Self-Discipline - May 9th

“Self-discipline is crucial to a simpler, more contented life.”
   ~Tenzin Gyatso

A.A. Thought for the Day

We alcoholics used so little self control when we were drinking; we were so absolutely selfish, that it does us good to give up something once in a while. Using self-discipline and denying ourselves a few things is good for us. At first, giving up liquor is a big enough job for all of us, even with God's help. But later on, we can practice self-discipline in other ways to keep a firm grip on our minds so that we don't start any wishful thinking. If we daydream too much, we'll be in danger of slipping. Am I practicing enough self-discipline?


When the founders of AA decided to reinforce to members that the goal is progress and not perfection they must have been thinking of self-discipline. It's a very difficult area for me and though I don't drink there are some things that I am still selfish about. The picture of a man practicing Tai Chi was chosen as I think the discipline it takes to practice Tai Chi is something we can all look to as a wonderful example of self-discipline. Have a safe and sober 24 hours.
~ Mike

Faith & Happiness - May 8th

“Happiness is itself a kind of gratitude.”

    ~ Joseph Wood Krutch

A.A. Thought for the Day

I'm grateful that I found a program in A.A. that could keep me sober. I'm grateful that A.A. has shown me the way to faith in a Higher Power, because the renewing of that faith has changed my way of life. And I've found a happiness and contentment that I had forgotten existed, by simply believing in God and trying to live the kind of a life that I know He wants me to live. As long as I stay grateful, I'll stay sober. Am I in a grateful frame of mind?

I did something yesterday I never would have even considered in my life as an active alcoholic. I turned to a friend and asked his advice. His thoughtful reply allowed me to see that my ego had been driving the bus. Having friends to turn to in order to get that sober second opinion is a gift, having faith in people again enriches my life and that makes me happy. May you have a safe and sober 24 hours.
~ Mike

Gratitude - May 7th

“Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy”

~ Jacques Maritain

A.A. Thought for the Day

It's very important to keep in a grateful frame of mind, if we want to stay sober. We should be grateful that we're living in a day and age when an alcoholic isn't treated as he often used to be treated before Alcoholics Anonymous was started. In the old days, every town had its town drunk who was regarded with scorn and ridiculed by the rest of the townspeople. We have come into A.A. and found all the sympathy, understanding, and fellowship that we could ask for. There's no other group like A.A. in the world. Am I grateful?


I say a gratitude prayer every morning to thank my higher power for sobriety and all the blessings that sobriety allows me to enjoy. A morning meditation is important to my day and without it I would feel ungrounded and unsettled. I had the opportunity to meet with friends yesterday - people I had worked with 30 years ago. Going to meet them raised fear in me because though I've been sober over 14 years most of these people only knew me as an active alcoholic. My fear, of course, turned out to be completely unfounded. They were as I remembered them - friends. May you have a wonderful 24 hours.
~Mike

Humility - May 6th

“Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.”

~ Saint Augustine 

A.A. Thought for the Day

I've noticed that the ones who do the most for A.A. are not in the habit of boasting about it. The danger of building myself up too much is that, if I do, I'm in danger of having a fall. That pattern of thought goes with drinking. If one side of a boat gets too far up out of the water, it's liable to tip over. Building myself up and drinking go together. One leads to the other. So if I'm going to stay sober, I've got to keep small. Have I got the right perspective on myself?

I can't claim humility as anything but a goal. I try to be humble but I can catch myself on any day comparing myself to others, competing, looking for some sense of superiority. It is my ego, I know, but it is a tyrant. I pray to my higher power to help me find the strength to have humility for this day.

~Mike

Boasting - May 5th

"Criticism is an indirect form of self-boasting”

~ Emmet Fox

A.A. Thought for the Day

I had to show off and boast so that people would think I amounted to something, when, of course, both they and I knew that I really didn't amount to anything. I didn't fool anybody. Although I've been sober for quite a while, the old habit of building my self up is still with me. I still have a tendency to think too well of myself and to pretend to be more than I really am. Am I always in danger of becoming conceited just because I'm sober?


I've overinflated my ego most days of my life, I try to be honest now and have a sense of humility. Some days are better than others. The drive to compete is hard to overcome but when I do find myself competing in some pointless and imaginary contest I do try to stop and practice a Step 10. I also know that I will feel better about myself by not competing and admitting that the competition serves no purpose. Have a wonderful 24 hours.
~Mike

Telling Lies - May 4th

One who is falsely trying to make himself the highest by keeping his false ego intact has no spiritual life.
~Chris Butler

A.A. Thought for the Day

When I was drinking, I always tried to build myself up. I used to tell tall stories about myself. I told them so often that I half believe some of them now, even though I know they aren't true. I used to hang around the lowbrow barrooms so I could feel superior to the other customers. The reason I always tried to build myself up was that I knew deep down in my heart that I really didn't amount to anything. It was a kind of defense against my feeling of inferiority. Do I still build myself up?

My own inferiority complex led me to drinking, when drinking I could (in my mind) be the master of the social scene. I would gain the confidence needed to meet strangers and to make small talk without feeling like I didn't belong. For some reason once I felt that I fit in all of a sudden I would need to be the center of attention and to be the center of attention I had to act out and tell stories. I try to stay on an even keel these days and try not to engage in self-promotion - having learned from this program that attraction rather than promotion is a better way.

~Mike

Easy Does It - May 2nd

“The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.”
    ~ Sydney J. Harris

A.A. Thought for the Day

In A.A. we often hear the slogan "Easy Does It." Alcoholics always do everything to excess. They drink too much. They worry too much. They have too many resentments. They hurt themselves physically and mentally by too much of everything. So when they come into A.A., they have to learn to take it easy. None of us knows how much longer we have to live. It's probable that we wouldn't have lived very long if we had continued to drink the way we used to. By stopping drinking, we have increased our chances of living for a while longer. Have I learned to take it easy?

Like most people in recovery I have a bad habit of sweating the small stuff and usually forget to take a few minutes to relax, meditate and connect with my Higher Power. When I do, though, it does recharge my batteries and helps me gain a clearer perspective. So - Easy Does It!

~Mike