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A Prayer & Some Thoughts - October
October 1
Smile Prayer God, As I stumble through this life, help me to create more laughter than tears, dispense more cheer than gloom, spread more cheer than despair. Never let me become so indifferent, that I will fail to see the wonders in the eyes of a child, or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged. Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people up, make them happy, and forget momentarily, all the unpleasantness in their lives. And in my final moment, may I hear You whisper: “When you made My people smile, you made Me smile.” Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Exaggerating the negative element in our lives is familiar behavior for all too many of us. We learn to trust by giving over our dilemmas to God for solutions. With patience, we will see the right outcomes, and we will more easily turn to God the next time. Serenity is the gift promised when we let God handle our lives. No crisis need worry us. The solution is only a prayer away. So ............ I will take action against every crisis confronting me - I will turn to God. Each crisis is an invitation to serenity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Letting Go There are times when we think we see perfectly what others ought to be doing. It pains and disturbs us when loved ones..... our children, perhaps... do not heed our advice. In planning for others, we can easily fall into the trap of enabling. An enabler is a person who supports others in an unhealthy addiction or dependency. We must not plan the lives of others, no matter how dear they are to us or how attached we become to them. They must have the freedom to live without obligation or the belief that they could not have succeeded without our help. Freedom of choice is a precious right that includes the freedom to make mistakes. I'll release any tendency I have to plan for others. At all times, my responsibility is to keep on the right track and let others be free. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity That word "serenity" looked like an impossible goal when we first saw the prayer. In fact, if serenity meant apathy, bitter resignation, or stolid endurance, then we didn't even want to aim at it. But we found that serenity meant no such thing. . . Serenity is like a gyroscope that lets us keep our balance no matter what turbulence swirls around us. And that is a state of mind worth aiming for. Living Sober Page 19 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "I can repeat the past, or I can create new and better experiences." ~ Shelley |
October 2
Pride Prayer Lord, it’s hard to admit, but I need to be right. I just know if I explain my way one more time with one more example, the other person will see my side. But the more I push my view, the more my words and actions destroy my relationships. Remind me that relationships are more important than who’s right and who’s wrong. Tell me to back off when I can’t seem to pull the plug on my pride. Cover my frustration with patience. I need to put putting things into perspective and understand what doesn’t really matter. Please help me to regain my prospective. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We share a common illness and a common cure. Abstinence is possible as we share it with each other. The program works as we work it together. Each of us is an individual, but we function best with the support of the group. If we neglect to go to meetings and make phone calls, we cut ourselves off from the strength and inspiration we need. Our Higher Power works through each of us as we share what we have been given. So ............ Did we achieve and maintain abstinence by ourselves? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Limitations God has created this world with variety and we all have different gifts. Some people make music, others write stories and many are practical at home or in industry. We need to understand what gifts and skills we have and develop them. It is both fruitless and negative to spend our time complaining that we are not like other people --- or are without their talents. Such an attitude stops us from discovering our own creative talents. We are so busy comparing ourselves with others that we miss our own uniqueness. Today I enjoy discovering more about me and the abundant gifts that God has freely given to me. What about you? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Kinship of Common Suffering Newcomers are approaching A.A. at the rate of tens of thousands yearly. They represent almost every belief and attitude imaginable. We have atheists and agnostics. We have people of nearly every race, culture and religion. In A.A. we are supposed to be bound together in the kinship of a common suffering. Consequently, the full individual liberty to practice any creed or principle or therapy whatever should be a first consideration for us all. Let us not, therefore, pressure anyone with our individual or even our collective views. Let us instead accord each other the respect and love that is due to every human being as he tries to make his way toward the light. Let us always try to be inclusive rather than exclusive; let us remember that each alcoholic among us is a member of A.A., so long as he or she so declares. ~~ Bill W. (A.A. Grapevine, July 1965) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "If you see anything in yourself which may make you proud, look a little further, and you will find enough to make you humble." ~ Wellins Calcott |
October 3
Irritation Prayer Lord, I confess my irritation with those who bully their way with words, who fail to take responsibility for their actions, who think no one sees what they do in the shadows, and who live in a world of denial. I’m angry and scared and tired of doing the right thing. Strengthen my heart so that I do not lose hope. Let me not become one of those that cause irritation. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We must turn to a Higher Power for help, because we are helpless ourselves. When we put our drink problem in God's hands and leave it there, we have made the most important decision of our lives. From then on, we trust God for the strength to keep sober. This takes us off the center of the universe and allows us to transfer our problems to a Power outside ourselves. By prayer and meditation, we seek to improve our conscious contact with God. We try to live each day the way we believe God wants us to live. So ............ Am I trusting God for the strength to stay sober? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Hurrying Up to Wait We often urge ourselves to hurry up when there's no good reason for it. At such times, all we really do is create needless tension and anxiety. It's not hurrying, but steady effort that finally brings achievement. We've had entirely too much hurry and impatience. What we really need is confident, persistent effort in the right direction. We see anxious, impatient people speeding through traffic only to be forced to wait at traffic lights, risking life and limb to save a few seconds. A good steady pace is what we need, and it will win the game. I’ll try to be active, but not overactive. I'll look for rhythm and efficiency in everything I do. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Benign Anarchy and Democracy When we come into A.A. we find a greater personal freedom than any other society knows. We cannot be compelled to do anything. In that sense our Society is a benign anarchy. The word "anarchy" has a bad meaning to most of us. But I think that the idealist who first advocated the concept felt that if only men were granted absolute liberty, and were compelled to obey no one, they would then voluntarily associate themselves in the common interest. A.A. is an association of the benign sort he envisioned. But when we had to go into action--to function as groups--we discovered that we also had to become a democracy. As our oldtimers retired, we therefore began to elect our trusted servants by majority vote. Each group in this sense became a town meeting. All plans for group action had to be approved by the majority. This meant that no single individual could appoint himself to act for his group or for A.A. as a whole. Neither dictatorship nor paternalism was for us. A.A. Comes Of Age Pages 224-225 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Without involvement, there is no commitment. Mark it down, asterisk it, circle it, underline it." -- Ralph Ellison |
October 4
Temptations Prayer Lord , I pray that you will give me a renewed sense of strength and peace when I wake up each morning. I pray that I will be more aware of your guidance and more aware of the direction you want me to go each day. I pray that I will be more aware of the POWER you have given me today to overcome obstacles and temptations. And I pray that you will give me the understanding of how to access that POWER more fully than I have been able to do previously. Lord, I ask that you give me a feeling of joy and a feeling of freshness as I awaken to a new day. Show me the opportunities you are putting before me. Warn me of the traps that I will encounter along my path. I will be more thankful today for little blessings than I have been previously. And I will yield myself today and follow you more closely than I have previously. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Who are you to say there is no God? This challenge comes to all of us. Are we capable of denying that there is a design and purpose in all of life as we know it? Or are we willing to admit that faith in some kind of Divine Principle is a part of our make-up, just as much as the feeling we have for a friend? We find a great Reality deep down within us, if we face ourselves as we really are. In the last analysis, it is only there that God may be found. When we find this Reality within us, we are restored to our right minds. So ............ Have I found the great Reality? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Acceptance Alcoholics usually have trouble accepting ordinary setbacks and limitations that other people live with all the time. Sometimes it seems much easier to just get drunk than to accept boredom and frustration. The irony of such behavior is that we then have to accept much more failure as a result of problems created by drinking. Our drinking brings far more pain than it removes. Learning acceptance in sobriety is part of the growing-up process. Along with learning to accept things we cannot change, however, we learn there are some things we don't have to accept. Living sober gives us the power and confidence to make such changes. I'll repeat the Serenity Prayer today if I begin to feel disturbed or threatened. I will face life realistically while knowing I have many opportunities for growth and change. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The First Drink The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink. The almost certain consequences that follow taking even a glass of beer do not crowd into the mind to deter us. If these thoughts occur, they are hazy and readily supplanted with the old threadbare idea that this time we shall handle ourselves like other people. There is a complete failure of the kind of defense that keeps one from putting his hand on a hot stove. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 24 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “We do not want to believe that we cannot control alcohol and that alcohol is, in truth, controlling and dictating our lives. When you free yourself of a dictator, like alcohol, the freedom that you experience is totally amazing and so empowering. You get your life back.” ~ Liz Hemingway |
October 5
Prayer For Strength Lord, please strengthen our hearts, and remind us to encourage one another when the troubles of life start to overwhelm us. Please guard our hearts from depression. Give us the strength to rise up each day and fight against the struggles which seek to weigh us down. Amen. -- John Barnett ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought In taking a personal inventory of ourselves, we have to face facts as we really are. We have to stop running away. We must face reality. We must see ourselves as we really are. We must admit our faults openly and try to correct them. We must try to see where we have been dishonest, impure, selfish, and unloving. We do not do this once and forget it. We do it every day of our lives, as long as we live. We are never done with checking up on ourselves. So ............ Am I taking a daily inventory of myself ? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Letting Go of Urgency One thing at a time. That's all we have to do. Not two things at once, but one thing done in peace. One task at a time. One feeling at a time. One day at a time. One problem at a time. One step at a time. One pleasure at a time. Relax. Let go of urgency. Begin calmly now. Take one thing at a time. See how everything works out? I will peacefully approach one thing at a time. When in doubt, I will take first things first. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guard Against A Slip Suppose we fall short of our chosen ideals and stumble? Does this mean we are going to get drunk? Some people tell us so. But this is only a half-truth. It depends on us and on our motives. If we are sorry for what we have done, and have the honest desire to let God take us to better things, we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson. If we are not sorry, and our conduct continues to harm others, we are quite sure to drink. These are facts out of our experience. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 70 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Recovery is something that you have to work on every single day and it’s something that doesn’t get a day off.” ~ Demi Lovato |
October 6
Prayer for Generosity Lord, teach me to be generous: to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek to rest; to labour and to ask for no reward save that of knowing I do your will. Amen. ~ Jacques Sevin, SJ (1887-1951) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought When we came into A.A., we came to believe in a Power greater than ourselves. We came to believe in that Divine Principle in the universe which we call God, and to whom we could turn for help. Each morning we have a quiet time. We ask God for the power to stay sober for the next twenty-four hours. And each night we thank Him for helping us to keep sober for that day. So ............ Do I believe that each man or woman I see in A.A. is a demonstration of the power of God to change a human being from a drunkard to a sober person? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Releasing the Past Today the world faces seemingly insurmountable problems with solid and liquid waste. Communities struggle to find solutions as waste accumulates and space for disposal sites grows scarce. As recovering people, we have a similar problem with waste residues from our past. We don't seem to be able to bury bad memories; like the physical waste in the environment, they come back to poison us. The best answer is to use waste, not throw it away. Instead of trying to bury the past, let's keep it in view but let it be purified by the sunlight of honesty and humility. By admitting past wrongs and forgiving everyone involved.... including ourselves..... We turn waste into useful experience. Nature can do this with much physical waste, over time. We can also let our spiritual nature do that with the emotional and mental waste of our past. I'll realize that every past mistake and experience can be properly utilized today for something good and uplifting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The 12 Steps Will When the 12 Steps are applied – and practiced, they will: a. Remove the mental obsession with alcohol. b. Eliminate the emotional compulsion to drink c. Produce a personality change – necessary for recovery d. Produce a new attitude and outlook on life e. Assist me to maintain emotional balance f. Assist me to achieve emotional security – a life without fear g. Help me to gain and grow in emotional maturity h. Assist me to lead a useful life with purpose i. Help me clean up the wreckage of the past j. Assist me to have and maintain healthy positive relationships in my life k. Produce peace and serenity in my life l. Provide a way for me to be happy and sober m. Be a Daily Design For Living, so that I can stay happy and sober n. And, much, much more. From: Step12.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "You are human, you will make mistakes, and it's one of the most beautiful things about being human, but you must learn from your mistakes, otherwise your life will have a lot of unnecessary pain." ~ Rhonda Byrne |
October 7
Offering the Day Lord, We come to you before we begin our day's work: We ask you to bless this day. May we find whatever is good in the tasks we are set and the time that we share. Help us when we find some things too hard to understand; Teach us to be fair and generous with one another; So may we thank you for a day well spent. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We use words to bring peace to others. We can use words to tell God and others how much we care. Or we can use words to hurt others. We can curse them and scare them away. We often did when we used alcohol and other drugs. In recovery, we learn to use words in a kind, wise way. We treat words as a gift from God. We use words to build our relationships. So ............ . Do I always use words in a kind way? Do I treat words as a powerful gift from God? Do my words make the world better or worse for those who hear me speak? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Building Self-esteem Many of us sold ourselves short while we were drinking. We wanted approval and acceptance, but often felt unworthy of it, even accepting the unfavorable opinions others had toward us. We resented such opinions, but secretly feared that our critics were right. In the Twelve Step program, however, we discover a higher and better self that hadn't found expression during active drinking. We no longer have to impress anybody, we no longer need applause, and we no longer crave the false camaraderie that passes for friendship among problem drinkers. We can, in many ways, become new people. When we experience such change and growth, we may come to wonder how we ever could have been so deluded by the sick self of our drinking years. We feel relief when we realize that we no longer have to live and think that way.... if we continue in the program and make sobriety our highest priority. We will realize too that the self we find in sobriety is the real self.... a person who was there all along but was crowded out and suppressed by the demands of our sick nature. This real self is what we were created to be, and sobriety brought its discovery. I'll go about my affairs today knowing that my real self is what God wants me to be. Being sober, I can now find answers and opportunities that were beyond my reach when I was still drinking. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Self-Respect Through Sacrifice At the beginning we sacrificed alcohol. We had to, or it would have killed us. But we couldn't get rid of alcohol unless we made other sacrifices. We had to toss the self-justification, self-pity, and anger right out the window. We had to quit the crazy contest for personal prestige and big bank balances. We had to take personal responsibility for our sorry state and quit blaming others for it. Were these sacrifices? Yes, they were. To gain enough humility and self-respect to stay alive at all, we had to give up what had really been our dearest possessions--our ambitions and our illegitimate pride. As Bill Sees It Page 97 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Spiritual maturity is neither instant nor automatic; it is gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of your life." ~ Rick Warren |
October 8
Prayer to Enjoy Life Lord, We move so fast that sometimes we see so little in our daily travels. Slow us down. Create in us a desire to pause. Help us to pursue moments of contemplation. Help us to see in a deeper way, to become more aware of what speaks to us in beauty and truth. Teach us how to enjoy being. Encourage us to be present to the gifts that are ours. May we be more fully aware of what we see, taste, touch, hear, and smell. May this awareness of our senses sharpen our perception of our everyday treasures and lead us to greater joy and gratitude. Grant us the courage to be our true selves. Help us to let go of being overly concerned about what others think of us or of how successful we are. May our inner freedom be strengthened and our delight in life be activated. Life is meant to be celebrated, enjoyed, delighted in, and embraced in all its mystery. Guide us to our inner child. Draw us to your playground of creation, so that we will live more fully. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We should be free from alcohol for good. It's out of our hands and in the hands of God, so we don't need to worry about it or even think about it any more. But if we haven't done this honestly and fully, the chances are that it will become our problem again. Since we don't trust God to take care of our problem for us, we reach out and take the problem back to ourselves. Then it's our problem again and we're in the same old mess we were in before. So ............ Do I trust God to take care of the problem for me? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Gossip It is so easy for me to focus on the failings of others and miss my own. My attraction to gossip is that it is usually about other people and that keeps the attention away from me. Sometimes I am made to "feel good" by exposing the weaknesses of others. This attitude needs to be changed if I am ever to fully enjoy the fruits of sobriety. I do not need to be drinking to behave like a drunk; gossip and character assassination are reminiscent of my past addictive behavior. I do not need the side of me that seeks to destroy the character of others. With my spiritual program, I am trying to change. May I grow in my forgiveness and acceptance of others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Conviction and Compromise One qualification for a useful life is give-and-take, the ability to compromise cheerfully. Compromise comes hard to us "all or nothing" drunks. Nevertheless, we must never lose sight of the fact that progress is nearly always characterized by a series of improving compromises. Of course, we cannot always compromise. There are circumstances in which it is necessary to stick flat-footed to one's convictions until the issue is resolved. Deciding when to compromise and when not to compromise always calls for the most careful discrimination. As Bill Sees It Page 59 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” ~ Steve Jobs |
October 9
Prayer for Temptations Lord , I pray that you will give me a renewed sense of strength and peace when I wake up each morning. I pray that I will be more aware of your guidance and more aware of the direction you want me to go each day. I pray that I will be more aware of the POWER you have given me today to overcome obstacles and temptations. And I pray that you will give me the understanding of how to access that POWER more fully than I have been able to do previously. Lord, I ask that you give me a feeling of joy and a feeling of freshness as I awaken to a new day. Show me the opportunities you are putting before me. Warn me of the traps that I will encounter along my path. I will be more thankful today for little blessings than I have been previously. And I will yield myself today and follow you more closely than I have previously. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Who are you to say there is no God? This challenge comes to all of us. Are we capable of denying that there is a design and purpose in all of life as we know it? Or are we willing to admit that faith in some kind of Divine Principle is a part of our make-up, just as much as the feeling we have for a friend? We find a great Reality deep down within us, if we face ourselves as we really are. In the last analysis, it is only there that God may be found. When we find this Reality within us, we are restored to our right minds. So ............ Have I found the great Reality? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Guidance It would be nearly impossible to do an accounting of the results of prayer. Sometimes there seems to be no answer , and at other times, an answer seems to be the result of coincidence. It's too easy to dismiss these results as things that would have happened even if we hadn't prayed. Yet those of us who believe in prayer feel that it is indeed a way of communicating with our Higher Power. It takes many forms. Even thinking about God is a type of prayer. The best answers to prayer come in the new ways we begin to feel about ourselves and others. If prayer brings us to a realization of being in tune with our Higher Power, we are working in the right way. The proper changes will come into our lives as needed. We should not try to measure results, because this tends to bring doubt into the process. Our only responsibility is to pray, then let God's work take place in our lives. No Prayer Goes Unanswered I will pray regularly today, thinking often about God and asserting to myself and others that this Higher Power is in charge. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The First Drink The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink. The almost certain consequences that follow taking even a glass of beer do not crowd into the mind to deter us. If these thoughts occur, they are hazy and readily supplanted with the old threadbare idea that this time we shall handle ourselves like other people. There is a complete failure of the kind of defense that keeps one from putting his hand on a hot stove. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 24 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes another's." ~ Johann Paul Richter |
October 10
Prayer For Inner Strength Lord, I’m upset and disturbed, and I pray that You will grant me the grace of inner Peace. Give me the patience I need to cope with the burdens and anxieties of my life. Grant me the strength to better deal with my problems, and the understanding to be more tolerant and kind to others. Teach me to seek after Your will. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as extensive work with other alcoholics. Carry the message to other alcoholics. You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail. Life will take on new meaning for you. To watch people recover, to see them help others in turn, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow about you, to have a host of friends, is an experience you must not miss. So ............ Am I always ready and willing to help other alcoholics? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Listening Part of my addiction was never listening to what people were saying. This was part arrogance, part denial, part fear, part control, part ego --- the bottom line was that I did not listen. I was bored and unhappy with my life because I was a prisoner of my own thoughts. My spiritual awakening --- which I consider a process rather than an event, a process that is still going on in my life on a daily basis --- was in allowing some new information into my life that led to admittance and acceptance. The day that I was able to admit that I was an alcoholic was the day I took a step towards acceptance. Today I receive immense help and comfort from other people, especially recovering alcoholics. Two people experiencing an honest conversation are part of God's promised love for His world. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Healthy Respect Fear may have originally pushed some of us toward looking into the possibility that we may have a drinking problem. And over a short period, fear alone may help some of us stay away from a drink. But a fearful state is not a very happy or relaxed one to maintain for very long. So we try to develop a healthy respect for the power of alcohol, instead of a fear of it, just as people have a healthy respect for cyanide, iodine, or any other poison. Living Sober Pages 13-14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others." ~ Danny Thomas |
October 11
Tolerance Prayer Lord, give me tolerance towards those whose thoughts and ways, conflict with mine. For though I would, I cannot always know what constitutes the Absolute Truth. The other person may be right, while I may be all wrong, yet unaware. Lord, make my motives right, for only this can ease my conscience when I sometimes err. Lord, give me tolerance, for who am I to stand in judgment on another person's mistakes? No one knows better than my inward self how many little blunders I have and can make. Life is full of stones that somehow trip us, and meaning not, we stumble now and then. Lord, give me tolerance, for only you are rightly fit to judge my fellow travelers. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Call on new prospects while they are still jittery. They may be more receptive when depressed. See them alone if possible. Tell them enough about your drinking habits and experiences to encourage them to speak of themselves. If they wish to talk, let them do so. If they are not communicative, talk about the troubles liquor has caused you, being careful not to moralize or lecture. When they see you know all about the drinking game, commence to describe yourself as an alcoholic and tell them how you learned you were sick. So ............ Am I ready to talk about myself to new prospects? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Action AA tells us that we must be honest about our problems if we hope to overcome them. Some people seem quite willing to do this. But an honest admission alone does not solve our problems. We have to go beyond honesty by taking needed action to correct what's wrong in our lives. For example, we would not believe that any- thing had been corrected simply because a doctor diagnosed a physical problem. We know that such diagnosis is only a preliminary step that must lead to treatment to be effective. In the same way, an honest admission of our alcoholism does not lead to sobriety unless we take further action to ad- dress the problem. We should also be careful about becoming prideful in announcing our shortcomings. If we are recovering from alcoholism but excuse a bad temper as one of our "alcoholic defects," are we attempting to correct our behavior? The more prideful we are about any fault, the more difficult it will be to change it. Having become honest about my shortcomings, I'll look for opportunities today to make needed corrections in my behavior. If I find myself using my "alcoholic nature" as an excuse for unacceptable behavior, I'll take action to do something about it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Never Again Most people feel more secure on the twenty-four-hour basis than they do in the resolution that they will never drink again. Most of them have broken too many resolutions. It’s really a matter of personal choice; every A.A. has the privilege of interpreting the program as he likes. Personally, I take the attitude that I intend never to drink again. This is somewhat different from saying, ‘I will never drink again.’ The latter attitude sometimes gets people in trouble because it is undertaking on a personal basis to do what we alcoholics never could do. It is too much an act of will and leaves too little room for the idea that God will release us from the drink obsession provided we follow the A.A. program. "As Bill Sees It" Page 16 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “You cannot build a reputation on things you are going to do.” ~~ Mabel Newcomber |
October 12
Prayer For The Overwhelmed Lord, I do not see a way out of the burden I feel, but I put all my faith and trust in You for a path to open up, that new opportunities and new relationships will grace my life. Give me strength, to overcome these negative feelings and to get all the tasks that I have to do, completed efficiently, effectively, and on time! Calm my mind, give me peace, as I recollect all the tasks I need to complete. Give me patience to be still and remember that You will make all things work together for my good. Everything that happens to me happens for a reason – to make me stronger. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Be careful not to brand new prospects as alcoholics. Let them draw their own conclusion. But talk to them about the hopelessness of alcoholism. Tell them exactly what happened to you and how you recovered. Stress the spiritual feature freely. If they are agnostics or atheists, make it emphatic that they do not have to agree with your concept of God. They can choose any concept they like, provided it makes sense to them. The main thing is that they are willing to believe in a power greater than themselves and that they live by spiritual principles. So ............ Do I hold back too much in speaking of the spiritual principles of the program? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Optimism Today I am an optimist. I believe in life, and more importantly, I believe in me. I know that God cares and this brings me hope. But when I was drinking, I had a negative and destructive attitude in all areas of life; nothing pleased me, people were not to be trusted, everybody had a price, God seemed to be "out for lunch" and life had lost its meaning. I was a sad man. I was a lonely man. I was an angry man. When I was told to put down the drink and follow some new directions, I halfheartedly agreed. I met people who laughed, shared their pain and lived in the realistic "now". I began to listen. Slowly I changed. Peace was within my grasp. Today I wonder at my halfhearted risk that started it all -- and thank God. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Toward Maturity Many oldsters who have put our A.A. 'booze cure' to severe but successful tests still find they often lack emotional sobriety. To attain this, we must develop real maturity and balance (which is to say, humility) in our relations with ourselves, with our fellows, and with God. Let A.A. never be a closed corporation; let us never deny our experience, for whatever it may be worth, to the world around us. Let our individual members heed the call to every field of human endeavor. Let them carry the experience and spirit of A.A. into all these affairs, for whatever good they may accomplish. For not only has God saved us from alcoholism; the world has received us back into its citizenship. As Bill Sees It Page 244 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “The world we have created is a product of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” ~ Albert Einstein |
October 13
Frustrated & Overwhelmed Prayer Lord, Life can be so overwhelming at times; frustration has gotten the better of me today. I feel as though I am weary but there is yet so much to do and there seems to be so little time. My workload seems to be growing; the demands on me from everyone are just simply too much for me today, it’s too overwhelming. My energy is drained and I feel as though I am losing hope, that this life would not get any easier. Give me strength, Lord, to overcome these negative feelings and to get all the tasks that I have to do. That they be completed, efficiently and effectively, and on time! Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Outline the program of action to new prospects. Explaining how you made a self-appraisal, how you straightened out your past, and why you are now endeavoring to help them. It is important for them to realize that your attempt to pass this on to them plays a vital part in your recovery. The more hopeless they feel, the better. They will be more likely to follow your suggestions. Tell them about the fellowship of A.A. and if they show interest, lend them a copy of the Big Book. So ............ Can I tell the A.A. story to another alcoholic? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Self-Honesty Our lies to ourselves kept us so fully in the dark. We sometimes told "sincere" lies because we honestly did not distinguish the truth within ourselves. For so long we had preferred dishonest rationalizations, and we had come to believe them. We slowly cleanse ourselves of the lies that we told ourselves. With this kind of honesty comes an inner peace with ourselves, and we can say, "I know myself." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Why Worry? There are many short phrases and expressions in AA which make sound sense. 'First Things First': solving our immediate problems before we try to solve all the others . . . 'Easy Does it.' Relax a little. Try for inner contentment. No one individual can carry all the burdens of the world. Everyone has problems. Getting drunk won't solve them. 'Twenty-four hours a day.' Today is the day. Doing our best, living each day to the fullest is the art of living. Yesterday is gone, and we don't know whether we will be here tomorrow. If we do a good job of living today, and if tomorrow comes for us, then the chances are we will do a good job when it arrives - so why worry about it? Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, Page 382 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “When life gets hectic and you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to focus on the people and things you are most grateful for. When you have an attitude of gratitude, frustrating troubles will fall by the wayside.” ~ Dana Arcuri |
October 14
Prayer to Clear My Mind Clear my mind of doubt, fear, worry, sadness, despair, lust, temptation, envy, jealousy, malice, pride and anything that stops me from becoming a better person daily. Give me the strength and clarity of mind to find my purpose. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Today, I see that physical sobriety might not be enough for me. I need to remember the hopelessness I felt before I found sobriety, and how I was willing to go to any lengths for it. Physical sobriety is not enough for those around me, however, since I must see that God's gift is used to build a new life for my family and loved ones. Just as importantly, I must be available to help others who want the A.A. way of life. So ............ I ask God to help me share the gift of sobriety so that its benefits may be shown to those I know and love. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Change When facing change, it's not unusual to feel both apprehension and expectancy. We are apprehensive because we know that change includes risk. We feel expectancy, however, because we know that improvement can come only through some kind of change. The way to handle change is to see it as part of the higher plan working in our lives. If we believe that our lives are in the care and keeping of our Higher Power, we have to know that everything is in good hands. As change occurs, it is simply part of a plan that is unfolding in order to bring more good into our lives. We should not expect change without temporary disruptions or even surprises that appear to be setbacks. All that's necessary is to know that change is good if we maintain the right attitude toward it. It's also helpful to review the past changes that have been so important in our lives. Once change has occurred, we come to accept it as normal, forgetting that it involved a lot of anxiety at one time. So it is with any change that is unfolding now. It's part of a wonderful plan that cannot fail. I accept change without fear or superstition. Change is built into the nature of things, and will always be part of our lives. I accept it as readily as I accept the change of the seasons. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Surrender On the face of it, surrendering certainly does not seem like winning. But it is in AA Only after we have come to the end of our rope, hit a stone wall in some aspect of our lives beyond which we can go no further; only when we hit "bottom" in despair and surrender, can we accomplish sobriety which we could never accomplish before. We must, and we do, surrender in order to win. Alcoholics Anonymous, 2nd Edition, pp. 341-2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “When someone tries to trigger you by insulting you or by doing or saying something that irritates you, take a deep breath and switch off your ego. Remember that if you are easily offended, you are easily manipulated.” ~~ Mitra Phukan |
October 15
Prayer When Lonely Lord, there is so much swirling all around me begging for my attention – people, places, things, tasks. Still, in the midst of it all, I feel so alone—as if I stand in this swirling vortex by myself. For whatever reason, though people surround me, I’m unable to connect with them. It seems that when I try to open up, I am rejected and this rejection insulates me from ever trying again. For now I feel so alone. Lord, right now I need this feeling of loneliness to diminish. Help me to reach out to those around me, help me to do so with boldness. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Spiritual experience: With few exceptions, our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource, which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves. Most of us think this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves is the essence of spiritual experience. Some of us call it God consciousness. In any case, willingness, honesty and open mindedness are the essentials of recovery. So ............ Have I tapped that inner resource which can change my life? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Honest Admission Out of honest admission of our weakness comes strength. We are able to see ourselves realistically and with clarity. When we are humble enough to admit our wrongs, we get rid of the false front we had tried to maintain. This frees us to be who we are, without pretense. When we admit our faults, we are cleansed. We no longer have to try to hide and cover up our weaknesses and mistakes. Instead of pretending to be perfect, we can be human and satisfied with our progress. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Irrational I well remember the shock I received when a prominent doctor in Chicago told me of cases where pressure of the spinal fluid actually ruptured the brain. No wonder an alcoholic is strangely irrational. Who wouldn't be, with such a fevered brain? Normal drinkers are not so affected, nor can they understand the aberrations of the alcoholic. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 140 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people who make you feel all alone." ~ Robin Williams |
October 16
Self- Acceptance Prayer Lord, Starting today, help me to live my life being myself and not pretending to be someone else. Help me to love and accept everyone else the way you created them. Please give me wisdom enough, love enough and courage enough to seek your way, your truth and follow it in all I do. Help me to remember that when I reject others, I reject myself and when I reject myself, I reject You. Clean my mind of any emotional poison it has known through abusive words, actions of others and of myself. Please help me to be happy to share my time with my loved ones and to forgive them for any injustice and hurt I feel in my mind. Give me to love my family and friends unconditionally, to find better, loving ways to communicate with everyone, that there is no winner or loser. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We must be careful never to show intolerance or hatred of drinking. Experience shows that such an attitude is no help to anyone. We are not fanatics or intolerant of people who can drink normally. Every prospect is relieved when he finds we are not witch burners. Temperate drinking is O.K., but we alcoholics can't get away with it. And no alcoholic likes to be told about alcohol by anyone who hates it. We shall be of little use if our attitude is one of bitterness or hostility. So ............ Do I have a tolerance for those who can drink normally? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Humility To see yourself as a good person is part of the program of humility. To see your gifts and recognize your achievements is what it is to be a humble person. "God does not make junk." Therefore, we should not act or behave towards ourselves in a way that would indicate anything other than that we are "special". All alcoholics need to accept this because for years we had felt guilty, lonely and ashamed. These attitudes helped to keep us sick. Sobriety and serenity is recognizing our God-given uniqueness that makes us "special". We can achieve great things as long as we continue to believe in ourselves. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Perfection I never have been and never can be perfect. As that realization became a part of me -- and it took time -- it brought me one of the greatest of the many blessings that have come to me from AA. I learned to accept myself as a fallible human being. I do not have to strive for perfection. Mistakes are permissible. I have the right to be wrong. And what a comfort that thought is to me, as I make my bemused way through life, one foot in a bucket, pushing on doors marked "Pull." The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 2], Pages 167-168 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Happiness is a choice, a repetitive one.” ~ Akilnathan Logeswaran |
October 17
Prayer For Alcoholic Anonymous Lord, thank You for all those that are involved in helping others with their addiction to alcohol. We thank You for places like Alcoholic Anonymous and the many other places that are dedicated to helping men and women recover from this debilitating and distressing addiction. Give wisdom, grace and patience to all that are serving in one capacity or another to relieve the distress and devastation that alcoholism leaves in its wake. We pray that You would give them the right words of encouragement and advice to enable those that are addicted to permanently break free of their alcoholism and so live a more meaningful and fruitful life We pray that You would not only rescue alcoholic men and women from the depths of despair to which many have fallen, but also that bring them into the newness of life. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought One of the mottoes of A.A. is "First Things First." This means that we should always keep in mind that alcohol is our number-one problem. We must never let any other problem, whether of family, business, friends, or anything else, take precedence in our minds over our alcoholic problem. As we go along in A.A., we learn to recognize the things that may upset us emotionally. When we find ourselves getting upset over something, we must realize that it's a luxury we alcoholics can't afford. Anything that makes us forget our number-one problem is dangerous to us. So ............ Am I keeping sobriety, in the first place, in my mind? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Choice God has given us two things - His spirit and the power of choice - to accept or not, as we will. We have the gift of free will. When we choose the path of selfishness and greed and pride, we are refusing to accept God's spirit. When we choose the path of love and service, we accept God's spirit and it flows into us and makes all things new. Choose the right way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Healing Contact Sometimes we become overburdened with frustration and disappointment in our lives. When we turn inward and focus only on our problems, we may be cutting ourselves off from the healing effect of contact with others. When we help others, we affirm our solidarity with them in their stress and suffering. We don't give help because we are better or without problems of our own, but because we suffer too. When we act as fellowmen/women, the comradeship and human contact we get provide us with as much help as we give. They liberate us from our own oppressive egos and make us see we are worthwhile. ~ Peter Benton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Take life one day at a time. There's no need to finish everything all at once. Avoid a hectic day and just breathe." ~~ 12-Step Sayings for Everyone (Guideposts) |
October 18
Accepting Others Prayer Lord, it's sometimes hard for me to understand or accept or love those who are different from me. I find myself wanting to change them, so that they fit my accepted patterns. I know that the difference between us need not separate us, but my lack of understanding makes me want to stay within the safety of my own perceptions rather than embrace what seems foreign. Give me curiosity of mind so that I am open to the perspectives that others can offer me. Help me see the similarities that bind us together. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought "Live and Let Live." This, of course, means tolerance of people who think differently than we do, whether they are in A.A. or outside of A.A. We cannot afford the luxury of being intolerant or critical of other people. We do not try to impose our wills on those who differ from us. We are not "holier than thou." We do not have all the answers. We are not better than other good people. We live the best way we can and we allow others to do likewise. So ............ Am I willing to live and let live? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Change Despite the fact that many of us live turbulent, chaotic lives, we may find in sobriety that we don't like change. This causes us to seek our security in familiar places, rather than reach out for the unknown that lies ahead. This may not be real security, however, because familiar places and situations also change. Our resistance to change may simply be the fear of trying something new. If we find that fear of change is causing us to put up with a situation that's become unsatisfactory, we need to adjust our attitude toward it. While we view change as risky, it may be the necessary route for improvement. Let's start by simply accepting the idea that change is sometimes necessary. After that, we can expect our Higher Power to guide us to the new situations that are right for us. Today I may find myself fearing change. I'll remind myself that nothing ever stays the same, and that only change can bring the true good I'm always seeking. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Habits Our drinking was connected with many habits -- big and little. Some of them were thinking habits, or things we felt inside ourselves. Others were doing habits -- things we did, actions we took. In getting used to not drinking, we have found that we needed new habits to take the place of those old ones. . . After we spent a few months practicing these new, sober habits or ways of acting and thinking, they became almost second nature to most of us, as drinking used to be. Living Sober, Preface ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “I live on a ship full of outcasts, populated by society's unacceptable. And yet, here I stand, happy. And I love them all. It is time to tender myself the same level of courtesy. Or perhaps it is time that I simply accepted that I too am one of the strange and abandoned.” ~ Gail Carriger |
October 19
Prayer For Purpose Lord, At times my days run together into weeks, into months, into years without any conscious thought on my part. Then, suddenly, I come to myself in the space of a moment and realize how unaware and without purpose I have been. Yet, when I try to define my purpose, it seems strangely elusive. I ask that you will give me clarity of purpose; that you will reveal to me my own reason for existence; that you will give me the sure and certain assurance that even when I have lost track of myself and my life, your purpose, though unknown to me or forgotten by me, is still being lived out through me. I ask this for this charity. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought There are just two kinds of people in the world: givers and takers. Those of us who are givers delight in it. But sometimes we givers are uncomfortable when we're on the receiving end. We brush off thanks and gifts and help, even when they're needed or deserved. Those of us who are takers, on the other hand, know how to graciously receive what others have to give; we know how to ask for what we need. Often, however, we don't know how to give. We can all strive to become traders, people who have learned how to both give and receive. We each have the capacity to give what we have freely and to ask, gratefully, for what we don't have. So ............ What can I give and take today? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Garbage in, Garbage Out One thing we don't need in our lives is garbage from the past. Yet many of us say that old thoughts and bitter memories often sneak devilishly back to spoil what should have been a pleasant day. Why do we let garbage from the past befoul our lives a second time? There is no benefit in bringing back old garbage. We can't change the past. We can't change our mistakes by brooding about them, and we can't obtain justice by remembering how badly we were treated or by plotting revenge. When we bring back garbage, we allow it to occupy space that should be devoted to constructive and positive things. If we don't want garbage in our lives, let's not put it there by bringing up matters that should have been released, forgiven, and forgotten. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Accountability In the early days of his drinking, the alcoholic is often guilty of irresponsibility. But once the time of compulsive drinking has arrived, he can't very well be held fully accountable for his conduct. He then has an obsession that condemns him to drink. and a bodily sensitivity to alcohol that guarantees his final madness and death. But when he is made aware of this condition, he is under pressure to accept A.A.'s program of moral regeneration. "As Bill See It" Page 32 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Few Quotes “We all have a purpose in life, and when you find yours you will recognize it.” ~ Catherine Pulsifer “Inspiration in life is born when we have a purpose.” ~ Daniel Longwe |
October 20
Prayer to Relax Lord, Please grant me peace of mind and calm my troubled heart. Give me the strength and clarity of mind to find my purpose and walk the path you've laid out for me. I trust your Love, and know that you will heal this stress. Just as the sun rises each day against the dark of night. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought How do I work with new prospects? Am I always trying to dominate the conversation? Do I lay down the law and tell prospects what they will have to do? Do I judge them privately and feel that they have a small chance of making the program? Do I belittle them to myself? Or am I willing to bare my soul so as to get them talking about themselves? And, then, am I willing to be a good listener, not interrupting, but hearing them out to the end? Do I feel deeply that they are my brothers or my sisters? So ............ Am I helping them along the path to sobriety? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Being Committed All people set goals and resolutions, and easily slip back into old habits. We are all haunted by the excuses and “yeah buts” that have cost us countless opportunities for growth and expansion. Many people are attached to comfort, safety, and simplicity. These values are important and can provide much tranquility, though to truly grow and expand we must find an area of our life where commitment supersedes comfort. Do your commitments live up to your dreams? Success comes with commitment. Being committed is a willingness to do whatever it takes to fulfill and follow through on a responsibility. It may not even be what we most enjoy, but none the less, being committed means we are going to do it regardless. Commitment is essential to being a winner and achieving our loftiest goals. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Service Work & Commitments A home group can provide you with opportunities for service work and commitments. This could include brewing the coffee before meetings, updating contact lists, collecting donations, and much more. Service work and commitments tie into the accountability benefits we learned about above. You’re much more likely to show up to a meeting if you know you’re supposed to put the chairs out and you’re much more likely to stay sober when you know things are expected of you. Alcoholics don’t typically like accountability and especially not chores, but service work and commitments work. Talk to the meeting chair about signing up for service work and commitments. ~ Anonymous A.A. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results." ~ Art Turock |
October 21
Troubled Mind Prayer Dear Lord, Calm my troubled mind Still my worried heart Guide my endless thoughts Come and leave your mark. Shelter my tired body Lift my heavy soul Quiet my deepest fears Come and make me whole. Carry my deepest hurt Cover my open wounds Restore my abandoned dreams Come and hold my life. Open my ears to hear Shower my life with praise Full up my thoughts with truth Stay by me every day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Sometimes we want to get what we want right away. But some things take time. We might have lessons to learn first, lessons that prepare us so we can accept the good. Be patient, Relax and trust. Let go. Today, I will identify what I want and need; then, I'll be willing to let go of it. I will devote my energy to living my life today, so I may master my lessons as quickly as possible. I will trust that what I want and need is coming to me. So ............ I will let go of my need to control the details. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Attention What most of us want is to be heard. If we want attention, we must also give it. That means letting go of all extraneous thoughts when we're in conversation with someone. We cannot expect to get from others what we are unable or unwilling to give. The beauty of hearing each other is that it helps us to hear ourselves. We know better who we are when we listen to one another. Every conversation offers us a chance to be real, to help another person be real. Attention is a gift. If I want to receive it, I must give it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ H.A.L.T. H.A.L.T. stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired. These feelings can be dangerous to us. They can lead us away from our program. We need to eat regular meals. When we get too hungry, we get cranky. Then we say and do things we regret. We need to turn anger over to our Higher Power, or else our anger turns into rage. We need friends to help us in recovery. If we get too lonely, we may turn to an addictive way for friendship. We don't stay sober by ourselves. We need a clear mind to deal with life. If we get too tired, we tend to feel sorry for ourselves. Being tired gets us into crazy thinking. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Few Quotes "He who knows the precepts by heart, but fails to practice them, Is like unto one who lights a lamp and then shuts his eyes." ~ Akkineni Nagarjuna "Listen or thy tongue will keep thee deaf." ~ American Indian Proverb |
October 22
Prayer for a Strong Immune System Lord, I pray that You would bless me with a strong immune system so that I have a powerful defense against bacterial and viral infections. I thank You that when You created me, You put this system within me to protect me from illness. Help me be diligent to promote a strong immune system through healthy habits and to avoid habits that compromise it. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We had absolute faith in the power of God to keep us from drinking. If we turned our drink problem entirely over to God without reservations, we wouldn't have to do anything more about it. We'd be free from drinking once and for all. But since our faith is apt to be weak, we have to strengthen and build up this faith. We do this in several ways. One way is by going to meetings and listening to others tell how they have found all the strength they need to overcome drink. So ............ Is my faith being strengthened by this personal witness of other alcoholics? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Failures We take our failures non-seriously Perfectionism and its control over our lives stands seriously in the way of our growth and well-being, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. Life's lessons come through failures probably more than successes. Through our failures we learn humility. We learn to look to others for help and guidance. We learn how to let others fail, too. We fail because we are human. When we no longer fear failure, we are free to attempt greater feats. We dare to learn more, and life is fuller for it--not just our own lives, but the lives that we touch. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Condemn Tradition Three: The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. Why did A.A. finally drop all its membership regulations? Why did we leave it to each newcomer to decide himself whether he was an alcoholic and whether he should join us? Why did we dare say, contrary to the experience of society and government everywhere, that we would neither punish nor deprive any A.A. of membership, believe anything, or conform to anything? The answer, now seen in Tradition Three, was simplicity itself. At last experience taught us that to take away any alcoholic's full chance was sometimes to pronounce his death sentence, and often to condemn him to endless misery. Who dared to be judge, jury, and executioner of his own sick brother? Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 141 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” ~ Dr. Seuss |
October 23
This Morning Prayer Lord, Please keep me and my loved ones from all danger and harm. Help me start this day with a new, pleasant attitude with plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so I can hear Your voice. Please broaden my mind so that I can accept all things without judgment. Let me not whine or complain over things I have no control over. And when the world closes in on me, let me remember, to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. Continue to use me to do Your Will. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Do I always want to be up front in the limelight? Do I feel that nobody else can do as good a job as I can? Am I willing to take a seat in the back row once in a while and let somebody else carry the ball? Part of the effectiveness of any A.A. group is the development of new members to carry on, to take over from the older members. Am I reluctant to give up authority? Do I try to carry the load for the whole group? If so, I am not being fair to the newer members. Do I realize that no one person is essential? So ............ Do I know that A.A. could carry on without me, if it had to? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Staying with God God never forsakes us; we forsake Him. We become so involved in our concerns and activities that we forget to open our eyes and our hearts to His presence. Emotional binges occur when we wander away from our Higher Power into self-centered preoccupation. Without His control, we lose our serenity. There will always be a cause of conflict and frustration in our daily lives. How we handle these situations depends on our spiritual condition. By ourselves, we cannot manage our own lives. Our behavior can be insane. It is through the Power greater than ourselves that we are led into order, sanity. To stay with this Power is our salvation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Praise It's always heady stuff when others congratulate us on our victory over alcohol. Fair-minded people will have considerable admiration for what appears to be a bootstrap effort to make a comeback from despair and defeat. We can accept this praise with grace and modesty. At some point, however, we should emphasize that our recovery was an example of spiritual principles at work and that thousands have been able to follow in the same path. Sober AA members are not exceptions; they are examples of what the program can do in people's lives. It is important to emphasize that we are ordinary people. The marvelous thing about the program is that it works for ordinary people like ourselves. Many people in the fellowship have great talent and ability, but those gifts have nothing to do with staying sober. The gifted person gets sober the same way anybody does..... by admitting powerlessness over alcohol and by accepting the program. ~ Mel B. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Repetition of the same thought or physical action develops into a habit which, repeated frequently enough, becomes an automatic reflex." -- Norman Vincent Peale |
October 24
Prayer for Contentment Lord, I pray for Contentment. Help me to stay positive even when it feels like my world is falling apart. Help me to see blessings, even in my burdens Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Coping with problems and weathering troubled times - is part of life. Those of us who have survived painful experiences have a duty to help younger ones prepare to face bad times by sharing the solutions we found. We will never have perfect living conditions. The only place where every day is a sunny one is in the desert. When pain comes, we can walk through our problems and settle things quickly, rather than prolonging the hurt by battling our way around the obstacles in an effort to avoid them. So ............ What problem can I confront and eliminate today? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Honesty Sometimes we think that honesty is simply too painful and demanding---- all sacrifice with no gain. If we are completely honest with ourselves, however, the results can only be positive.What are the advantages of being entirely honest about our motives and feelings? One benefit is that we never will have to face the disillusionment and humiliation that come from self-deception. An honest person has self-respect and a clear conscience. In real honesty, there is no inner struggle to keep up appearances or to pretend we are anybody except ourselves. Honesty makes us comfortable rather than pained, relaxed rather than anxious, and decisive rather than confused. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Practice These Principles Step Twelve - "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs." In Step Eight, we continued our house cleaning, for we saw that we were not only in conflict with ourselves, but also with people and situations in the world in which we lived. We had to begin to make our peace, and so we listed the people we had harmed and became willing to set things right. We followed this up in Step Nine by making direct amends to those concerned, except when it would injure them or other people. By this time, at Step Ten, we had begun to get a basis for daily living, and we keenly realized that we would need to continue taking personal inventory, and that when we were in the wrong we ought to admit it promptly. In Step Eleven we saw that if a Higher Power had restored us to sanity and had enabled us to live with some peace of mind in a sorely troubled world, then such a Higher Power was worth knowing better, by as direct contact as possible. The persistent use of meditation and prayer, we found, did open the channel so that where there had been a trickle, there now was a river which led to sure power and safe guidance from God as we were increasingly better able to understand Him. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 108-109 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Storms make trees take deeper roots." ~ Claude McDonald |
October 25
Peace of Mind Prayer Oh Lord, grant me peace in my heart, eliminate the pain and relieve me of the stress I feel. Allow Your serenity and love to consume me. Relax my mind, my body and my soul as I surrender myself to You. Revive the joy and energy I once had. Allow Your light to infiltrate through the darkness and grace me so I can smile again. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We in Alcoholics Anonymous are fortunate in that we are constantly reminded of the need to be grateful and of how important gratitude is in our sobriety. I am truly grateful for the sobriety God has given me through the A.A. program and am glad I can give back what was given to me freely. I am grateful not only for sobriety, but for the quality of life my sobriety has brought. God has been gracious enough to give me sober days and a life blessed with peace and contentment, as well as the ability to give and receive love, and the opportunity to serve others -- in our Fellowship, my family and community. So ............ For all of this, I have "a full and thankful heart." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Honesty The most precious gift we can give those closest to us is honesty. Yet we often hide our true selves from friends, fearing we won't be accepted or loved if we let them see the real us. If we hide too much behind false images, we run the risk of losing track of what is real and what is false. We become actors instead of real people. When we conquer our fear of letting others in, we are able to see ourselves honestly. When we discover that others accept us as we are, we can accept and love ourselves. To know oneself is to know a person of value. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shocking Conclusion When A.A. was quite young, a number of eminent psychologists and doctors made an exhaustive study of a good-sized group of so-called problem drinkers. The doctors weren't trying to find how different we were from one another; they sought to find whatever personality traits, if any, this group of alcoholics had in common. They finally came up with a conclusion that shocked the A.A. members of that time. These distinguished men had the nerve to say that most of the alcoholics under investigation were still childish, emotionally sensitive, and grandiose. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Pages 122-123 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Most people grow old, but not everybody grows up." -- Nishan Panwar |
October 26
Prayer of Gratitude Lord, thank you for the blessings you have bestowed on my life. You have surrounded me with people who always look out for me. You have given me family and friends who bless me every day with kind words and actions. They lift me up in many ways. Also, thank you, Lord, for keeping me safe. You help me make better choices, and you have provided me with advisors that help me with the difficult decisions. You speak to me in so many ways. And Lord, I am so grateful to you, for keeping those around me safe and loved. I hope that you provide me with the ability and sense to show them every day how much they matter. I hope that you give me the ability to give to them the same kindness they have provided to me. I am just so grateful for all of your blessings in my life, Lord. I pray that you remind me of just how lucky I am, and that you never allow me to forget to show my gratitude in prayer and return kind acts. Amen ~ Kelli Mahoney ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The answers to the question of how a person can live without alcohol and be happy: We say............ "You will be bound to the other A.A.s with new and wonderful ties, for you and they will escape disaster together and all will commence shoulder to shoulder the common journey to a better and more satisfactory life. You will know what it means to give of yourself that others may survive and rediscover life. You will become happy, respected, and useful once more. Since these things have happened to us, they can happen to you." So ............ Have these things happened to me? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Petty Annoyances Do not become encumbered by petty annoyances. Never respond to emotional upsets by emotional upset. Try to keep calm in all circumstances. Try not to fight back. Call on the grace of God to calm you when you feel like retaliating. Look to God for the inner strength to drop those resentments that drag you down. If you are burdened by annoyances, you will lose your inward peace and the spirit of God will be shut out. Try to keep peace within. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Long View One thing we learn in A.A. is to take a long view of drinking instead of a short view. When we were drinking, we thought more about the pleasure or release that a drink would give us, than we did about the consequences which would result from our taking that drink. Liquor looks good from the short view. When we look in a package store window, we see liquor dressed up in its best wrappings, with fancy labels and decorations. They look swell. But have I learned that what's inside those beautiful bottles is just plain poison to me? (Not sure where this came from) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Few Quotes "Humility isn't denying your strengths; it's being honest about your weaknesses." ~ Rick Warren "Being humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others" ~ Gordon B. Hinckley |
October 27
Prayer for Wisdom In everything we do, Lord, give us a desire to seek out the truth; give us a willingness to heed the advice of others; give us wisdom in reaching decisions; give us faith to believe in our conclusions; give us courage to put our ideas to the test; and, if we prove ourselves wrong, give us the grace to admit it. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought What draws newcomers to A.A. and gives them hope? They hear the stories of men and women whose experiences tally with their own. The expressions on the faces of the women, that indefinable something in the eyes of the men, the stimulating atmosphere of the A.A. clubroom, conspire to let them know that there is haven at last. The very practical approach to their problems, the absence of intolerance of any kind, the informality, the genuine democracy, the uncanny understanding that these people in A.A. have is irresistible. So ............ Have I found a real haven in A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Releasing the Past A large number of recovering people have a tough time coming to terms with the abuse and abandonment of childhood days. Sometimes we play those "old tapes" while reliving the past in a mood of self-pity and resentment. This is destructive. We cannot completely erase the past, but we can turn it over to our friends and our Higher power. Our goal should be to transform past experiences into constructive examples. We can start by reminding ourselves that all unhappy experiences are a product of the world's sickness and ignorance. Far from being unusual, our misery was a common thing that we're only now beginning to overcome. We can also practice God's forgiveness, remembering that real forgiveness is humanly impossible. We should resist the temptation to tell others about our past sufferings in order to gain sympathy. At all times, the old tapes must be handled with care. Whatever happened in the past cannot affect me today unless I let it. I'll play the old tapes only when it can be done constructively. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serenity I came into my apartment and I suddenly collapsed on the floor. I lay there breathing kind of heavily and I said to myself, "Oh, to hell with serenity. I don't care if it never comes." And I meant it. And do you know what happened? All of a sudden the craving to find serenity utterly evaporated - and in its place was serenity. The trouble was the search ... looking there for what was right here. Daily Reflections Page 197 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Nothing is interesting, if you are not interested." ~ Helen MacInnes |
October 28
Prayer for Worry and Anxiety God, Sometimes I feel I cannot face this day; it is hard to keep going with such anxious thoughts running through my mind. I ask for your peace to flood my being, that each moment I would surrender these worries, fears and anxieties to you. I ask for your presence to walk with me through each part of my day, so that I would not feel alone but know that I am loved. And I ask for your strength to wake me each morning and keep me going. I trust in you to see me through, lead me to calmer seas, balance and rest in heart, mind, body and soul. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We also strengthen our faith by working with other alcoholics. We also find that we can do nothing ourselves to help them, except to tell them our own story of how we found the way out. If the person is helped, it's by the grace of God and not by what we do or say. Our own faith is strengthened when we see another alcoholic find sobriety by turning to God. And finally, we strengthen our faith by having quiet times every morning. So ............ Do I ask God in this quiet time for the strength to stay sober this day? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Gossip Gossip is a seductive pastime that can be harmful to others, harmful to ourselves. Some gossip is innocent. We chatter about the experiences of others lightly, joyfully, in a way that doesn’t hurt. Other gossip isn’t so innocent. It’s rooted in anger, jealousy, betrayal, and sometimes hatred. We feel deprived and cheated– hurt-so we want to hurt another. Would you stand and throw darts at someone? Would you pick up a knife and stab that person in the back? I think not. Yet, when we gossip, we do the same thing. Words, especially those coated with emotion, carry energy, sometimes potentially damaging energy. When we hurt another, we hurt ourselves. Both are injured. We need to deal with our feelings of anger, hurt, betrayal, or jealousy before they wound through gossip. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pride & Self-Pity I, who had thought so well of myself and my abilities, of my capacity to surmount obstacles, was cornered at last. Now I was to plunge into the dark, joining that endless procession of sots who had gone on before. I thought of my poor wife. There had been much happiness after all. What would I not give to make amends. But that was over now. No words can tell of the loneliness and despair I found in that bitter morass of self-pity. Quicksand stretched around me in all directions. I had met my match. I had been overwhelmed. Alcohol was my master. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.” ~ Jane Austen |
October 29
Happiness and Peace Prayer Dear Lord, I pray that you bless me with true happiness and peace in life. Lead me away from hate and anger toward love. From a restless mind and anxiety, give me peace. Lead me from fear of death to eternal life. Dear Lord, when I suffer despair and lack of confidence, lead me to hope, faith, and trust. Lead me away from dishonesty and deceit toward eternal truth. Allow eternal peace and tranquility to fill my heart, my mind, my life, and my world. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought No one is too discredited, nor has sunk too low, to be welcomed cordially into A.A. Social distinctions, petty rivalries and jealousies are laughed out of countenance. Being wrecked in the same vessel, being restored and united under one God, with hearts and minds attuned to the welfare of others, the things which matter so much to some people no longer signify much to us. So ............ We have true democracy and true brotherhood, in A.A. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Cutting My Losses Business people speak of “cutting their losses” when it becomes clear that a venture is going sour. As recovering alcoholics, we need to practice the same principle when we’re obviously on the wrong track. If a resentment is developing, for example, the sooner we spot it and clear it out, the less damage we suffer. In the same way, we may be engaging in selfish but destructive behavior, or perhaps something that borders on being illicit or dishonest. We minimize our losses by admitting the wrong and getting back to our basic principles of living. In cutting our losses, the usual barriers are pride and self-deception. While these shortcomings will probably always dog us, we at least have experience in dealing with them, or we wouldn't have made any progress in sobriety. If a course of thought or action isn't working out well, perhaps it’s time today to cut my loses in order to get back on the right track. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Trouble There was a time when we ignored trouble, hoping it would go away. Or, in fear and in depression, we ran from it, but found it was still with us. Often, full of unreason, bitterness, and blame, we fought back. These mistaken attitudes, powered by alcohol, guaranteed our destruction, unless they were altered. Then came AA. Here we learned that trouble was really a fact of life for everybody -- a fact that had to be understood and dealt with. Surprisingly, we found that our troubles could, under God's grace, be converted into unimagined blessings. As Bill Sees It Page 110 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” ~ John F. Kennedy |
October 30
Prayer Just for Today Lord, Just for this day, Help me to understand and do your will. Allow me the strength to face and overcome stressful situations. Please give my family and friends the same strength, this day. Let me try to help another human being, like I was helped. Allow me the willingness to look for the good and serenity to accept the bad. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought God's Timetable We have probably heard many times at meetings that God's timetable is not necessarily the same as our timetable. Those events will happen as scheduled to fit a picture bigger than the picture encompassed by our egos. And frequently our patience wears thin because we aren't privy to God's timetable. But we can trust, today and always, that doors open on time. Opportunities are offered when we are ready for them. Nary a moment passes that doesn't invite us to both give and receive a special message--a particular lesson. We are always in God's care, and every circumstance of our lives is helping to mold the person we are meant to be. So ............ Will I take a long look at where I am today and be grateful for my place? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Humility Humility is the quality of being humble and means putting the needs of another person before your own, and thinking of others before yourself. It also means not drawing attention to yourself, and it can mean acknowledging that you are not always right. To cultivate humility: Spend time listening to others, Practice mindfulness and focus on the present, Be grateful for what you have, Ask for help when you need it, Seek feedback from others on a regular basis, Review your actions against the language of pride. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Upkeep When my own house is in order, I find the different parts of my life are more manageable. Stripped from the guilt and remorse that cloaked my drinking years, I am free to assume my proper role in the universe, but this condition requires maintenance. I should stop and ask myself, Am I having fun yet? If I find answering that question difficult or painful, perhaps I'm taking myself too seriously and finding it difficult to admit that I've strayed from my practice of working the program to keep my house in order. Daily Reflections Page 31 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life” ~ J.K. Rowlings |
October 31
Patience Prayer Dear God, I pray that I am patient every moment of this day with myself and with everyone around me. I am patient in traffic. I am patient in the workplace and with my co-workers. I am patient with the world when I hear the news on radio or TV. I am patient at home with my spouse and loved ones. I am a patient person, because I have a patient God. God is patient with me. Therefore, I am patient with all those around me. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Recovery is a process. The Twelve Steps provide the foundation to support our growth as healthy, productive men and women. Each Step must be carefully and honestly worked, or the whole foundation will be weakened Not only can we discover who we are now, but also we can change, nurture those traits that we favor, diminish those that attract trouble. My actions today are the key. They tell who I am at this moment. Who I become is up to me. I will work each Step and reflect before I move ahead. The strength of my foundation depends on it. So ............ I am building my foundation? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Spiritual Growth In our spiritual growth, one of our movements is from passive to active, from helpless to responsive. Our Higher Power speaks to us in a quiet, subtle voice, which can easily be ignored until we learn to listen. It takes courage to listen to this inner voice. When we listen, we develop a relationship that is a strong force moving us into recovery. We are still powerless over many things, but we can make active choices in how we will grow and how we will respond. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Understanding & Approval The less people tolerated us, the more we withdrew from society, from life itself. As we became subjects of King Alcohol, shivering denizens of his mad realm, the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down. It thickened, ever becoming blacker. Some of us sought out sordid places, hoping to find understanding companionship and approval. Momentarily we did - then would come oblivion and the awful awakening to face the hideous Four Horsemen - Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, Despair. Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand! Alcoholics Anonymous Page 151 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.” ~~ Frank A. Clark |
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