Identifying fear . . . July 06 The chief activator of our defects has been self-centered fear. . . . Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 76 When I feel […]

HUMILITY IS A GIFT July 13 As long as we placed self-reliance first, a genuine reliance upon a Higher Power was out of the question. That basic ingredient of all […]

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, […]

A unuque program August 31 Alcoholics Anonymous will never have a professional class. We have gained some understanding of the ancient words "Freely ye have received, freely give." We have […]

Peace of mind September 14 Do we lay the matter before our sponsor or spiritual adviser, earnestly asking God's help and guidance — meanwhile resolving to do the right thing […]

H.P. As guide September 20 See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the […]

The Last Promise September 21 We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 84 The last Promise in […]

A "Limitless Lode" September 22 Like a gaunt prospector, belt drawn in over the last ounce of food, our pick struck gold. Joy at our release from a lifetime of […]

"I was an exception" September 23 He said to me, gently and simply, "Do you think that you are one of us?" Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 413 (Third Edition) During my […]

Vigilance September 24 We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again: "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." Commencing to drink after a period of sobriety, we are in a […]

First things first September 25 Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth: Job or no job – wife or no wife – we simply do […]

Our children September 26 The alcoholic may find it hard to re-establish friendly relations with his children. . . . In time they will see that he is a new […]

Love without strings September 28 Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 89 Sponsorship held two […]

Exactly alike September 29 Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 89 A man came to the meeting drunk, […]

The circle and the triangle September 30 The circle stands for the whole world of A.A., and the triangle stands for A.A.'s Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity, and Service. Within […]

Lest we become complacent October 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 […]

"The acid test" October 02 As we work the first nine Steps, we prepare ourselves for the adventure of a new life. But when we approach Step Ten we commence […]

Yesterday's baggage October 05 For the wise have always known that no one can make much of his life until self-searching becomes a regular habit, until he is able to […]

Facing ourselves October 06 . . . and Fear says, "You dare not look!" Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 49 How often I avoided a task in my drinking […]

Curbing rashness October 12 When we speak or act hastily or rashly, the ability to be fair-minded and tolerant evaporates on the spot. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 91 […]

Unremitting inventories October 13 Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone […]

Throughout each day October 16 This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 84 During my early years in A.A. I saw Step […]

A daily tune-up October 17 Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 85 How do […]

An open mind October 18 True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith, . . . Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 33 My alcoholic thinking led […]

A.A.'s "main taproot" October 19 The principle that we shall find no enduring strength until we first admit complete defeat is the main taproot from which our whole Society has […]

Solace for confusion October 20 Obviously, the dilemma of the wanderer from faith is that of profound confusion. He thinks himself lost to the comfort of any conviction at all. […]

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 […]