Thoughts for the Day – The Past

By | March 30, 2023
For Our List of Online Recovery Resources
Click Here


A.A. Thoughts for the Day

The Past

Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very thing which makes life seem so worthwhile to us now. Cling to the thought that, in God’s hands, the dark past is the greatest possession you have – the key to life and happiness for others. With it you can avert death and misery for them.”
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 124

Thought to Consider…

Get it – Give it – Grow in it!

AACRONYMS

P A C E
Positive Attitudes Change Everything

Just for Today

Privacy
From “From Loneliness to Solitude”:

“As the sober weeks go by, we can enjoy and treasure the few moments of solitude we are able to find in the rush and hurry of life today. When we cease to fear loneliness and begin to cherish and use our solitude to advantage, we have come a long way. We realize a little solitude is necessary to think and to try to work some of the Steps. In solitude, we take our inventories. In solitude, we admit to ourselves the exact nature of our wrongs. In solitude, our spirits seek that Power greater than we are; in solitude, we seek through prayer and meditation to be aware of God’s will for us.”
Houston, Texas, USA
1973 AAWS, Inc.
Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, p. 109

Daily Reflections

OUR GROUP CONSCIENCE

“. . . sometimes the good is the enemy of the best.”
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS COMES OF AGE, p. 101

I think these words apply to every area of A.A.’s Three Legacies: Recovery, Unity and Service! I want them etched in my mind and life as I “trudge the Road of Happy Destiny” (Alcoholics Anonymous, p.164). These words, often spoken by co-founder Bill W., were appropriately said to him as the result of the group’s conscience. It brought home to Bill W. the essence of our Second Tradition: “Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.”

Just as Bill W. was originally urged to remember, I think that in our group discussions we should never settle for the “good,” but always strive to attain the “best.” These common strivings are yet another example of a loving God, as we understand Him, expressing Himself through the group conscience. Experiences such as these help me to stay on the proper path of recovery. I learn to combine initiative with humility, responsibility with thankfulness, and thus relish the joys of living my twenty-four hour program.
Copyright 1990
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

As Bill Sees It

Review the Day

When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest, or afraid? Do we owe an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves which should be discussed with another person at once? Were we kind and loving toward all? What could we have done better? Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we thinking of what we could do for others, of what we could pack into the stream of life? We must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse, or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to ourselves and to others. After making our review, we ask God’s forgiveness and inquire what corrective measure should be taken.”
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 86

Big Book Quote

“Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink. Except in a few rare cases, neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a Higher Power.”
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition
More About Alcoholism, p. 43

Twenty Four Hours a Day

A.A. Thought for the Day

Before I met A.A., I was very unloving. From the time I went away to school, I paid very little attention to my mother and father. I was on my own and didn’t even bother to keep in touch with them. After I got married, I was very unappreciative of my spouse. Many a time I would go out all by myself to have a good time. I paid too little attention to our children and didn’t try to understand them or show them affection. My few friends were only drinking companions, not real friends. Have I gotten over loving nobody but my self?

Meditation for the Day

Be calm, be true, and be quiet. Do not get emotionally upset by anything that happens around you. Feel a deep, inner security in the goodness and purpose in the universe. Be true to your highest ideals. Do not let yourself slip back into the old ways of reacting. Stick to your spiritual guns. Be calm always. Do not talk back or  defend yourself too much against accusation, whether false or true. Accept criticism as well as you accept praise. Only God can judge the real you.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may not be upset by the judgment of others. I pray that I may let God be the judge of the real me.
Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

If you were forwarded this email, click here to join.

You have 2 Other Ways to Participate in Transitions Daily:

1. Join the Transitions Daily Private Facebook Group: Search for Transitions Daily in Facebook and request to join or click
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TransitionsDaily/. Members can post recovery related content. Every day the topic email is posted for discussion.

2. Subscribe to the Transitions Daily Podcast: We cannot sign you up for a podcast. Depending on your phone, you will need to pick a podcast provider. There are many free options. You will have to investigate yourself or ask a friend that listens to podcasts to explain the process.

For iPhone:
For the iPhone, most use iTunes. Search “how to sign up for podcasts on an iPhone” in your favorite search engine or go to iTunes for more information.

For Android:
Android is not as simple. There are several different podcast app options. We know several who use the free version of the Stitcher app. Search “how to sign up for podcasts on android” in your favorite search engine.

We also list many recovery resources, including recovery podcasts, at www.DailyAAEmails.com.