Recovery Thoughts & Quotes 12/23

[thereishope]

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~




Letting Go

Letting go of everything at once
was both painful and terrifying.
I could never have accomplished this alone.
It took the help, understanding
and wonderful companionship
that was given so freely to me by my ex-alkie friends.
This and the program of recovery
embodied in the Twelve Steps.
In learning to practice these steps in my daily living,
I began to acquire faith and a philosophy to live by.
Whole new vistas were opened up for me,
new avenues of experience to be explored,
and life began to take on color and interest.
c. 1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 311
c. 2001AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 275
^*^*^*^*^

Thought to Consider . . .

The peaks and valleys of my life
have become gentle rolling hills.



*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F A I T H = Finding Answers In The Heart.

[thereishope]

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Sharing
From "Aspects of Spirituality:"
"Among A.A.'s there is still a vast amount of
mix-up respecting what is material and what
is spiritual. I prefer to believe that it is
all a matter of motive. If we use our worldly
possessions too selfishly, then we are materialists.
But if we share these possessions in helpfulness
to others, then the material aids the spiritual."

c. 1967, As Bill Sees It, page 287

[thereishope]

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"...we were at Step Three, which is that we decided to turn our will
and our life over to God as we understood Him. Just what do we mean
by that, and just what do we do?

The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on
self-will can hardly be a success. On that basis we are almost
always in collision with something or somebody, even though our
motives are good. Most people try to live by self-propulsion."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 60~

[thereishope]

Misc. AA Literature - Quote




Watch any A.A. of six months working with a Twelfth Step prospect. If the newcomer says, 'To the devil with you,' the twelfth-stepper only smiles and finds another alcoholic to help. He doesn't feel frustrated or rejected. If his next drunk responds, and in turn starts to give love and attention to other sufferers, yet gives none back to him, the sponsor is happy about it anyway. He still doesn't feel rejected; instead he rejoices that his former prospect is sober and happy.
And he well knows that his own life has been made richer, as an extra dividend of giving to another without any demand for a return.

[thereishope]

Member Submitted Quote



From my sponsor moments before he passed away in my arms, Keep the program going - God will give you the strength to handle ANYTHING if you just ask him to ... I love you.

[thereishope]

12 x 12 Quote

"When we have finally admitted without reservation that we are
powerless over alcohol, we are apt to breathe a great sigh of relief,
saying, 'Well, thank God that's over! I'll never have to go through
that again!' Then we learn, often to our consternation, that this is
only the first milestone on the new road we are walking. Still goaded
by sheer necessity, we reluctantly come to grips with those serious
character flaws that made problem drinkers of us in the first place,
flaws which must be dealt with to prevent a retreat into alcoholism
once again. We will want to be rid of some of these defects, but in
some instances this will appear to be an impossible job from which we
recoil. And we cling with a passionate persistence to others which are
just as disturbing to our equilibrium, because we still enjoy them too
much. How can we possibly summon the resolution and the willingness to
get rid of such overwhelming compulsions and desires?" (Twelve and
Twelve, Step Seven, pg. 73)