District 9

Monday, December 8, 2014

AA Thought for the Day - December 9, 2014

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

December 9, 2014

Only One Reason
I believe we are all sober and alive for only one reason: God has a job for us to do.
I have also come to believe that I must please God first, myself second, and everybody else third.
When I can live and feel that way -- and it isn't all day every day -- things seem to work out.
When I try to run the show, everything goes to hell.
- Came to Believe . . ., p. 97

Thought to Ponder . . .
No God, no peace -- know God, know peace.

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

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.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

AA Thought for the Day - December 7, 2014

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

December 7, 2014

~ Scroll Down for Share ~

Living Sober
Somewhat to our surprise, staying sober turns out not to be the grim, wet-blanket experience we had expected!
While we were drinking, a life without alcohol seemed like no life at all.
But for sober members of AA, living sober is really living -- a joyous experience.
We much prefer it to the troubles we had with drinking.
One more note: anyone can get sober. We have done it lots of times. The trick is to stay and to live sober.
That is what this booklet is about.
- Living Sober, Foreword

Thought to Ponder . . .
Life didn't end when I got sober -- it started.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
O D A A T = One Day At A Time.

A Member Shares:
I'm Susan, a grateful alcoholic. If it were not for AA, I would not be alive today. I used to say, "Staying Sober ODAAT," but a month ago someone here said something else that stuck in my head: "Living Life ODAAT" with the tools we are given in this program. I loved that. My memory is short, so to remember that means it is significant. And now, it is one of my major goals. I no longer desire to drink, ever. I am very fortunate that way. But I have much to learn about living. In this room, I listen and learn. No longer afraid to ask questions any more, either. What a gift. I'm not the same woman that I was, not even 6 months ago. I am blessed. Thank you for being my teachers. Blessings to you all.
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
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.

Friday, December 5, 2014

AA Thought for the Day - December 6, 2014

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

December 6, 2014

Thankful
I'm still learning how to be thankful. I must work on defects of character every morning.
Slow down and smell the flowers -- they will surely come to this beautiful valley soon, something to look forward to.
Enjoy the phone calls from friends, as far away as Toronto. I may even learn French.
I have done something with my life, instead of complaining.
I owe it all to that day when a member of AA said to me, "Maybe you'd like to go to AA now."
Thank God I said yes.
- Thank You For Sharing, pp. 196-197

Thought to Ponder . . .
No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.

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

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:

Thursday, December 4, 2014

AA Thought for the Day - December 5, 2014

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

December 5, 2014

Courage
Before we could recognize the illness in ourselves, we had to unload this tired old myth:
It would be a sign of shameful weakness to admit we couldn't handle the sauce any more (if we ever could).
Weakness? Actually, it takes considerable courage to stare unblinkingly at the hard truth, sparing nothing,
without glossing over anything, without excuses, and without kidding ourselves.
- Living Sober, p. 72

Thought to Ponder . . .
If I have the courage to begin, I have the courage to succeed.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
O D A A T = One Day At A Time.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

AA Thought for the Day - December 4, 2014

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

December 4, 2014

Hope
Hope is the priceless ingredient for recovery. This, AA gives most frequently not in mere words.
Upon the alcoholic's first contact with AA, as he looks across the room
and sees men and women respectably clothed and in their right minds, enjoying themselves,
that flicker of hope begins to burn.
And he says to himself, "If those jokers can do it, I can."
The first need, beyond any other, is hope. Without it, there is nothing.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol 1], pp. 156-157

Thought to Ponder . . .
Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H O P E = Heart Open; Please Enter.

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.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

AA Thought for the Day - December 3, 2014

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

December 3, 2014

~ Scroll Down for Share ~

Helpfulness
Now you are getting back into the social life of this world. Don't start to withdraw again just because your friends drink liquor.
Your job now is to be at the place where you may be of maximum helpfulness to others,
so never hesitate to go anywhere if you can be helpful.
- Alcoholics Anonymous,p. 102

Thought to Ponder . . .
Trust God. Clean house. Help others.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H O P E = Helping Other People Every day.

A Member Shares:
I'm Erin, an alcoholic. When I first got here, I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. I could not see how the pieces of my life could ever get put back together. I had made a good mess of things. Today I have hope. I found holidays to be hard, as most of us do in the beginning. I live overseas; our holidays are spent together, crammed in our little cafeteria, filled with wine and a pyramid made out of beer. I am the only one who doesn't drink. I think the smell is the hardest part for me. The first year, I thought I would break down and drink. You guys helped me through it. You told me to be of service. I thought what the hell, be of service to a bunch of drunks? How the hell do I do that? The next holiday, I spent the meal making sure people had what they needed. I got up and served food, got drinks, stuff like that. You taught me that I could be of service in this room, beyond meetings. I can always say hi to people coming into the room. Everyone likes to be welcomed. I learned that I could ask about peoples' day, and really read what they wrote and respond even when I only had a few days sober. There are tons of ways to look outside of myself and when I do that, when the focus isn't on how hard my life is, or how sad I am, I really find joy. I hope this made sense. Thanks for being here.
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, December 1, 2014

AA Thought for the Day - December 2, 2014

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

December 2, 2014

Instincts
We have learned that the satisfaction of instincts cannot be the sole end of our lives.
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 Ponder . . .
A spiritual awakening is our greatest gift.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
K I S S = Keeping It Simple, Spiritually.