Recovery Thoughts & Quotes 4/19

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

"The alcoholic has obsessions
to an exaggerated degree.
Over a period of time he has built up self-pity,
resentments toward anyone or anything
that interferes with his drinking.
Dishonest thinking, prejudice, ego,
antagonism toward anyone and everyone
who dares to cross him,
vanity and a critical attitude are character defects
that gradually creep in and become a part of his life.
Living with fear and tension inevitably results
in wanting to ease that tension,
which alcohol seems to do temporarily.
It took me some time to realize
that the Twelve Steps of AA were designed
to help correct these defects of character
and so help remove the obsession to drink."
Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 380-1

Thought to Consider . . .

"Within our wonderful new world,
we have found freedom from our fatal obsession."

Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 139

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*

BS
Before Sobriety

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


Organizing
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":
"By the spring of 1938 a definite program of action took shape. It was agreed that we needed a tax-free charitable trust or foundation. Wealthy contributors could then deduct gifts from their tax returns. "The first move was to choose a name for the new outfit. After long discussion we decided to call it the Alcoholic Foundation. This seemed like a resounding title, one that could create an impression of large importance. Still swayed by big ideas, we thought our trusteeship ought to be chartered to do just about anything within the field of alcohol or alcoholism except lobby for Prohibition. We intended an arrangement by which we could research, educate, and do a lot of other things. Attention to our membership would be only one of many functions.

"It was thought that the Board of Trustees should consist of alcoholics and nonalcoholics. The latter were always to be in the majority by a margin of one. This would assure our membership and other contributors that nonalcoholics would be holding the purse strings."

2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 151-52

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*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"We have learned that whatever the human frailties of various faiths
may be, those faiths have given purpose and direction to millions.
People of faith have a logical idea of what life is all about."

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 49

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Misc. AA Literature - Quote




Freedom through Acceptance

We admitted we couldn't lick alcohol with our own remaining resources, and so we accepted the further fact that dependence upon a Higher Power (if only our A.A. group) could do this hitherto impossible job. The moment we were able to accept these facts fully, our release from the alcohol compulsion had begun.
For most of us, this pair of acceptances had required a lot of exertion to achieve. Our whole treasured a lot of exertion to achieve. Our whole treasured philosophy of self-sufficiency had to be cast aside. This had not been done with sheer will power; it came instead as the result of developing the willingness to accept these new facts of living.
We neither ran nor fought. But accept we did. And then we began to be free.

GRAPEVINE, MARCH 1962

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Member Submitted Quote



Praying is asking God for help, meditating is listening for God's answer.

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12 x 12 Quote

"We 'constructively criticized' someone who needed it, when our real
motive was to win a useless argument. Or, the person concerned not
being present, we thought we were helping others to understand him,
when in actuality our true motive was to feel superior by pulling him
down. We sometimes hurt those we love because they need to be 'taught a
lesson,' when we really want to punish. We were depressed and
complained we felt bad, when in fact we were mainly asking for sympathy
and attention. This odd trait of mind and emotion, this perverse wish
to hide a bad motive underneath a good one, permeates human affairs
from top to bottom. This subtle and elusive kind of self-righteousness
can underlie the smallest act or thought. Learning daily to spot,
admit, and correct these flaws is the essence of character-building and
good living. An honest regret for harms done, a genuine gratitude for
blessings received, and a willingness to try for better things tomorrow
will be the permanent assets we shall seek." (Twelve and Twelve, Step
Ten, pg. 94)