District 9

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - June 10, 2015

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

June 10, 2015

Blessings
I started listing the blessings for which I was in no way responsible, beginning with having been born of sound mind and body.
I went through seventy-four years of living right up to the present moment.
The list ran to two pages, and took two hours to compile; I included health, family, money, AA -- the whole gamut. . .
When I remember my gratitude list, it's very hard to conclude that God is picking on me.
- Daily Reflections, p. 150

Thought to Ponder . . .
I am grateful for this minute. My eternity may be in it.

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

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.

Monday, June 8, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - June 9, 2015

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

June 9, 2015

Resentments
I must face the fact that the resentment process is not only fruitless, it is self-defeating.
Justified or not, the resentment, and my efforts to bolster its justification,
will eat away at my peace of mind and my enjoyment of life.
Meanwhile, the person I resent couldn't care less.
Here I am burning myself to a crisp over something he or she may not be totally aware of, something I can't change. . .
So maybe what I need to do is take a look at changing myself.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 3], p. 107

Thought to Ponder . . .
Bless them; change me.

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

Sunday, June 7, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - June 8, 2015

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

June 8, 2015

"If"
Alcoholism respects no ifs. It does not go away, not for a week, for a day, or even for an hour,
leaving us nonalcoholic and able to drink again on some special occasion or for some extraordinary reason --
not even if it is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, or if a big sorrow hits us,
or if it rains in Spain or the stars fall on Alabama.
Alcoholism is for us unconditional, with no dispensations available at any price.
- Living Sober, p. 63

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

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

Saturday, June 6, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - June 7, 2015

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

June 7, 2015

~ Scroll Down for Share ~

Self-pity
Self-pity is one of the most unhappy and consuming defects that we know. It is a bar to all spiritual progress
and can cut off all communication with our fellows because of its inordinate demands for attention and sympathy.
It is a maudlin form of martyrdom, which we can ill afford.
- As Bill Sees It, p. 238

Thought to Ponder . . .
If I self-forget I find.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Attitude Adjustment.

A Member Shares:
I'm Erik, an alcoholic. The false comfort of self-pity screens me from reality only momentarily and then demands, like a drug, that I take an ever bigger dose. If I succumb to this it could lead to a relapse into drinking. What can I do? One certain antidote is to turn my attention, however slightly at first, toward others who are genuinely less fortunate than I, preferably other alcoholics. In the same degree that I actively demonstrate my empathy with them, I will lessen my own exaggerated suffering. I can remember many times when I was drinking, especially the last 5 years or so, sitting by myself with a bottle drowning my sorrows thinking, "Poor me, life is so hard on me. If only the world would understand me and treat me more fairly." When I first got to AA and saw your smiling faces and listened to your stories some of that self-pity was relieved and replaced with HOPE. Little by little, I have been learning to accept that most of my problems were and are a result of my own poor choices and actions, and that makes it hard to blame others or wallow in self-pity. But if I let me, I can still get the “Poor me's.” I like what the reading says about helping someone less fortunate than I. And that works for me. It gets me out of self. Some time ago someone told me that no matter where I think I am on the ladder of life there will always be someone who has it better and someone who has it worse than me, so wherever I am on the scale “It's OK.” I find it also helps when I take the time to count my blessings, and they are many. Thank you AA, and thanks for letting me share.
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, June 5, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - June 6, 2015

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

June 6, 2015

Traditions
The Twelve Traditions point straight at many of our individual defects.
By implication they ask each of us to lay aside pride and resentment. They ask for personal as well as group sacrifice. . .
The Traditions guarantee the equality of all members and the independence of all groups.
They show how we may best relate ourselves to each other and to the world outside.
They indicate how we can best function in harmony as a great whole.
- Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 96

Thought to Ponder . . .
The Twelve Traditions tell us why it works; the Twelve Steps tell us how it works.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
T R U S T = Teaching Recovery Using Steps and Traditions.

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, June 4, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - June 5, 2015

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

June 5, 2015

The Stairway
It seems clear that we do not have a "stairway to the stars"; what we have is a working, utilitarian stairway of life.
We climb it to show our gratitude for sobriety -- to become gracious receivers of this precious gift.
And we move down it, too, not merely to meet the newcomer,
but as we recommit ourselves in surrender to our Higher Power again and again.
As we meditate, pray, and seek greater conscious contact with God as we understand Him.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 2], p. 199

Thought to Ponder . . .
Take the first step in faith. We don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
G I F T S = Getting It From The Steps.

Monday, June 1, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - June 2, 2015

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

June 2, 2015

Kindness
Now is the time, the only time there is. And if we are not kind to ourselves right now,
we certainly cannot rightfully expect respect or consideration from others.
We have found we can enjoy, sober, every good thing we enjoyed while drinking -- and many, many more.
It takes a little practice, but the rewards more than make up for the effort.
- Living Sober, p. 42

Thought to Ponder . . .
There is only one corner of the universe I can be certain of improving, and that's my own self.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A R T = Always Remain Teachable.