AA Thoughts For Today - May

[bluidkiti]

AA Thought for the Day

May 10

Soul-Sickness

Alcoholics especially should be able to see that instinct run wild in themselves
is the underlying cause of their destructive drinking. We have drunk to drown
feelings of fear, frustration, and depression. We have drunk to escape the guilt
of passions, and then have drunk again to make more passions possible. We
have drunk for vainglory—that we might the more enjoy foolish dreams of pomp
and power. This perverse soul-sickness is not pleasant to look upon.
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Four) p. 44

Thought to Ponder
We need to uncover in order to recover.

AA-related 'Alconym'
F E A R = Frustration, Ego, Anger, Resentment.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Sunlight
"It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment
leads only to futility and unhappiness.
To the precise extent that we permit these,
do we squander the hours that might have been worthwhile.
This business of resentment is infinitely grave.
We found that it is fatal.
For when harboring such feelings
we shut ourselves off from
the sunlight of the Spirit.
The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again.
And with us, to drink is to die."
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 66

Thought to Consider . . .
"I have been given a quiet place in bright sunshine."
Bill W., Box 1980: The AA Grapevine, Jan. 1958.
The Language of the Heart, p. 238

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
CALM
Can Anger Leave Me

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"But at one of these [Trustee] meetings in the early fall of 1938, Frank Amos popped up with an idea which opened the
door upon our real future. Frank said, 'One of my friends, Eugene Exman, is Religious Editor of Harper. Perhaps he
would be interested in your [Bill W.'s] new book. Why don't you go down there and show him the few chapters you have
done? I'll fix it up for you.'
"So down I went to meet Gene Exman, another wonderful friend-to-be of our society. I related the tale of our struggles
and handed over to him my first attempt at authorship. While I waited Gene thoughtfully scanned the two chapters. Then
he asked, 'Could you do a whole book in this style? And how many months would it take you?' I was shaking, but I had
an answer ready: 'I believe I can do it. It will probably take nine or ten months.' Thereupon he made a proposal that was
surprising. 'If it would help things along,' he said, 'I think Harper might be willing to advance you $1,500 in royalties. This
amount would be deducted from your account when the book is finished in 1939.'
"Again in the clouds, I left Harper to break the great news to the gang."
2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 153-54

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"AA works on all kinds of nuts (including myself). I just needed to find the right wrench."
Oceanside, Calif., November 2013
"The Right Wrench,"
AA Grapevine

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

"Many of us felt that we had plenty of character. There was a
tremendous urge to cease forever. Yet we found it impossible. This
is the baffling feature of alcoholism as we know it this utter
inability to leave it alone, no matter how great the necessity or the
wish."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 34~

"We think it no concern of ours what religious bodies our members
identify themselves with as individuals. This should be an entirely
personal affair which each one decides for himself in the light of
past associations, or his present choice."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 28~

God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, Courage to change the things we can, And wisdom to know the difference.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 125

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

Our Problem Centers in the Mind
We know as long as the alcoholic keeps away from drink, he usually reacts much like other men. We are equally
positive that once he takes any alcohol whatever into his system, something happens, in both the bodily and the mental
sense, which makes it virtually impossible for him to stop. The experience of any alcoholic will abundantly confirm this.
These observations would be academic and pointless if our friend never took the first drink, thereby setting the terrible
cycle in motion. Therefore, the main problem of the alcoholic centers in his mind, rather than in his body.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, PP. 22-23

Prayer For The Day: We know, Lord, that throughout our lives each of us will experience problems and difficulties. Give us courage and strength at those times and prevent us then from looking only at ourselves. Keep our vision wide so that, even in times of difficulty, we may still be of help to others. Help us not to be bitter towards people or situations, but empower us to take the initiative and break the cycle of hatred, bitterness, and evil actions. Help us to transform the difficulties that come our way into opportunities for personal growth and service of others. Amen.