The past is over May 12 A.A. experience has taught us we cannot live alone with our pressing problems and the character defects which cause or aggravate them. If . . . Step Four . . .has revealed in stark relief those experiences we'd rather not remember . . . then the need to quit […]

The easier, softer way May 13 If we skip this vital step, we may not overcome drinking. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 72 I certainly didn't leap at the opportunity to face who I was, especially when the pains of my drinking days hung over me like a dark cloud. But I soon heard at the meetings […]

It's okay to be me May 14 Time after time newcomers have tried to keep to themselves certain facts about their lives. . . . they have turned to easier methods. . . . But they had not learned enough humility. . . . Alcoholics anonymous, pp. 72-73 Humility sounds so much like humiliation, but […]

Know God; know peace May 15 It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. . . . But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 66 Know God; Know peace. […]

We forgive. . . May 16 Often it was while working on this Step with our sponsors or spiritual advisers that we first felt truly able to forgive others, no matter how deeply we felt they had wronged us.  Our moral inventory had persuaded us that all-round forgiveness was desirable, but it was only when […]

. . . And forgive May 17 Under very trying conditions I have had, again and again, to forgive others – also myself. As Bill sees it, p. 268 Forgiveness of self and forgiveness of others are just two currents in the same river, both hindered or shut off completely by the dam of resentment. […]

Freeedom to be me May 18 If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 83 My first true freedom is the freedom not to have to take a […]

Giving without strings May 19 And he well knows that his own life has been made richer, as an extra dividend of giving to another without any demand for a return. As Bill sees it, p. 69 The concept of giving without strings was hard to understand when I first came into the program. I […]

One day at a time May 20 Above all, take it one day at a time. As Bill sees it, p. 11 Why do I kid myself that I must stay away from a drink for only one day, when I know perfectly well I must never drink again as long as I live? I […]

A list of blessings May 21 One exercise that I practice is to try for a full inventory of my blessings... As Bill sees it, p. 37 What did I have to be grateful for? I shut myself up and started listing the blessings for which I was in no way responsible, beginning with having […]

Step one May 22 WE . . . (The first word of the First Step) Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 21 When I was drinking all I could ever think about was "I, I, I," or "Me, Me, Me." Such painful obsession of self, such soul sickness, such spiritual selfishness bound me to the […]

Spiritual health May 23 When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 64 It is very difficult for me to come to terms with my spiritual illness because of my great pride, disguised by my material successes and my intellectual power. Intelligence is not incompatible with humility, provided […]

"Happy, joyous, and free" May 24 We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous, and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn't do […]

Progressive gratitude May 25 Gratitude should go forward, rather than backward. As Bill sees it, p. 29 I am very grateful that my Higher Power has given me a second chance to live a worthwhile life. Through Alcoholics Anonymous, I have been restored to sanity. The promises are being fulfilled in my life. I am […]

Our primary purpose May 30 The more A.A. sticks to its primary purpose, the greater will be its helpful influence everywhere. A.A. comes of age, p. 109 It is with gratitude that I reflect on the early days of our Fellowship and those wise and loving "foresteppers" who proclaimed that we should not be diverted […]

A changed outlook June 01 Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 84 When I was drinking, my attitude was totally selfish, totally self-centered; my pleasure and my comfort came first. Now that I am sober, self-seeking has started to slip away. My whole attitude toward life and other people […]

Opening up to change June 08 Self-searching is the means by which we bring new vision, action, and grace to bear upon the dark and negative side of our natures. With it comes the development of that kind of humility that makes it possible for us to receive God's help. . . . we find […]

"Deep down within us" June 17 We found the Great Reality deep down within us. In the last analysis it is only there that He may be found. . . search diligently within yourself. . . . With this attitude you cannot fail. The consciousness of your belief is sure to come to you. Alcoholics […]

A fellowship of freedom June 18 . . . if only men were granted absolute liberty, and were compelled to obey no one, they would then voluntarily associate themselves in the common interest. As Bill sees it, p. 50 When I no longer live under the dictates of another or of alcohol, I live in […]

"A.A. Regeneration" June 19 Such is the paradox of A.A. regeneration: strength arising out of complete defeat and weakness, the loss of one's old life as a condition for finding a new one. A.A. comes or age, p. 46 A thousand beatings by John Barleycorn did not encourage me to admit defeat. I believed it […]

Release from fear June 20 The problem of resolving fear has two aspects. We shall have to try for all the freedom from fear that is possible for us to attain. Then we shall need to find both the courage and grace to deal constructively with whatever fears remain. As Bill sees it, p. 61 […]

Fear and faith June 21 The achievement of freedom from fear is a lifetime undertaking, one that can never be wholly completed. When under heavy attack, acute illness, or in other conditions of serious insecurity, we shall all react to this emotion — well or badly, as the case may be. Only the self-deceived will […]

Today, I'm free June 22 This brought me to the good healthy realization that there were plenty of situations left in the world over which I had no personal power – that if I was so ready to admit that to be the case with alcohol, so I must make the same admission with respect […]

Trusting others June 23 But does trust require that we be blind to other people's motives or, indeed, to our own? Not at all; this would be folly. Most certainly, we should assess the capacity for harm as well as the capability for good in every person that we would trust. Such a private inventory […]

A spiritual kindergarten June 24 We are only operating a spiritual kindergarten in which people are enabled to get over drinking and find the grace to go on living to better effect. As Bill sees it, p. 95 When I came to A.A., I was run down by the bottle and wanted to lose the […]

A two-way street June 25 If we ask, God will certainly forgive our derelictions. But in no case does He render us white as snow and keep us that way without our cooperation. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 65 When I prayed, I used to omit a lot of things for which I needed […]

A gift that grows with time June 26 For most normal folks, drinking means conviviality, companionship and colorful imagination. It means release from care, boredom and worry. It is joyous intimacy with friends and a feeling that life is good. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 151 The longer I chased these elusive feelings with alcohol, the more […]

Conforming to the A.A. way June 27 We obey A.A.'s Steps and Traditions because we really want them for ourselves. It is no longer a question of good or evil; we conform because we genuinely want to conform. Such is our process of growth in unity and function. Such is the evidence of God's grace […]

Tthe determination of our founders June 28 A year and six months later these three had succeeded with seven more. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 159 If it had not been for the fierce determination of our founders, A.A. would have quickly faded like so many other so-called good causes. I look at the hundreds of meetings […]

A rippling effect June 29 Having learned to live so happily, we'd show everyone else how. . . . Yes, we of A.A. did dream those dreams. How natural that was, since most alcoholics are bankrupt idealists. . . . So why shouldn't we share our way of life with everyone? Twelve steps and twelve […]

Sacrifice = Unity = Survival June 30 The unity, the effectiveness, and even the survival of A.A. will always depend upon our continued willingness to give up some of our personal ambitions and desires for the common safety and welfare. Just as sacrifice means survival for the individual alcoholic, so does sacrifice mean unity and […]

The best for today July 01 The principles we have set down are guides to progress. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 60 Just as a sculptor will use different tools to achieve desired effects in creating a work of art, in Alcoholics Anonymous the Twelve Steps are used to bring about results in my own life. I […]

The heart of true sobriety July 02 We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality of the program. Willingness, honesty and open-mindedness are the essentials of recovery. But these are indispensable. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 568 Am I honest enough to accept myself as I am and let this be the "me" that I […]

EXPERIENCE: THE BEST TEACHER July 03 Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 87 Some say that experience is the best teacher, but I believe that experience is the only teacher. I have been […]

A natural faith July 04 . . . deep down in every man, woman and child, is the fundamental idea of God. It may be obscured by calamity, by pomp, by worship of other things, but in some form or other it is there. For faith in a Power greater than ourselves, and miraculous demonstrations […]

A new direction July 05 Our human resources, as marshalled by the will, were not sufficient; they failed utterly. . . . Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all our activities. Alcoholics anonymous, pp. 45, 85 I hear talk of the "weak-willed" alcoholic, but I am […]

Identifying fear . . . July 06 The chief activator of our defects has been self-centered fear. . . . Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 76 When I feel uncomfortable, irritated, or depressed, I look for fear. This "evil and corroding thread" is the root of my distress: Fear of failure; fear of others' […]

. . . And letting go of it July 07 . . . primarily fear that we would lose something we already possessed or would fail to get something we demanded. Living upon a basis of unsatisfied demands, we were in a state of continual disturbance and frustration. Therefore, no peace was to be had […]

. . . And letting go of it July 07 . . . primarily fear that we would lose something we already possessed or would fail to get something we demanded. Living upon a basis of unsatisfied demands, we were in a state of continual disturbance and frustration. Therefore, no peace was to be had […]

I am an instrument July 09 Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 70 The subject of humility is a difficult one. Humility is not thinking less of myself than I ought to; it is acknowledging that I do certain things well, it is accepting a compliment graciously. God […]

Toward peace and serinity July 10 . . . when we have taken a square look at some of these defects, have discussed them with another, and have become willing to have them removed, our thinking about humility commences to have a wider meaning. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 74 When situations arise which […]

A turning point July 11 A great turning point in our lives came when we sought for humility as something we really wanted, rather than as something we must have. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 Either the A.A. way of life becomes one of joy or I return to the darkness and despair […]

Giving up the center stage July 12 For without some degree of humility, no alcoholic can stay sober at all. . . . Without it, they cannot live to much useful purpose, or, in adversity, be able to summon the faith that can meet any emergency. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 70 Why do […]

HUMILITY IS A GIFT July 13 As long as we placed self-reliance first, a genuine reliance upon a Higher Power was out of the question. That basic ingredient of all humility, a desire to seek and do God's will, was missing. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 72 When I first came to A.A., I […]

A nourishing ingradient July 14 Where humility had formerly stood for a forced feeding on humble pie, it now begins to mean the nourishing ingredient which can give us serenity. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 74 How often do I focus on my problems and frustrations? When I am having a "good day" these same problems shrink in […]

Pride July 15 For thousands of years we have been demanding more than our share of security, prestige, and romance. When we seemed to be succeeding, we drank to dream still greater dreams. When we were frustrated, even in part, we drank for oblivion. Never was there enough of what we thought we wanted. In […]

"A measure of humility" July 16 In every case, pain had been the price of admission into a new life. But this admission price had purchased more than we expected. It brought a measure of humility, which we soon discovered to be a healer of pain. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 It was […]

Surrender and self-examination July 17 My stability came out of trying to give, not out of demanding that I receive. Thus I think it can work out with emotional sobriety. If we examine every disturbance we have, great or small, we will find at the root of it some unhealthy dependency and its consequent unhealthy […]

Grateful for what I have July 18 During this process of learning more about humility, the most profound result of all was the change in our attitude toward God. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 Today my prayers consist mostly of saying thank you to my Higher Power for my sobriety and for the […]

False pride July 19 Many of us who had thought ourselves religious awoke to the limitations of this attitude. Refusing to place God first, we had deprived ourselves of His help. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 Many false notions operate in false pride. The need for direction to live a decent life is […]

Shortcomings removed July 20 But now the words "Of myself I am nothing, the Father doeth the works" began to carry bright promise and meaning. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 When I put the Seventh Step into action I must remember that there are no blanks to fill in. It doesn't say, "Humbly […]

A priceless gift July 21 By this time in all probability we have gained some measure of release from our more devastating handicaps. We enjoy moments in which there is something like real peace of mind. To those of us who have hitherto known only excitement, depression, or anxiety – in other words, to all […]

"The good and the bad" July 22 "My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad." Alcoholics anonymous, p. 76 The joy of life is in the giving. Being freed of my shortcomings, that I may more freely be of service, allows humility to grow in me. My […]

I ask God to decide July 23 "I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows." Alcoholics anonymous, p. 76 Having admitted my powerlessness and made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the […]

Helping others July 24 Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 20 Self-centeredness was my problem. All my life people had been doing things for me and I not only expected it, but I was ungrateful and resentful […]

Those who still suffer July 25 For us, if we neglect those who are still sick, there is unremitting danger to our own lives and sanity. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 151 I know the torment of drinking compulsively to quiet my nerves and my fears. I also know the pain of white-knuckled sobriety. […]

The "worth" of sobriety July 26 Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 160 When I go shopping I look at the prices and if I need what I see, I buy it and pay. Now that I am supposed to be in rehabilitation, I […]

Giving freely July 27 We will make every personal sacrifice necessary to insure the unity of Alcoholics Anonymous. We will do this because we have learned to love God and one another. A.A. comes of age, p. 234 To be self-supporting through my own contributions was never a strong characteristic during my days as a […]

Those who still suffer July 28 Let us resist the proud assumption that since God has enabled us to do well in one area we are destined to be a channel of saving grace for everybody. A.A. comes of age, p. 232 A.A. groups exist to help alcoholics achieve sobriety. Large or small, firmly established […]

Anonymous gifts of kindness July 29 As active alcoholics we were always looking for a handout in one way or another. "The twelve traditions illustrated," p. 14 The challenge of the Seventh Tradition is a personal challenge, reminding me to share and give of myself. Before sobriety the only thing I ever supported was my […]