A nourishing ingradient July 14 Where humility had formerly stood for a forced feeding on humble pie, it now begins to mean the nourishing ingredient which can give us serenity. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 74 How often do I focus on my problems and frustrations? When I am having a "good day" these same problems shrink in […]

Pride July 15 For thousands of years we have been demanding more than our share of security, prestige, and romance. When we seemed to be succeeding, we drank to dream still greater dreams. When we were frustrated, even in part, we drank for oblivion. Never was there enough of what we thought we wanted. In […]

"A measure of humility" July 16 In every case, pain had been the price of admission into a new life. But this admission price had purchased more than we expected. It brought a measure of humility, which we soon discovered to be a healer of pain. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 It was […]

Surrender and self-examination July 17 My stability came out of trying to give, not out of demanding that I receive. Thus I think it can work out with emotional sobriety. If we examine every disturbance we have, great or small, we will find at the root of it some unhealthy dependency and its consequent unhealthy […]

Grateful for what I have July 18 During this process of learning more about humility, the most profound result of all was the change in our attitude toward God. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 Today my prayers consist mostly of saying thank you to my Higher Power for my sobriety and for the […]

False pride July 19 Many of us who had thought ourselves religious awoke to the limitations of this attitude. Refusing to place God first, we had deprived ourselves of His help. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 Many false notions operate in false pride. The need for direction to live a decent life is […]

Shortcomings removed July 20 But now the words "Of myself I am nothing, the Father doeth the works" began to carry bright promise and meaning. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 75 When I put the Seventh Step into action I must remember that there are no blanks to fill in. It doesn't say, "Humbly […]

A priceless gift July 21 By this time in all probability we have gained some measure of release from our more devastating handicaps. We enjoy moments in which there is something like real peace of mind. To those of us who have hitherto known only excitement, depression, or anxiety – in other words, to all […]

"The good and the bad" July 22 "My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad." Alcoholics anonymous, p. 76 The joy of life is in the giving. Being freed of my shortcomings, that I may more freely be of service, allows humility to grow in me. My […]

I ask God to decide July 23 "I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows." Alcoholics anonymous, p. 76 Having admitted my powerlessness and made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the […]

Helping others July 24 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 Self-centeredness was my problem. All my life people had been doing things for me and I not only expected it, but I was ungrateful and resentful […]

Those who still suffer July 25 For us, if we neglect those who are still sick, there is unremitting danger to our own lives and sanity. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 151 I know the torment of drinking compulsively to quiet my nerves and my fears. I also know the pain of white-knuckled sobriety. […]

The "worth" of sobriety July 26 Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 160 When I go shopping I look at the prices and if I need what I see, I buy it and pay. Now that I am supposed to be in rehabilitation, I […]

Giving freely July 27 We will make every personal sacrifice necessary to insure the unity of Alcoholics Anonymous. We will do this because we have learned to love God and one another. A.A. comes of age, p. 234 To be self-supporting through my own contributions was never a strong characteristic during my days as a […]

Those who still suffer July 28 Let us resist the proud assumption that since God has enabled us to do well in one area we are destined to be a channel of saving grace for everybody. A.A. comes of age, p. 232 A.A. groups exist to help alcoholics achieve sobriety. Large or small, firmly established […]

Anonymous gifts of kindness July 29 As active alcoholics we were always looking for a handout in one way or another. "The twelve traditions illustrated," p. 14 The challenge of the Seventh Tradition is a personal challenge, reminding me to share and give of myself. Before sobriety the only thing I ever supported was my […]

Giving back July 30 . . . he has struck something better than gold. . . .He may not see at once that he has barely scratched a limitless lode which will pay dividends only if he mines it for the rest of his life and insists on giving away the entire product. Alcoholics anonymous, […]

A prayer for all seasons July 31 God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, Courage to change the things we can, And wisdom to know the difference. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 125 The power of this prayer is overwhelming in that its simple beauty parallels the A.A. Fellowship. […]

Living it August 01 The spiritual life is not a theory.  We have to live it. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 83 When new in the program, I couldn't comprehend living the spiritual aspect of the program, but now that I'm sober, I can't comprehend living without it. Spirituality was what I had been seeking. God, as […]

WE BECOME WILLING . . . August 02 At the moment we are trying to put our lives in order. But this is not an end in itself. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 77 How easily I can become misdirected in approaching the Eighth Step! I wish to be free, somehow transformed by my Sixth and Seventh […]

 . . To be of service August 03 Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 77 It is clear that God's plan for me is expressed through love. God loved me enough to take me from alleys and jails so […]

Seeds of faith August 04 Faith, to be sure, is necessary, but faith alone can avail nothing. We can have faith, yet keep God out of our lives. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 34 As a child I constantly questioned the existence of God. To a "scientific thinker" like me, no answer could withstand […]

Listening deeply August 05 How persistently we claim the right to decide all by ourselves just what we shall think and just how we shall act. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 37 If I accept and act upon the advice of those who have made the program work for themselves, I have a chance […]

Driven August 06 Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 62 My selfishness was the driving force behind my drinking. I drank to celebrate success and I drank to drown my sorrows. Humility is the answer. I […]

A "design for living" August 07 We in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, "a design for living" that […]

"Made a list . . ." August 08 Made a list of all persons we had harmed, . . . Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 77 When I approached the Eighth Step, I wondered how I could list all the things that I have done to other people since there were so many people, […]

". . . Of all persons we had harmed" August 09 . . . and became willing to make amends to them all. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 77 One of the key words in the Eighth Step is the word all. I am not free to select a few names for the list and […]

Redoubling our efforts August 10 To a degree, he has already done this when taking moral inventory, but now the time has come when he ought to redouble his efforts to see how many people he has hurt, and in what ways, Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 77 As I continue to grow in […]