTER, 1955
*~*^Big
Book
Quote^*~*
"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~
*~*^Twenty
Four
Hours A
Day^*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day
I have gotten
rid of most of my boredom. One of the hardest things that a new member of A.A.
has to understand is how to stay sober and not be bored. Drinking was always the
answer to all kinds of boring people or boring situations. But once you have
taken up the interest of A.A., once you have given it your time and enthusiasm,
boredom should not be a problem to you. A new life opens up before you that can
be always interesting. Sobriety should give you so many new interests in life
that you shouldn't have time to be bored. Have I gotten rid of the fear of being
bored?
Meditation for the
Day
"If I have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a
tinkling cymbal." Charity means to care enough about other people to really want
to do something for them. A smile, a word of encouragement, a word of love, goes
winged on its way, simple though it may seem, while the mighty words of an
orator fall on deaf ears. Use up the odd moments of your day in trying to do
some little thing to cheer up another person. Boredom comes from thinking too
much about yourself.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that my day may be
brightened by some little act of charity. I pray that I may try today to
overcome the self-centeredness that makes me
bored.
Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center
City, MN 55012