AA Thought for the Day - June 21, 2015

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

June 21, 2015

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Honesty
Let us therefore continue our several searches for self-deception, great or small. . .
How truth makes us free is something that we AAs can well understand.
It cut the shackles that once bound us to alcohol. . .
May we therefore quicken our search for still more genuine honesty, and deepen its presence in all our affairs.
- The Language of the Heart, p. 264

Thought to Ponder . . .
Honesty is the absence of the intent to deceive.

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

A Member Shares:
I am an alcoholic and my name is Erik.  Some time ago, someone in AA asked me why I thought people lie.  I'm not quick on my feet so I didn't have a quick answer.  I had to think about it.  For me, there are two main reasons I lied when I was drinking: 1) fear, fear, and more fear.  2) I wanted to be someone better than who I was and I wanted you to think I was better.  Today my understanding of Honesty is not just truthfulness.  You have taught me to stop and think before I act or speak.  I can tell some hard truths about other people that could cause some real harm.  That's not honesty for me.  Honesty is truthfulness with a heavy sprinkle of compassion and consideration.  The only place I have found for brutal honesty is with me.  I have to know who I am, accept what the harms I have caused in order to change and live a better way.  I'm not as open as I would like to be sometimes, but so much more than I used to be.  Today, I don't have to be someone else; it's OK to be me.  Thanks for letting me share.
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(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

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