A clean sweep August 13 . . . and third, having thus cleaned away the debris of the past, we consider how, with our newfound knowledge of ourselves, we may […]

Repairing the damage August 14 We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we […]

Didn't we hurt anybody? August 15 Some of us, though, tripped over a very different snag. We clung to the claim that when drinking we never hurt anybody but ourselves. […]

"I had dropped out" August 16 We might next ask ourselves what we mean when we say that we have "harmed" other people. What kinds of "harm" do people do […]

Righting the harmI August 17 In many instances we shall find that though the harm done others has not been great, the emotional harm we have done ourselves has. Twelve […]

Getting well August 18 Very deep, sometimes quite forgotten, damaging emotional conflicts persist below the level of consciousness. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, pp. 79-80 Only through positive action can […]

A frame of reference August 19 Referring to our list again. Putting out of our minds the wrongs others had done, we resolutely looked for our own mistakes. Where had […]

Toward emotional freedom August 20 Since defective relations with other human beings have nearly always been the immediate cause of our woes, including our alcoholism, no field of investigation could […]

We just try August 21 My stability came out of trying to give, not out of demanding that I receive. The best of Bill, pp. 46-47 As long as I […]

Seeking emotional stability August 22 When we developed still more, we discovered the best possible source of emotional stability to be God Himself. We found that dependence upon His perfect […]

Bringing the message home August 23 Can we bring the same spirit of love and tolerance into our sometimes deranged family lives that we bring to our A.A. group? Twelve […]

A riddle that works August 24 It may be possible to find explanations of spiritual experiences such as ours, but I have often tried to explain my own and have […]

The gift of bonding August 25 Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 63 Many times in my alcoholic state, […]

Giving it away August 26 Though they knew they must help other alcoholics if they would remain sober, that motive became secondary. It was transcended by the happiness they found […]

Centering our thoughts August 27 When World War II broke out, our A.A. dependence on a Higher Power had its first major test. A.A.'s entered the services and were scattered […]

Lightening the burden August 28 Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very thing which makes life seem so worth while to us now. . . […]

I choose anonymity August 29 We are sure that humility, expressed by anonymity, is the greatest safeguard that Alcoholics Anonymous can ever have. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 187 […]

The only requirement . . . August 30 "At one time . . . every A.A. group had many membership rules. Everybody was scared witless that something or somebody would […]

A unuque program August 31 Alcoholics Anonymous will never have a professional class. We have gained some understanding of the ancient words "Freely ye have received, freely give." We have […]

Willingness to grow September 01 If more gifts are to be received, our awakening has to go on. As Bill sees it, p. 8 Sobriety fills the painful "hole in […]

Finding "a reason to believe" September 02 The willingness to grow is the essence of all spiritual development. As Bill sees it, p. 171 A line from a song goes, […]

Building a new life September 03 We feel a man is unthinking when he says sobriety is enough. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 82 When I reflect on Step Nine, I see […]

Reconstruction September 04 Yes, there is a long period of reconstruction ahead. . . . Alcoholics anonymous, p. 83 The reconstruction of my life is the prime goal in my […]

Emotional balance September 05 Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, . . . Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 83 When I survey my drinking days, I recall […]

Removing threats to sobriety September 06 . . . except when to do so would injure them or others. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 59 Step Nine restores in me a feeling […]

"Our side of the street" September 07 We are there to sweep off our side of the street, realizing that nothing worth while can be accomplished until we do so, […]

"We asked his protection" September 08 We asked His protection and care with complete abandon. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 59 I could not manage my life alone. I had tried that […]

Opening new doors September 09 They are being fulfilled among us — sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 84 The Promises talked about in this passage are slowly coming […]

Recovery by proxy? September 10 They will always materialize if we work for them. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 84 Sometimes I think: "Making these amends is going too far! No one […]

Making amends September 11 Above all, we should try to be absolutely sure that we are not delaying because we are afraid. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 87 To […]

I am responsible September 12 For the readiness to take the full consequences of our past acts, and to take responsibility for the well-being of others at the same time, […]

Repairing the damage September 13 Good judgment, a careful sense of timing, courage and prudence – these are the qualities we shall need when we take Step Nine. Twelve steps […]

Peace of mind September 14 Do we lay the matter before our sponsor or spiritual adviser, earnestly asking God's help and guidance — meanwhile resolving to do the right thing […]

A new life September 15 Yes, there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that. It is a fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous. . . . Life will mean […]

We stand-or fall-together September 16 . . . no society of men and women ever had a more urgent need for continuous effectiveness and permanent unity. We alcoholics see that […]

Freedom from fear September 17 When, with God's help, we calmly accepted our lot, then we found we could live at peace with ourselves and show others who still suffered […]

Loved back to recovery September 18 Our whole treasured philosophy of self-sufficiency had to be cast aside. This had not been done with old-fashioned willpower; it was instead a matter […]

Acceptance September 19 We admitted we couldn't lick alcohol with our own remaining resources, and so we accepted the further fact that dependence upon a Higher Power (if only our […]

H.P. As guide September 20 See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the […]

The Last Promise September 21 We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 84 The last Promise in […]

A "Limitless Lode" September 22 Like a gaunt prospector, belt drawn in over the last ounce of food, our pick struck gold. Joy at our release from a lifetime of […]

"I was an exception" September 23 He said to me, gently and simply, "Do you think that you are one of us?" Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 413 (Third Edition) During my […]

Vigilance September 24 We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again: "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." Commencing to drink after a period of sobriety, we are in a […]

First things first September 25 Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth: Job or no job – wife or no wife – we simply do […]

Our children September 26 The alcoholic may find it hard to re-establish friendly relations with his children. . . . In time they will see that he is a new […]

Love without strings September 28 Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 89 Sponsorship held two […]

Exactly alike September 29 Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 89 A man came to the meeting drunk, […]

The circle and the triangle September 30 The circle stands for the whole world of A.A., and the triangle stands for A.A.'s Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity, and Service. Within […]

Lest we become complacent October 01 It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we […]

"The acid test" October 02 As we work the first nine Steps, we prepare ourselves for the adventure of a new life. But when we approach Step Ten we commence […]

Serenity after the storm October 03 Someone who knew what he was talking about once remarked that pain was the touchstone of all spiritual progress. How heartily we A.A.'s can […]

A necessary pruning October 04 . . . we know that the pains of drinking had to come before sobriety, and emotional turmoil before serenity. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, […]

Yesterday's baggage October 05 For the wise have always known that no one can make much of his life until self-searching becomes a regular habit, until he is able to […]

Facing ourselves October 06 . . . and Fear says, "You dare not look!" Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 49 How often I avoided a task in my drinking […]

Daily monitoring October 07 Continued to take personal inventory. . . . Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 88 The spiritual axiom referred to in the Tenth Step—"every time we […]

Daily inventory October 08 . . . and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 59 I was beginning to approach my new life of sobriety with […]

A spiritual axiom October 09 It is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed, no matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us. Twelve steps and […]

Fixing me, not you October 10 If somebody hurts us and we are sore, we are in the wrong also. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 90 What a freedom […]

Self-restraint October 11 Our first objective will be the development of self-restraint. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 91 My drive to work provides me with an opportunity for self-examination. […]

Curbing rashness October 12 When we speak or act hastily or rashly, the ability to be fair-minded and tolerant evaporates on the spot. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 91 […]