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 tolerance and see what real love for our fellows actually means. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 92 The thought occurred to me that all […]

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 Tradition . Around it our Society gathers in unity. The very life of our Fellowship requires the preservation of this principle. Twelve steps and twelve […]

"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 and by works we have been able to build upon the lessons of an incredible experience. They live today in the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics […]

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 recover in A.A. on a daily basis. By practicing unity within my group, with other A.A. members and at all levels of this great Fellowship, […]

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 and twelve traditions, p. 132 When I am chosen to carry some small responsibility for my fellows, I ask that God grant me the patience, […]

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 easily passed among alcoholics, one to the other. This is our gift from God, and its bestowal upon others like us is the one aim […]

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 any other cause. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 177 How much it means to me that an unbroken tradition of more than half a […]

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 traditions, p. 177 The honesty expressed by the members of A.A. in meetings has the power to open my mind. Nothing can block the flow of energy […]

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 question in an embattled world. This, however, has been no earned virtue. It could almost be said that we were born with it. . . […]

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 because of sheer self-righteousness while trying to enforce upon the rest of mankind some millennium of their own specification. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. […]

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 we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 85 My first sponsor told me there were two things to say about prayer […]

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 the heart, p. 240 A sober alcoholic finds it much easier to be optimistic about life. Optimism is the natural result of my finding myself […]

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 twelve traditions, p. 98 If I do my self-examination first, then surely, I'll have enough humility to pray and meditate—because I'll see and feel my […]

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 last three Steps of the program invoke God's loving discipline upon my willful nature. If I devote just a few moments every night to […]

"The quality of faith" November 05 This . . . has to do with the quality of faith. . . . In no deep or meaningful sense had we ever taken stock of ourselves. . . . We had not even prayed rightly. We had always said, "Grant me my wishes" instead of "Thy will […]

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, p. 96 The first words I speak when arising in the morning are, "I arise, O God, to do Thy will." This is the shortest […]

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 traditions, p. 96 When I "Let Go and Let God," I think more clearly and wisely. Without having to think about it, I quickly let […]

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 we can find, it is essentially an individual adventure, something which each one of us works out in his own way. Twelve steps and twelve […]

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 Bill sees it, p. 10 Sometimes I think I don't have time for prayer and meditation, forgetting that I always found the time to drink. […]

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, p. 105 That's what it is — belonging! After a session of meditation I knew that the feeling I was experiencing was a sense of […]