District 9

Thursday, October 8, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - October 9, 2015

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

October 9, 2015

Baggage
I have more than enough to handle today, without dragging along yesterday's baggage too.
I must balance today's books, if I am to have a chance tomorrow.
So I ask myself if I have erred and how can I avoid repeating that particular behavior.
Did I hurt anyone, did I help anyone, and why?
Some of today is bound to spill over into tomorrow, but most of it need not if I make an honest daily inventory.
- Daily Reflections, p. 287

Thought to Ponder . . .
Inventory-taking is not always done in red ink.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
B A T H = Behavior, Attitude, Thinking, Habits.

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.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - October 8, 2015

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

October 8, 2015

Action
In shame and despair, I went to my first AA meeting. By some minor miracle,
I was able to suspend opinion, analysis, judgment, and criticism, and instead to listen and hear.
I heard someone say that AA works for those who work for it, those who put action into the program. . .
I heard that I should forget about yesterday and instead concentrate on today and staying away from the first drink today -- now.
I tried it and it worked.
- Came To Believe . . ., p. 42

Thought to Ponder . . .
I must walk into darkness to find the light.

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

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - October 7, 2015

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

October 7, 2015

~ Scroll Down for Share ~

Meeting Adversity
Our spiritual and emotional growth in AA does not depend so much upon success as it does upon our failures and setbacks. . .
We AA's have had no better teacher than Old Man Adversity, except in those cases where we refuse to let him teach us.
- As Bill Sees It, p. 184

Thought to Ponder . . .
There is no education like adversity.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
S W A T = Surrender, Willingness, Action, Trust.

A Member Shares:
Hi, I'm Eric, an alcoholic, and grateful we are gathered this day to share our journey. By the time of my last relapse, I had already given up on anything about recovery. I had very little spirit inside … forget thinking it was going to be different; I knew just what was going to happen. Drinking started back worse than it was when I had put it down before. I was hospitalized twice in a month ... the last time, I was semi-comatose. It was like playing Russian roulette every day, waiting to see if God would take me from my suffering. I couldn't quit drinking because I was afraid of life without alcohol and allowed that beast to drag me into the abyss. My final drunken prayer was, "God, please take me or relieve me." I'm a survivor. I'm 100% getting back up as of right now. I pray I will never test that again as I have absolutely no reservations about ever drinking again. Peace and blessings to 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.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - October 5, 2015

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

October 5, 2015

Cured?
I was cured. Three years later, I found that there is no cure. I had forgotten I am an alcoholic. . .
I've learned once more that the decision as to whether I lead a life of repeated wrong steps
and steady declination of reputation and character,
or a life whereby I gain respect from others and consequently regain my own self-respect,
boils down to the one choice: whether or not I take that first drink.
- Thank You For Sharing, pp. 42-43

Thought to Ponder . . .
The first drink has the last say.

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

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, October 3, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - October 4, 2015

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

October 4, 2015

~ Scroll Down for Share ~

A Family Disease
It is important for me to realize that, as an alcoholic, I not only hurt myself, but also those around me.
Making amends to my family, and to the families of alcoholics still suffering, will always be important.
Understanding the havoc I created and trying to repair the destruction, will be a lifelong endeavor.
The example of my sobriety may give others hope, and faith to help themselves.
- Daily Reflections, p. 173

Thought to Ponder . . .
Don't give up before the miracle happens.

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

A Member Shares:
Hi, my name is Deb, a grateful recovering alcoholic. Alcoholism is truly a family disease. It can destroy families. I know, because I was on that path with my child. My son was 5 when I got sober, and I thank God every day for showing me where to get help, and I thank Him that he put truly good, sober people in place to guide me. My son doesn't remember me drunk, and I am thankful for that. I was not an abusive mother, but I was an absent one even though I was physically there with him. I was either drinking, drunk, or nursing a hangover … not the best caretaker and playmate. But God planted the seed of AA in me; the thought, that is. And I was able to become the mother I believe that He meant for me to be because I (finally) embraced this program as outlined in the Big Book and worked the Steps as outlined in the Big Book. My sobriety date is August 1, 2004. When I was putting the Christmas lights on the tree that year, I was on a ladder, stringing the lights, humming and chatting with my husband and son ... remember - he was 5 - and he said, "Mommy, you usually mad when you put lights on. Why you not mad?" and I said, "Mommy has a program now." Even my five-year-old son was able to articulate that he sensed a change in me. What a miracle! Please don't leave before the miracle happens for you. Thanks.
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:

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

Friday, October 2, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - October 3, 2015

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

October 3, 2015

Inventory
The emphasis on inventory is heavy only because a great many if us have never acquired the habit of accurate self-appraisal.
Once this healthy practice has become grooved, it will be so interesting and profitable that the time it takes won't be missed.
For these minutes and sometimes hours spent in self-examination
are bound to make all the other hours of our day better and happier.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 89-90

Thought to Ponder . . .
Inventory-taking is not always done in red ink.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A B C = Accept, Begin, Contiinue.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - October 1, 2015

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

October 1, 2015

Promises
We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone,
we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 83-84

Thought to Ponder . . .
Are these extravagant promises? We think not.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
H J F = Happy, Joyous, Free.