Nothing grows in the dark October 21 We will want the good that is in us all, even in the worst of us, to flower and to grow. AS BILL […]

True tolerance October 22 Finally, we begin to see that all people, including ourselves, are to some extent emotionally ill as well as frequently wrong, and then we approach true […]

What we know best October 23 "Shoemaker, stick to thy last!" . . . better do one thing supremely well than many badly. That is the central theme of this […]

"By faith and by works" October 24 On anvils of experience, the structure of our Society was hammered out. . . . Thus has it been with A.A. By faith […]

A.A.'s heartbeat October 25 Without unity, the heart of A.A. would cease to beat; . . . As Bill sees it, p. 125 Without unity I would be unable to […]

One ultimate authority October 26 For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority — a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Twelve steps […]

Global sharing October 27 The only thing that matters is that he is an alcoholic who has found a key to sobriety. These legacies of suffering and of recovery are […]

An unbroken tradition October 28 We conceive the survival and spread of Alcoholics Anonymous to be something of far greater importance than the weight we could collectively throw back of […]

Our survival October 29 Since recovery from alcoholism is life itself to us, it is imperative that we preserve in full strength our means of survival. Twelve steps and twelve […]

Live and let live October 30 Never since it began has Alcoholics Anonymous been divided by a major controversial issue. Nor has our Fellowship ever publicly taken sides on any […]

Avoiding controversy October 31 All history affords us the spectacle of striving nations and groups finally torn asunder because they were designed for, or tempted into, controversy. Others fell apart […]

I cannot change the wind November 01 It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if […]

Keeping optimism afloat November 02 The other Steps can keep most of us sober and somehow functioning. But Step Eleven can keep us growing, . . . The language of […]

Focusing and listeningOCUSING AND LISTENING November 03 There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation, and prayer. Taken separately, these practices can bring much relief and benefit. Twelve steps and […]

A daily discipline November 04 . . . when they are logically related and interwoven, the result is an unshakable foundation for life. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 98 […]

"The quality of faith" November 05 This . . . has to do with the quality of faith. . . . In no deep or meaningful sense had we ever […]

Going with the flow November 06 Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him. . . . Twelve steps and twelve traditions, […]

Let go and let God November 07 . . . praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Twelve steps and twelve […]

An individual adventure November 08 Meditation is something which can always be further developed. It has no boundaries, either of width or height. Aided by such instruction and example as […]

Stepping into the sunlight November 09 But first of all we shall want sunlight; nothing much can grow in the dark. Meditation is our step out into the sun. As […]

A sence of belonging November 10 Perhaps one of the greatest rewards of meditation and prayer is the sense of belonging that comes to us. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, […]

Self-acceptance November 11 We know that God lovingly watches over us. We know that when we turn to Him, all will be well with us, here and hereafter. Twelve steps […]

Morning thoughts November 12 Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 164 For many years […]

Looking outward November 13 We ask especially for freedom from self-will, and are careful to make no requests for ourselves only. We may ask for ourselves, however, if others will […]

Intuition and inspiration November 14 . . . we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. We relax and take it easy. We don't struggle. Alcoholics Anonymous, […]

Vital sustenance November 15 Those of us who have come to make regular use of prayer would no more do without it than we would refuse air, food, or sunshine. […]

A daily reprieve November 16 What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 85 Maintaining my spiritual condition is […]

Overcoming loneliness November 17 Almost without exception, alcoholics are tortured by loneliness. Even before our drinking got bad and people began to cut us off, nearly all of us suffered […]

A safety net November 18 Occasionally. . . . We are seized with a rebellion so sickening that we simply won't pray. When these things happen we should not think […]

"I was slipping fast" November 19 We A.A.'s are active folk, enjoying the satisfactions of dealing with the realities of life, . . . So it isn't surprising that we […]

"Thy will, not mine" November 20 . . . when making specific requests, it will be well to add to each one of them this qualification. ". . . if […]

A classic prayer November 21 Lord, make me a channel for thy peace—that where there is hatred, I may bring love—that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit […]

Only two sins November 22 . . . there are only two sins; the first is to interfere with the growth of another human being, and the second is to […]

"Hold your face to the light" November 23 Believe more deeply. Hold your face up to the Light, even though for the moment you do not see. As Bill sees […]

A universal search November 24 Be quick to see where religious people are right. Make use of what they offer. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 87 I do not claim to have […]

A powerful tradition November 25 In the years before the publication of the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous," we had no name. . . . By a narrow majority the verdict was […]

The hazards of publicity November 26 People who symbolize causes and ideas fill a deep human need. We of A.A. do not question that. But we do have to soberly […]

The perils of the limelight November 27 In the beginning, the press could not understand our refusal of all personal publicity. They were genuinely baffled by our insistence upon anonymity. […]

Attraction, not promotion November 28 Through many painful experiences, we think we have arrived at what that policy ought to be. It is the opposite in many ways of usual […]

"Active guardians" November 29 To us, however, it represents far more than a sound public relations policy. It is more than a denial of self-seeking. This Tradition is a constant […]

Protection for all November 30 At the personal level, anonymity provides protection for all members from identification as alcoholics, a safeguard often of special importance to newcomers. At the level […]

"Suggested" steps December 01 Our Twelfth Step also says that as a result of practicing all the Steps, we have each found something called a spiritual awakening. . . . […]

Serenity December 02 Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, . . . Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 106 As I continued to go to […]

In all our affairs December 03 . . . we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. Twelve steps and twelve […]

Into action December 04 A.A. is more than a set of principles; it is a society of alcoholics in action. We must carry the message, else we ourselves can wither […]

A new state of consciousness December 05 He has been granted a gift which amounts to a new state of consciousness and being. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 107 […]

When the chips are down December 06 When we developed still more, we discovered the best possible source of emotional stability to be God Himself. We found that dependence upon […]

True ambition December 07 True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the deep desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of God. […]

Service December 08 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, […]

Love with no price tag December 09 When the Twelfth Step is seen in its full implication, it is really talking about the kind of love that has no price […]

Carrying the message December 10 Now, what about the rest of the Twelfth Step? The wonderful energy it releases and the eager action by which it carries our message to […]

"A genuine humility" December 11 . . . we are actually to practice a genuine humility. This is to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that […]

A common solution December 12 The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We have a way out on which we can […]

Thinking of others December 13 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 […]

Reaching out December 14 Never talk down to an alcoholic from any moral or spiritual hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual tools for his inspection. Show him how […]

DOING ANYTHING TO HELP December 15 Offer him friendship and fellowship. Tell him that if he wants to get well you will do anything to help. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 95 […]

Partners in recovery December 16 . . . nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. . . . Both you and the new […]

A priceless reward December 17 . . . work with other alcoholics. . . . It works when other activities fail. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 89 "Life will take on new […]

Honesty with newcomers December 18 Tell him exactly what happened to you.  Stress the spiritual feature freely. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 93 The marvel of A.A. is that I tell only […]

Understanding the malady December 19 When dealing with an alcoholic, there may be a natural annoyance that a man could be so weak, stupid and irresponsible. Even when you understand […]