No regrets January 14 We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 83 Once I became sober, I began to see how wasteful my life had been and I experienced overwhelming guilt and feelings of regret. The program's Fourth and Fifth Steps assisted me enormously in […]

An unsuspected inner resource January 15 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. Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 567-68 From my first days in A.A., as I struggled for sobriety, I found hope in these words […]

Hitting bottom January 16 Why all this insistence that every A.A. must hit bottom first? The answer is that few people will sincerely try to practice the A.A. program unless they have hit bottom. For practicing A.A.'s remaining eleven Steps means the adoption of attitudes and actions that almost no alcoholic who is still drinking […]

Happiness comes quietly January 17 "The trouble with us alcoholics was this: We demanded that the world give us happiness and peace of mind in just the particular order we wanted to get it-by the alcohol route. And we weren't successful. But when we take time to find out some of the spiritual laws, and […]

Would a drink help? January 18 By going back in our own drinking histories, we could show that years before we realized it we were out of control, that our drinking even then was no mere habit, that it was indeed the beginning of a fatal progression. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 23 When […]

Round-the-clock faith January 19 Faith has to work twenty-four hours a day in and through us, or we perish. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 16 The essence of my spirituality, and my sobriety, rests on a round-the-clock faith in a Higher Power. I need to remember and rely on the God of my understanding as I pursue […]

"We pause . . . and ask" January 20 As we go through the day we pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 87 Today I humbly ask my Higher Power for the grace to find the space between my impulse and my action; to let […]

Serving my brother January 21 The member talks to the newcomer not in a spirit of power but in a spirit of humility and weakness. Alcoholics Anonymous comes of age, p. 279 As the days pass in A.A., I ask God to guide my thoughts and the words that I speak. In this labor of […]

"Let's keep it simple" January 22 A few hours later I took my leave of Dr. Bob. . . . The wonderful, old, broad smile was on his face as he said almost jokingly, "Remember, Bill, let's not louse this thing up. Let's keep it simple!" I turned away, unable to say a word. That […]

Having fun yet? January 23 . . . we aren't a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn't want it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life. We try not to indulge in cynicism over the state of the nations, nor do we carry the world's troubles on […]

Getting involved January 24 There is action and more action. "Faith without works is dead." . . . To be helpful is our only aim. Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 88-89 I understand that service is a vital part of recovery but I often wonder, "What can I do?" Simply start with what I have today! I […]

What we need - each other January 25 . . . A.A. is really saying to every serious drinker, "You are an A.A. member if you say so . . . nobody can keep you out." Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 139 For years, whenever I reflected on Tradition Three ("The only requirement for […]

Rigorous honesty January 26 Who wishes to be rigorously honest and tolerant? Who wants to confess his faults to another and make restitution for harm done? Who cares anything about a Higher Power, let alone meditation and prayer? Who wants to sacrifice time and energy in trying to carry A.A.'s message to the next sufferer? […]

Freedom from guilt January 27 Where other people were concerned, we had to drop the word "blame" from our speech and thought. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 47 When I become willing to accept my own powerlessness, I begin to realize that blaming myself for all the trouble in my life can be an […]

The treasure of the past January 28 Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very thing which makes life seem so worth while to us now. Cling to the thought that, in God's hands, the dark past is the greatest possession you have—the key to life and happiness for others. With […]

The joy of sharing January 29 Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends—this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. […]

Freedom from . . . freedom to January 30 We are going to know a new freedom. . . . Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 83 Freedom for me is both freedom from and freedom to. The first freedom I enjoy is freedom from the slavery of alcohol. What a relief! Then I begin to experience freedom from fear—fear of people, of […]

Our common welfare comes firts January 31 The unity of Alcoholics Anonymous is the most cherished quality our Society has. . . . We stay whole, or A.A. dies. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 129 Our Traditions are key elements in the ego deflation process necessary to achieve and maintain sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous. […]

Goal: sanity February 01 ". . . Step Two gently and very gradually began to infiltrate my life. I can't say upon what occasion or upon what day I came to believe in a Power greater than myself, but I certainly have that belief now." Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 27 "Came to believe!" […]

RESCUED BY SURRENDERING February 02 Characteristic of the so-called typical alcoholic is a narcissistic egocentric core, dominated by feelings of omnipotence, intent on maintaining at all costs its inner integrity. . . . Inwardly the alcoholic brooks no control from man or God. He, the alcoholic, is and must be the master of his destiny. […]

Filling the void February 03 We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. "Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?" As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he […]

WHEN FAITH IS MISSING February 04 Sometimes A.A. comes harder to those who have lost or rejected faith than to those who never had any faith at all, for they think they have tried faith and found it wanting. They have tried the way of faith and the way of no faith. TWELVE STEPS AND […]

A glorious release February 05 "The minute I stopped arguing, I could begin to see and feel. Right there, Step Two gently and very gradually began to infiltrate my life. I can't say upon what occasion or upon what day I came to believe in a Power greater than myself, but I certainly have that […]