District 9

Thursday, April 9, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - April 10, 2015

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

April 10, 2015

Control
We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking.
We know that no real alcoholic ever recovers control.
All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervals -- usually brief -- were inevitably followed by still less control,
which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 30

Thought to Ponder . . .
When we try to control our drinking, we have already lost control.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
W I S D O M = When Into Self, Discover Our Motives.

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, April 8, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - April 9, 2015

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

April 9, 2015

Forgiveness
I must forgive injuries, not just in words, or as a matter of form, but in my heart.
I do this not for the other persons' sake, but for my own sake.
Resentment, anger, or a desire to see someone punished, are things that rot my soul.
Such things fasten my troubles to me with chains.
They tie me to other problems that have nothing to do with my original problem.
- Daily Reflections, p. 88

Thought to Ponder . . .
Forgiveness is the final form of love.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Altruistic Action.

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.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - April 8, 2015

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

April 8, 2015

~ Scroll Down for Share ~

A Sober Life
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 most members of AA, living sober is really living -- a joyous experience.
We much prefer it to the troubles we had with drinking.
- Living Sober, Foreword

Thought to Ponder . . .
Life will take on new meaning.

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

A Member Shares:
Hi all! I'm Di, an alcoholic recovering one day at a time. When I'd had enough of the way I was running my life I was so desperate for change that I was willing to resign myself to live any other kind of life, boring or not. It was as if I was turning myself in when I came back to AA, and I was ready to face the charges. See, I was still punishing myself for being sick, and I anticipated another beating. I didn't realize what was happening as I went through the Steps until I did. I wasn't turning my old life in for a sad lonely life at all. For me, this program is about letting go of the old: Old ideas, old behaviours, everything that was keeping me drunk and miserable. In exchange, I am not getting my life back; I'm leaving it behind for the life I was meant to live. That means I'm leaving behind people, places, and things that stand between me and my sobriety. In exchange, I have the Fellowship of people who understand me; folks who have the same struggles, and who work the same program. Through the Fellowship of AA I've learned how to trust people again. I get different perspectives that help me grow. I am very blessed to have this program as a solution. And I’m also very blessed to have a tribe of my own to be on this journey with. Thanks for listening and 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:

Monday, April 6, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - April 7, 2015

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

April 7, 2015

Usefulness
Gradually, I grew to understand that normal living meant being useful where I was, accepting where I was,
and not hankering after all those big things. . .
Even as an alcoholic staying sober one day at a time at home, I could be worthwhile and step out of self-pity by stepping out of self. . .
I came to view service as the opposite of uselessness. The Big Book kept its promise for me.
For this change in outlook, for seeing my worth where I am, I have become most grateful and happy in the everyday activities of life,
all given back to me by the beautiful AA program and my God.
- The AA Grapevine, September, 1984

Thought to Ponder . . .
Into service out of self.

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
Y A N A = You Are Not Alone.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - April 6, 2015

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

April 6, 2015

Awareness
Most of us think this awareness of a Power greater then ourselves is the essence of spiritual experience.
Our more religious members call it "God-consciousness."
Most emphatically we wish to say that any alcoholic capable of honestly facing his problems
in the light of our experience can recover, provided he does not close his mind to all spiritual concepts.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 568

Thought to Ponder . . .
The Three A's .. Awareness, Acceptance, Action.

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

Saturday, April 4, 2015

AA Thought for the Day - April 5, 2015

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

April 5, 2015

~ Scroll Down for Share ~

A New Life
Regardless of worldly success or failure, regardless of pain or joy,
regardless of sickness or health or even of death itself,
a new life of endless possibilities can be lived if we are willing to continue our awakening,
through the practice of AA's Twelve Steps.
- As Bill Sees It,p. 8

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

AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
T H I N K = The Happiness I Never Knew.

A Member Shares:
Hi AA Family, I'm Peyton, and I'm a grateful alcoholic. I had given up on life when I began to drink alcoholically. The more I drank, the less involved in life I was. I became a solitary at-home drinker. I was not a good mother, not a good wife, sister, friend, etc. My life revolved around my next drink, always. You all showed me there is a life after drinking, and even after drinking again. Today, my life is full. I have interests that have nothing to do with bottles ... well, except when I'm making jams and chutneys. I have, and I am, a friend, a good wife, and someone who others can depend upon. I have all these things and even more that I never had when I was drinking. There is indeed a life after drinking, and with God, the Steps and all of you, I have a lot more life than I've ever had, and I'm truly grateful.
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:

AA Thought for the Day

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

AA Thought for the Day

Confidence
Once we have a complete willingness to take inventory, and exert ourselves to do the job thoroughly,
a wonderful light falls upon the foggy scene.
As we persist, a brand-new kind of confidence is born,
and the sense of relief at finally facing ourselves is indescribable. These are the first fruits of Step Four.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 49-50

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

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