Do I have a choice? January 08 The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 24 My powerlessness over alcohol does not cease when I quit drinking. In sobriety I still have no choice — […]

An act of providence January 09 It is truly awful to admit that, glass in hand, we have warped our minds into such an obsession for destructive drinking that only an act of Providence can remove it from us. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 21 My act of Providence, (a manifestation of divine care […]

United we stand January 10 We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 30 I came to Alcoholics Anonymous because I […]

The 100% step January 11 Only Step One, where we made the 100 percent admission we were powerless over alcohol, can be practiced with absolute perfection. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 68 Long before I was able to obtain sobriety in A.A., I knew without a doubt that alcohol was killing me, yet even […]

Acepting our present circumstances January 12 Our very first problem is to accept our present circumstances as they are, ourselves as we are, and the people about us as they are. This is to adopt a realistic humility without which no genuine advance can even begin. Again and again, we shall need to return to […]

It doesn't happen overnigth January 13 We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 85 The most common alcoholic fantasy seems to be: "If I just don't drink, everything will be all right." Once the fog cleared for […]

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 […]