Tomorrow - 30 July 2011

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”
~ Leo F. Buscaglia 

A.A. Thought for the Day


The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow, with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise, and perhaps its poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is as yet unborn. Do I still worry too much about tomorrow.


The AA Big Book tells us about the promises we can all expect if we stick with this program. I can tell you that for me the promises came true - I found that my new attitude allows me to live more in the present than ever before. I can't say that I am completely free of regret for yesterday or worry for tomorrow but I live in the moment now more than ever. My life is immeasurably better for it.
~ Mike

Resolve - July 28th

“Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self-assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle.”
~ Eric Zorn 

A.A. Thought for the Day


To continue the paraphrase of the psalm: "The judgments of the twelve steps are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than whiskey, yea, than much fine whiskey, sweeter also than wine. Moreover, they warn alcoholics and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand our alcoholism? Cleanse us from secret faults, Keep us from presumptuous resentments. Let them not have dominion over us. Then shall we be upright and free of the great transgression." Am I resolved that liquor will never again have dominion over me?


I resolved not to drink ever again (at least that is my plan) but for the longest time afterwards was at a loss as to how to replace it in my thinking. Over time I have come to look forward to spending time with friends in the program and making my daily contact with my higher power. These new motivations have fully displaced my obsession with drinking. 
~ Mike

The Inner Asshole - July 27th

“If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.”

~ Chinese Proverb

My inner "asshole" is the outward reflection of my worst personality traits. The impatient, ego-driven, self-righteous jerk who leaps into the room anytime my base sense of entitlement or fear of dismissal or rejection is triggered. How I wish that I had the presence of mind to let life's petty confrontations slide by without comment, without judgement. Why is it I cannot ignore rudeness and inappropriate behaviour in others. In my need to be right and to seek out the moral high ground I swallow the poison that is my anger directed at others. But they may or may not ever be aware of the anger, may not care, will not necessarily even change if they were aware. And worse - there are times when they are not even wrong. So why let the barking dog of my anger free? I must remember to dial 3 - 11 when my anger threatens to become public. 

~Mike

Step 3:   Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.

 Step 11: Sought, through prayer and meditation, to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

Priorities - July 26th

Good things happen when you get your priorities straight.
~ Scott Caan

A.A. Thought for the Day

When we come to the end of our lives on earth, we will take no material thing with us. We will not take one cent in our cold, dead hands. The only things that we may take are the things we have given away. If we have helped others, we may take that with us; if we have given of our time and money for the good of A.A., we may take that with us. Looking back over our lives, what are we proud of? Not what we have gained for ourselves, but what few good deeds we have done. Those are the things that really matter in the long run. What will I take with me when I go?

I hope to take with me the knowledge that my AA fellows could count on me and that I made the difference for the better in someone else's life.
~ Mike

Diversity - July 22nd

Diversity: the art of thinking independently together. 
~ Malcolm Forbes


A.A. Thought for the Day


One of finest things about A.A. is the diversity of its membership. We come from all walks and stations of life. All types and classes of people are represented in an A.A. group. Being different from each other in certain ways, we can each make a different contribution to the whole. Some of us are weak in one respect, but strong in another. A.A. can use the strong points of all its members and can disregard their weaknesses. A.A. is strong, not only because we all have the same problem, but also because of the diversified talents of its members. Each person can contribute part. Do I recognize the good points of all my group's members?


In measuring myself against other men I am either diminishing them in my mind, or diminishing myself if I feel inferior. These are both negative actions. It is only when I put my ego to rest and see my fellow without the need to compare that I can truly be his friend and to hear his message.
~ Mike

Tolerance - July 21st

“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.”
~ Peace Pilgrim

A.A. Thought for the Day

If we feel the need of saying something to put another member on the right track, we should try to say it with understanding and sympathy, not with a critical attitude. We should keep everything out in the open and aboveboard. The A.A. program is wonderful, but we must really follow it. We must all pull together or we'll all be sunk. We enjoy the privilege of being associated with A.A. and we are entitled to all its benefits. But gossip and criticism are not tolerance, and tolerance is an A.A. principle that is absolutely necessary to group unity. Am I truly tolerant of all my group's members?

Living with others in the program didn't come easily to me. My need to measure myself against my fellows controlled most of my interactions with others for a very long time. A good friend shared an idea with my men's group last night about how with true humility we can come to accept a sense of "healthy insignificance". When I let go of my ego I find it much easier to tolerate and accept my fellows.
~ Mike

Loyalty - July 20th

“Lack of loyalty is one of the major causes of failure in every walk of life”
~ Napoleon Hill 

A.A. Thought for the Day


We must be loyal to the group and to each member of it. We must never accuse members behind their backs or even to their faces. It's up to them to tell us themselves if anything is wrong. More than that, we must try not to think bad things about any members, because if we do, we're consciously or unconsciously hurting that person. We must be loyal to each other if A.A. is going to be successful. While we're in this lifeboat, trying to save each other and ourselves from alcoholism, we must be truly and sincerely helpful to each other. Am I a loyal member of my group?


Change we must! One of my chief personality defects was to criticize and find fault with everyone. This defect didn't correct itself just by my quitting drinking. I had to learn loyalty and to look for the good in all people. It took a long time in recovery before I learned to love the group and to have loyalty for my fellows.
~ Mike