District 9: February 2015

Saturday, February 28, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - March 1, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

March 1, 2015

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Juggernaut
The philosophy of self-sufficiency is not paying off.
Plainly enough, it is a bone-crushing juggernaut whose final achievement is ruin.
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.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 37-38

Thought to Ponder . . .
Maturity is the ability to make a decision and follow through.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H O W = Honesty, Open-mindedness, Willingness.

A Member Shares:
Hi everyone, Robin, an alcoholic, with Mittenhead the cat at the keyboard. Self-sufficiency has been the ruin of me. The idea of turning my will and my life over to the care of God is not easy, but for me, it is not really a choice. My way doesn't work. I choose God's limitless will over my limited human will every day. I take my will back sometimes and the bone-crushing juggernaut is back. So I work Step Three with as much willingness as I can summon each day. I find it is worthwhile making that decision and then taking that action. Thank you!
To respond to the sharer, please email DTShare@aa-alive.org and it will be forwarded to them.
(All shares are reproduced with the kind permission of the person sharing)

Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, strength and hope in carrying the AA message.
Blessings in sobriety to all,
In love and service,
joanna b
dailythought@aa-alive.org

For further information about AA-Alive, including:

Meeting Schedule
The Daily Thought Discussion Board
Service Opportunities
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Helpful links and much more
Please go to our Website
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G.S.O. Registration Number: 712515

** Trademarks and Disclaimer: **
Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. The AA Daily Thought is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated nor affiliated with, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.
Disclaimer: The Daily Thought is meant for domestic distribution only and for countries where it is in public domain.

Friday, February 27, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - February 28, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

February 28, 2015

'Live And Let Live'
It is very easy to use other people's actions as an alibi for drinking. We used to be experts at it.
But in sobriety, we have learned a new technique:
We never let ourselves get so resentful toward someone else that we allow that person to control our lives --
especially to the extent of causing us to drink.
We have found we have no desire to let any other person run, or ruin, our lives.
- Living Sober, p. 12

Thought to Ponder . . .
Those who anger me, conquer me.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A N G E R = Any New Grudge Endangers Recovery.

Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, strength and hope in carrying the AA message.
Blessings in sobriety to all,
In love and service,
joanna b
dailythought@aa-alive.org

For further information about AA-Alive, including:

Meeting Schedule
The Daily Thought Discussion Board
Service Opportunities
AA Birthday Signups
Helpful links and much more
Please go to our Website
http://aa-alive.net …
G.S.O. Registration Number: 712515

** Trademarks and Disclaimer: **
Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. The AA Daily Thought is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated nor affiliated with, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.
Disclaimer: The Daily Thought is meant for domestic distribution only and for countries where it is in public domain.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - February 27, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

February 27, 2015

Convincing Evidence
My abuse of alcohol was the exterior manifestation of a disease much more complex and consuming than simple drunkenness,
and similarly, my abstinence is the exterior manifestation of a wellness much more rewarding than simple sobriety.
The most convincing evidence I have today that I'm an alcoholic is not how much or how long I drank, nor how drunk I got;
the most convincing evidence I have is that Alcoholics Anonymous is working for me.
- Thank You For Sharing, p. 181

Thought to Ponder . . .
It works -- it really does.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Absolute Abstinence.

Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, strength and hope in carrying the AA message.
Blessings in sobriety to all,
In love and service,
joanna b
dailythought@aa-alive.org

For further information about AA-Alive, including:

AA Thought for the Day - February 26, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

February 26, 2015

An Open Channel
I no longer allow others to make decisions for me and then criticize me for it.
Today -- and every day -- with a heart full of gratitude, and a desire for God's will to be done through me,
my life is worth sharing, especially with my fellow alcoholics!
Above all, if I do not make a religion out of anything, even AA, then I can be an open channel for God's expression.
- Daily Reflections, p. 92

Thought to Ponder . . .
True religion is the life we lead, not the creed we profess.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H O W = Honesty, Open-mindedness, Willingness.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - February 25, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

February 25, 2015

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Came To Believe . . .
What I have come to believe is profound, and my concept and understanding of the program are quite different from what they were before.
My AA way of life now demands constant action -- an active self-honesty and recognition of the necessity for living in day-tight compartments.
In gratitude, I must humbly come to believe every moment of every day.
- Came To Believe . . ., p. 96

Thought to Ponder . . .
What are you coming to believe? Belief is a continuing action.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A B C = Action, Belief, Continue.

A Member Shares:
I'm Liz, and I'm a grateful alcoholic. There's a great AA Conference-approved book called Came to Believe. . . It has short stories written by members over the years containing the miracles of the program. It's a wonderful book to pick up any time and read a page or two. “Came to Believe” is also the name of the group I attended for many years in AA. I'm reminded that it's God who restores us to sanity. I'm careful not to expect mere mortal people to fix me or make me better. We can't do that for one another as much as we wish we can or try to. I believe it comes from our ultimate authority - a loving God. May you find Him now.
To respond to the sharer, please email DTShare@aa-alive.org and it will be forwarded to them.
(All shares are reproduced with the kind permission of the person sharing)

Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, strength and hope in carrying the AA message.
Blessings in sobriety to all,
In love and service,
joanna b
dailythought@aa-alive.org

For further information about AA-Alive, including:

Monday, February 23, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - February 24, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

February 24, 2015

Coming to Believe
It wasn't AA that had the closed mind, it was me. The minute I stopped arguing, I could begin to see and feel.
Right there, Step Two gently and very gradually began to infiltrate my life.
I can't say upon what occasion or upon what day I came to believe in a Power greater than myself,
but I certainly have that belief now.
To acquire it, I had only to stop fighting and practice the rest of AA's program as enthusiastically as I could.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 27

Thought to Ponder . . .
I came; I came to; I came to believe.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A B C = Acceptance, Belief, Change.

AA Thought for the Day - February 23, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

February 23, 2015

Open-mindedness
Faced with alcoholic destruction, we soon became as open minded on spiritual matters as we had tried to be on other questions.
In this respect, alcohol was the great persuader. It finally beat us into a state of reasonableness.
Sometimes this was a tedious process; we hope no one else will be as prejudiced for as long as some of us were.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 48

Thought to Ponder . . .
Recovery is not an event; it is a process.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H O W = Honesty, Open-mindedness, Willingness.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

DCM Report - District 8C Meeting

District 8C Meeting

Saturday March 21, 2015

Greetings and thank you all for attending todays meeting. Glad you could all make it and once again thank you for your service.

As for my report I just have a few things to report on. I had the pleasure in attending the 61^st Annual AA Jamboree held in Corpus Christi beginning on the 23^rd thru the 25^th of January. I could only attend on Saturday, but spent most of the day there. I would also like to thank Steve and Karen M. for treating me to an awesome meal at Landry’s, it was the first time ever for me eating there and really enjoyed the meal and company! I really enjoyed the speaker meetings as well and also purchased a book thru the silent auction.

Also in January I attended the SWTA 68 Winter workshop held in Fulton from Jan. 30 thru Feb.1. it was held at the Fulton convention center and hosted by Dist. 15 which by the way did an outstanding job. The venue was real nice and we had plenty of room and the hospitality was great. As for me the highlight of the weekend was giving a presentation on Tradition 9. I was somewhat nervous, but what really inspired me was seeing the other members giving their presentations, seeing their courage and humility, even thou they were also nervous and maybe not as articulate as other speakers. But everyone was real supportive and encouraging, I think I could have probably done a little better job, but was told afterwards that I did a good job, but I guess I’m my own worst critic, but am glad I had the opportunity to give the presentation

Also in Jan. I, Linda and Jimmy K, and Bill J visited the Alice group at their Tuesday nite mtg. Which I thought was a good meeting and had a pretty good attendance, we tried to spark some interest in that group getting involved with the District . I would like to thank Linda for being our spokesperson, and thanks to the rest of you for making the effort to be there.

On Feb. 11^th Don and I attended our first planning meeting held at the CBIA office for the upcoming PI/CPC Area 68 conf. to be held on Sept. 25-26 2015 in Corpus Christi. Dist. 8C is co hosting along with Dists. 8D and 8E. The Luncheon with professionals will be held at Water St. restaurant on Fri. the 25^th, tickets will be available for purchase for $25.00. Workshops and speakers will be held at the University, but all that is still being finalized. The next planning meeting is planned for Sat. March 7^th at New Phoenix group and anyone wanting to attend is welcome and will start at 2pm.

Also on 14 Feb. I had the pleasure of attending the ASL workshop hosted by Dist. 8D at the New Phoenix group and Michael D. our Area 68 Treatment chair was the presenter. There was discussion back and forth about the proposal being considered about the area providing asl at area assemblies and conferences. This proposal will be discussed and voted on during the business meeting at the SWTA 68 2015 Pre-General Service Assembly to be held in Brownwood March 27-29 2015. And reads as follows “The Area will provide ASL translation at Area events as determined by the Area Chairperson.”

Also on March 21^st Dist. 8D is hosting a Pre-Pre-General Service Mock conference that I plan on attending, to kind of prepare for the upcoming real Pre-General Service conf. a week later.

In conclusion I would like to thank you all for your continued efforts and commitment to service and for all your support and encouragement.

Yours truly in service, Mario R. DCM, District 8C.

DCM REPORT - SWTA 68 WINTER WORKSHOP

SWTA 68 WINTER WORKSHOP

JAN. 30-FEB.1, 2015

FULTON, TX.

DCM REPORT

Mario Rodriguez, DCM Dist. 8C. Dist. 8C is comprised of a total of 7 active groups at this time, they are the AL-K group and the Un Dia La Vez group which is a bilingual group, both in Kingsville, the Some Are Sicker Than Others group, aka (SASTO) in Riviera these groups are in Kleberg county. My home group, the 2^nd Chance group in Falfurrias in Brooks county. The Premont group in Premont, the Alice group in Alice, both these groups in Jim Wells county. The Freedom From Bondage group at the Glossbrener unit in San Diego in Duval county. Dist. 8C has the support of these groups and is financially fit at this time and supports it DCM thru its own contributions.

Dist. 8C continues to be active within the Area, and continues to support its groups within the Dist. This past Nov. our Delegate James Hurst gave his Delegates report and was hosted at the AL-K Serenity Clubhouse. A turkey dinner with all the trimmings was served prior to his report. Dist. 8C would like to thank James once again for his awesome presentation it was very informative and enjoyable, and to all the other Area officers and chairs for their continued dedication to service.

Would also like report that I had the pleasure of attending the 61^st annual Coastal Bend Jamboree held in Corpus Christi this past weekend, it was a pleasure to see and visiting with friends from around the area. And look forward to upcoming Jamborees and say great job to all those that made it happen.

Dist. 8C has several standing committees, PI/CPC, Grapevine, Webmaster, Bilingual, Correctional. Dist.8C meets monthly on the 3^rd Sat. of the month, except months with Area workshops or assemblies. Dist.8C is also looking forward to working in conjunction with Dists. 8E and 8D to host this year upcoming PI/CPC Area conference to be held in Corpus Christi. We are looking forward to attending the upcoming planning mtg. this coming month. We are excited and looking forward to working together to make the conference a big success and would like to thank Dists. 8E and 8D for asking us to be a part of the hosting process.

On a personal note it is hard to believe that half of my term as DCM is already over it seems that it went by so quickly. I am looking forward to the rest of my upcoming term, and would like to say that when I was first nominated for this position I was a little apprehensive, I had doubts in my ability to perform the duties of this position. I thought that I may not have time or that it was going to be overwhelming that I may not have what it took to fill the position. But I would like to say that I am so glad that I accepted the position, because thru the God of my understanding and the support and encouragement of the groups in my Dist. and support of the Area has made this all possible, and would like to say thank you . And taught me not to doubt or fear and that God continues to do for us what we could not do for our selves.

In conclusion I would like to say thank you once again to all for their continued support and encouragement. And a special thank you to my family for all their support and help.

May God Bless you and keep you till we meet again.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - February 22, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

February 22, 2015

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Fantasy
Above all, we reject fantasizing and accept reality. The more I drank, the more I fantasized everything. . .
In my mind's eye I played and replayed scenes in which I was plucked magically from the bar where I stood nursing a drink
and was instantly exalted to some position of power and prestige. I lived in a dream world.
AA led me gently from this fantasizing to embrace reality with open arms. And I found it beautiful!
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 559

Thought to Ponder . . .
Few people have the imagination to see reality.

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

A Member Shares:
Good morning all, Tony, alcoholic. Imaginary: lacking factual reality. Fantasy: a product of the imagination, often extravagant. I came to the Fellowship on the 14th August 2004, and by the grace of God and this Fellowship, I haven't had a drink since. The reason I mention the date, is not to impress, in fact for me it’s quite the reverse. For me, sobriety is like a great lake; it's not how long it is, it's how deep it goes. I came here only to please my family, and my plan was when things had settled down, to go back out again. But you had other plans for me. You told me, when I first came to the Fellowship, this is a bridge to normal living. I had an imaginary fantasy in which my bridge would be bigger, wider, and stronger, than all the previous bridges built by others. Every year, on the 14th August, AA members around the world, would give thanks that Tony joined the Fellowship, and dragged you into the new millennium … my ego, run riot. To my surprise, my imaginary fantasy of my bridge to normal living being like the Sydney Opera House, or Tower Bridge in London, did not turn out as I had planned. My bridge is like a rope bridge across a giant chasm. The left hand rope is the Twelve Steps. The right hand rope is the Twelve Traditions. So I grip the Steps with one hand, and the Traditions with the other as I walk. Don't get me wrong, sometimes it gets a bit wobbly. That's ok, I pause, just for a moment or two, re-adjust and strengthen my grip. And start again, Step by Step. One Step at a time, that's all it takes. Bless you for listening.
To respond to the sharer, please email DTShare@aa-alive.org and it will be forwarded to them.
(All shares are reproduced with the kind permission of the person sharing)

Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, strength and hope in carrying the AA message.
Blessings in sobriety to all,
In love and service,
joanna b
dailythought@aa-alive.org

For further information about AA-Alive, including:

Friday, February 20, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - February 21, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

February 21, 2015

A Beginning
My friend suggested what then seemed a novel idea. He said, "Why don't you choose your own conception of God?"
That statement me hard. It melted the icy intellectual mountain in whose shadow I had lived and shivered many years.
I stood in the sunlight at last.
It was only a matter of being willing to believe in a Power greater than myself.
Nothing more was required of me to make my beginning.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 12

Thought to Ponder . . .
Don't fear tomorrow. God is already there.

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

Thursday, February 19, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - February 20, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

February 20, 2015

Challenges
Life is meant to be lived by facing the challenges it brings. Otherwise, I'm not living, just existing.
God didn't give me this gift of sobriety to sit in a rocking chair, imagining myself as some wise old woman who has arrived somewhere.
There is no easier, softer way. . . The teaching I receive in AA about courage and love
helps me to continue to grapple with the challenges of life as they are given to me, one day at a time.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 3], p. 320

Thought to Ponder . . .
Courage is fear in action.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Achieve Anything.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - February 19, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

February 19, 2015

Powerless
I did not know that my body's drinking machinery had worn out, and that the parts could not be replaced.
I did not know that just one drink made it impossible for me to control my behavior and conduct and my future drinking.
I did not know, in short, that I was powerless over alcohol.
My family and friends knew these things about me long before I did.
- Experience, Strength and Hope, p. 153

Thought to Ponder . . .
Alcohol -- cunning, baffling, powerful!

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

AA Thought for the Day - February 18, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

February 18, 2015

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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 apparent in an individual, in a group, or AA as a whole,
it has long since been found out that we cannot stand still and look the other way.
- As Bill Sees it, p. 115

Thought to Ponder . . .
If nothing changes, nothing changes.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
N O W = No Other Way.

A Member Shares:
I'm Peyton and I'm a grateful alcoholic. All my life I wanted to change who I was. I was never content with being me because I didn't like myself at all. I was the kind of adult who got a lot of "change your life" type of self-help books, but the problem was, thinking about making those changes was as far as I ever went. That didn't work for me at all. I learned in AA that I can't think my way into sober living. I can't think my way into changing from a self-centered, selfish person .. it just doesn't cut it at all. True change takes action: getting off my butt, taking the solution given by this programme, and putting it into practice in my life. I don't always make the right choices in actions, but as long as I'm working toward changing to be the person God wants me to be, it usually works out ok. Yes, change can be scary, but what scares me more is the thought of going back to that pitiful creature I was before I made it to AA. Thanks for showing me how it works, and that it does work if I work it.
To respond to the sharer, please email DTShare@aa-alive.org and it will be forwarded to them.
(All shares are reproduced with the kind permission of the person sharing)

Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, strength and hope in carrying the AA message.
Blessings in sobriety to all,
In love and service,
joanna b
dailythought@aa-alive.org

For further information about AA-Alive, including:

Saturday, February 14, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - February 15, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

February 15, 2015

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Seeing Is Believing
The Wright brothers' almost childish faith that they could build a machine which would fly
was the mainspring of their accomplishment. Without that, nothing could have happened. . .
When others showed us that God-sufficiency worked with them,
we began to feel like those who had insisted the Wrights would never fly.
We were seeing another kind of flight, a spiritual liberation from this world, people who rose above their problems.
- As Bill Sees it, p. 47

Thought to Ponder . . .
I saw, I felt, I believed.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A B C = Acceptance, Belief, Change.

A Member Shares:
Hi all, Claudia here, an alcoholic. When I first read Bill’s thoughts I had the vision of a mind with a steel door. That steel door kept whatever information was in that mind set and immovable. New ideas were unwanted; even forbidden. And the person with that steel door mind was an opinionated know-it-all. Then I realized that person was me through and through before my recovery. I was closed-minded and knew the right, and the only way, to do everything. You never had to ask me what I thought because I was always at the ready to tell you before you even had time to wonder what I thought. And tell you I would, even though my opinion was unwanted, uninvited and unwelcome. Before AA, it was my way or the highway. In our microwave culture, the statement “time takes time” is hard to hear, hard on the ego, and certainly hard to practice. We have very little patience for activities or enterprises that compel us to wait. But more often than not, real recovery is slow... it takes time. The deeper the wound, the more extensive the damage or trauma, the greater amount of time may be required for us to recover. If we follow the suggestions, find a sponsor, listen, work the Steps, if we are faithful, practice self-honesty and become a participant rather than a mere observer and don’t give up, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, we will begin to know peace and understand the word serenity. Indeed, seeing is believing, even though some of the things we hear may not make sense at first. One day at a time, in faith and trust, seeing goes to believing, then to personal reality. Thank you.
To respond to the sharer, please email DTShare@aa-alive.org and it will be forwarded to them.
(All shares are reproduced with the kind permission of the person sharing)

Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experience, strength and hope in carrying the AA message.
Blessings in sobriety to all,
In love and service,
joanna b
dailythought@aa-alive.org

For further information about AA-Alive, including:

Friday, February 13, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - February 14, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
(courtesy AA-Alive.net)

February 14, 2015

Love
The spiritual growth we enjoy in AA is a product of the never-ending school for living which our Fellowship provides.
The subject in that school that opened my eyes most quickly and filled my heart most fully was love.
I never knew what true love was until I began my recovery in AA. My schooling in that emotion began early
and led me to the conclusion that love is what creates in a sober AA member the outer show of an inner glow.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 3], p. 294

Thought to Ponder . . .
Great love is the sunlight of AA's tree of life.

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