Daily Recovery Readings for November 23, 2017:

Daily Reflection

HOLD YOUR FACE TO THE LIGHT

Believe more deeply. Hold your face up to the Light, even though for the moment you do not see.

~AS BILL SEES IT, p. 3

One Sunday in October, during my morning meditation, I glanced out the window at the ash tree in our front yard. At once I was overwhelmed by its magnificent, golden color! As I stared in awe at God’s work of art, the leaves began to fall and, within minutes, the branches were bare. Sadness came over me as I thought of the winter months ahead, but just as I was reflecting on autumn’s annual process, God’s message came through. Like the trees, stripped of their leaves in the fall, sprout new blossoms in the spring, I had had my compulsive, selfish ways removed by God in order for me to blossom into a sober, joyful member of A.A. Thank you, God, for the changing seasons and for my ever-changing life.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

Many of us keep liquor in our homes. We often need it to carry green recruits through a severe hangover Some of us still serve it to our friends provided they are not alcoholic. But some of us think we should not serve liquor to anyone. We never argue this question. We feel that each family, in the light of their own circumstances, ought to decide for themselves.

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 102~

Keep It Simple

Many of us keep liquor in our homes. We often need it to carry green recruits through a severe hangover Some of us still serve it to our friends provided they are not alcoholic. But some of us think we should not serve liquor to anyone. We never argue this question. We feel that each family, in the light of their own circumstances, ought to decide for themselves.

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 102~

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Taking care of all your chores in the morning frees you to participate in a spontaneous event later on. Although unforeseen obstacles may slow your progress today, your perseverance enables you to power through on schedule. However, the cosmos is working on an agenda of its own and might present you with an out-of-the-blue proposition before the day is out. Accepting the invitation is your ticket to fun. Smile and enjoy the ride.

Daily Recovery Readings for November 22, 2017:

Daily Reflection

ONLY TWO SINS

. . . there are only two sins; the first is to interfere with the growth of another human being, and the second is to interfere with one’s own growth.

— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 542 (Third Edition)

Happiness is such an elusive state. How often do my “prayers” for others involve “hidden” prayers for my own agenda? How often is my search for happiness a boulder in the path of growth for another, or even myself? Seeking growth through humility and acceptance brings things that appear to be anything but good, wholesome and vital. Yet in looking back, I can see that pain, struggles and setbacks have all contributed eventually to serenity through growth in the program.

I ask my Higher Power to help me not cause another’s lack of growth today—or my own.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

To be gravely affected, one does not necessarily have to drink a long time nor take the quantities some of us have. This is particularly true of women. Potential female alcoholics often turn into the real thing and are gone beyond recall in a few years.

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 33~

Keep It Simple

We are healed of a suffering only be experiencing it in full. —Marcel Proust

We must never forget our past. We need to remember the power that our illness has over us. Why? So we can remember how our recovery began. So we can remember we’re not cured. So we can tell our stories.

We must remember how we acted. Why? So we don’t act and think like addicts. Most of us had a poor relationships with friends, family, and ourselves. We need to remember how lonely we felt. That way, we’ll make recovery grow stronger One Day at a Time.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me always remember how my illness almost destroyed me. Help me face the pain of these memories.

Action for the Day:
I will talk about my past life with those who support my recovery. I will tell them what it is that I must remember about my past.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

A good friend or workmate may seem to be a bit overbearing today. You might try to step out of the direct line of emotional fire, but there’s nowhere to hide. You don’t have the energy or the desire to engage in conflict now. Thankfully, you have a trick up your sleeve that comes in handy. There’s no reason to go anywhere else if you can temporarily make yourself invisible. Return when the danger is passed. Your silence speaks more than your words ever could.

Daily Recovery Readings for November 21, 2017:

Daily Reflection

A CLASSIC PRAYER

Lord, make me a channel for thy peace—that where there is hatred, I may bring love—that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness—that where there is discord, I may bring harmony—that where there is error, I may bring truth—that where there is doubt, I may bring faith—that where there is despair, I may bring hope—that where there are shadows, I may bring light—that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted—to understand, than to be understood—to love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life. Amen.
— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 99

No matter where I am in my spiritual growth, the St. Francis prayer helps me improve my conscious contact with the God of my understanding. I think that one of the great advantages of my faith in God is that I do not understand Him, or Her, or It. It may be that my relationship with my Higher Power is so fruitful that I do not have to understand. All that I am certain of is that if I work the Eleventh Step regularly, as best I can, I will continue to improve my conscious contact, I will know His will for me, and I will have the power to carry it out.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 64~

Keep It Simple

To love others, we must first learn to love ourselves.—Anonymous

Sometimes we think our life would be fine if that dream person showed up. But loving someone isn’t easy. Our bad habits cause problems. We have to change. Sometimes we aren’t ready to have on especial person. We have to have a group of people—our recovery group—to love and help us get healthy. We must learn to trust, to be honest, to give help, and to love others. The truth is, no one person can make our life wonderful—except us. We hold happiness inside of us. It’s in our spirit. Look no further.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me love myself

Action for the Day:
I’ll list five ways I will love myself today.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your need for security is given a cosmic boost today as the Moon slips into your 7th House of Relationships. It feels natural now to rely on a close friend or lover since he or she adds an extra layer of stability to your world. Nevertheless, you’re not sure how quickly you want to acknowledge the depth of your current feelings. You enjoy the emotional bond, but you’re worried about setting yourself up for a broken heart later on. Author Doe Zantamata wrote, “Don’t let the fear of what could happen make nothing happen.”

Daily Recovery Readings for November 20, 2017:

Daily Reflection

“THY WILL, NOT MINE”

. . . when making specific requests, it will be well to add to each one of them this qualification. .” . . . if it be Thy will.”

~TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 102-03

I ask simply that throughout the day God place in me the best understanding of His will that I can have for that day, and that I be given the grace by which I may carry it out. As the day goes on, I can pause when facing situations that must be met and decisions that must be made, and renew the simple request: “Thy will, not mine, be done.” I must always keep in mind that in every situation I am responsible for the effort and God is responsible for the outcome. I can “Let Go and Let God” by humbly repeating: “Thy will, not mine, be done.” Patience and persistence in seeking His will for me will free me from the pain of selfish expectations.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

If we are planning to stop drinking, there must be no reservation of any kind, nor any lurking notion that someday we will be immune to alcohol.

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 33~

Keep It Simple

A man is too apt to forget that in this world he cannot have everything. A choice is all that is left him.—H. Mathews.

Sobriety is about choice. Each day we choose to stay sober, we teach ourselves how
to make better choices.

Life is about choice. To be spiritual people, we must make spiritual choices. Honesty is a spiritual choice. And working the Steps is a spiritual choice.

Our life is the sum total of our choices. We owe it to ourselves to choose wisely. We can do that now, thanks to the program.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me choose a spiritual way of life. Help me to see choice as my way to a better relationship with you.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll be aware of the many choices I make. At the end of the day, I’ll think about all the choices I’ve made. Am I proud of my choices?

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You may overestimate your abilities today and take on more assignments than you can possibly complete. Although you are a capable and competent worker, there are definite limits to what any human is able to do in twenty-four hours. Instead of placing yourself in an untenable position where you cannot keep your promises, establish boundaries before you’re in over your head. Naturally, you want to do the best you can, but remember that sometimes production is more important than perfection. Yogi Berra said, “Life is a learning experience, only if you learn.”

Daily Recovery Readings for November 19, 2017:

Daily Reflection

“I WAS SLIPPING FAST”

We A.A.’s are active folk, enjoying the satisfactions of dealing with the realities of life, . . . So it isn’t surprising that we often tend to slight serious meditation and prayer as something not really necessary.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 96

I had been slipping away from the program for some time, but it took a death threat from a terminal disease to bring me back, and particularly to the practice of the Eleventh Step of our blessed Fellowship. Although I had fifteen years of sobriety and was still very active in the program, I knew that the quality of my sobriety had slipped badly. Eighteen months later, a checkup revealed a malignant tumor and a prognosis of certain death within six months. Despair settled in when I enrolled in a rehab program, after which I suffered two small strokes which revealed two large brain tumors. As I kept hitting new bottoms I had to ask myself why this was happening to me. God allowed me to recognize my dishonesty and to become teachable again. Miracles began to happen. But primarily I relearned the whole meaning of the Eleventh Step. My physical condition has improved dramatically, but my illness is minor compared to what I almost lost completely.

Big Book Quote

Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He is the Principal; we are His agents. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom.

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 62~

Keep It Simple

What we don’t live, we cannot teach others.—Day By Day

Remember – we don’t carry the message to others until we get to Step Twelve. We must first learn to live in a sober way. Sobriety takes time.

We have to stop using alcohol and other drugs, but this is only the start.

Just as it takes time to build a home, it takes time to build a new way of life. We talk with friends and sponsors about the Steps. We try using them in out lives. Then we talk about how the Steps work for us. We talk about where we get stuck with the Steps.

All this takes time. We aren’t in a hurry. We have a lifetime ahead of us.

Remember-the better we live our program, the better we help others.

Prayer for the day:
Higher Power, You’ll let me know when I’m to carry the message. Until then, be with me as I build a new way of life, a spiritual way of life.

Action for the day:
I’ll take time to think over where I’m with my program. I’ll talk about it with a friend.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

It feels as if someone is working against you now and you wish you could just ignore the negativity. But you can’t just walk away today; the unaddressed energy will circle back to you soon enough. Confront the source of resistance directly since you can’t expect others to continue to pass along your message intact. Nevertheless, opting for behind-the-scenes discussions allows you to make your point while saving face for your opponent. Demonstrating compassion encourages your enemies to become your friends.

Daily Recovery Readings for November 18, 2017:

Daily Reflection

A SAFETY NET

Occasionally. . . . We are seized with a rebellion so sickening that we simply won’t pray. When these things happen we should not think too ill of ourselves. We should simply resume prayer as soon as we can, doing what we know to be good for us.
— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 105

Sometimes I scream, stomp my feet, and turn my back on my Higher Power. Then my disease tells me that I am a failure, and that if I stay angry I’ll surely get drunk. In those moments of self-will it’s as if I’ve slipped over a cliff and am hanging by one hand. The above passage is my safety net, in that it urges me to try some new behavior, such as being kind and patient with myself. It assures me that my Higher Power will wait until I am willing once again to risk letting go, to land in the net, and to pray.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

A SAFETY NET

Occasionally. . . . We are seized with a rebellion so sickening that we simply won’t pray. When these things happen we should not think too ill of ourselves. We should simply resume prayer as soon as we can, doing what we know to be good for us.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 105

Sometimes I scream, stomp my feet, and turn my back on my Higher Power. Then my disease tells me that I am a failure, and that if I stay angry I’ll surely get drunk. In those moments of self-will it’s as if I’ve slipped over a cliff and am hanging by one hand. The above passage is my safety net, in that it urges me to try some new behavior, such as being kind and patient with myself. It assures me that my Higher Power will wait until I am willing once again to risk letting go, to land in the net, and to pray.
From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Keep It Simple

Life is short: live it up. Nikita

We won’t stay sober long unless it’s more fun than using chemicals.

The truth is, using chemicals wasn’t fun anymore. It was work. We just told ourselves it was still fun.

So live it up! Try new things. Meet new friends. Try new foods. Taking risks and having adventures are a basic human need. So go for it.

Sobriety is fun. Living a spiritual life is fun. Get out there and live!

Prayer for the day:
Higher Power ,teach me to play. Teach me to have fun. Teach me to live!

Action for the day:
Today is for fun. I’ll try something new. I’ll see how many people I can get to smile. And I’ll celebrate the fact that I’m sober.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Allowing others in can be challenging now, especially if you feel emotionally self-sufficient. The evocative Scorpio New Moon falls in your 5th House of Creativity, encouraging you to express your passion through an artistic endeavor. Although you are quite serious about your goals today, you don’t want to minimize the role of play in your current activities. It’s all too easy to be dragged down by the heavy emotional energy. Thankfully, changing your attitude changes everything. Author Tom Robbins wrote, “It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.”

Daily Recovery Readings for November 17, 2017:

Daily Reflection

OVERCOMING LONELINESS

Almost without exception, alcoholics are tortured by loneliness. Even before our drinking got bad and people began to cut us off, nearly all of us suffered the feeling that we didn’t quite belong.

— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 90

The agonies and the void that I often felt inside occur less and less frequently in my life today. I have learned to cope with solitude. It is only when I am alone and calm that I am able to communicate with God, for He cannot reach me when I am in turmoil. It is good to maintain contact with God at all times, but it is absolutely essential that, when everything seems to go wrong, I maintain that contact through prayer and meditation.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

We meet frequently so that newcomers may find the fellowship they
seek.

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill’s Story, pg. 15~

Keep It Simple

Mishaps are like knives that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or the handle. —Herman Melville

We have hung on in hard times. We made it through our addiction. Some of us have lived through abuse. We’ve felt like our hearts were broken. But we’ve proven we are survivors. Now we’re learning that we can heal.

Being recovery doesn’t mean things will be easy. But we have a Higher Power to help us. We have friends who listen to us, care for us, and help us through the pain. Because of our recovery program, we’re able to keep hope and love in our lives—One Day at a Time.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me through the hard times. Help me trust in Your love and care.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll plan ahead with my sponsor. What will I do now so that I’ll have strong support when hard times come?

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You may choose to keep your feelings quiet today because you assume people will find your moods too intense. You don’t want to alienate others by mixing personal issues with your job, yet you also wish you could be open about your internal process. Ironically, you might discover the tables are turned when someone else comes to you with an emotional story. Be as receptive to another person as you wish them to be for you. Putting the Golden Rule into action sets a wonderful example for others to follow.

Daily Recovery Readings for November 16, 2017:

Daily Reflection

A DAILY REPRIEVE

What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.

— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85

Maintaining my spiritual condition is like working out every day, planning for the marathon, swimming laps, jogging. It’s staying in good shape spiritually, and that requires prayer and meditation. The single most important way for me to improve my conscious contact with a Higher Power is to pray and meditate. I am as powerless over alcohol as I am to turn back the waves of the sea; no human force had the power to overcome my alcoholism. Now I am able to breathe the air of joy, happiness and wisdom. I have the power to love and react to events around me with the eyes of a faith in things that are not readily apparent. My daily reprieve means that, no matter how difficult or painful things appear today, I can draw on the power of the program to stay liberated from my cunning, baffling and powerful illness.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking. We know that no real alcoholic ever recovers control. All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervals—usually brief—were inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. Over any considerable period we get worse, never better.

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 30~

Keep It Simple

Pray for powers equal to your task.-–Phillips Brooks

Our task is to stay sober and to help others who still suffer from addiction. We will need patience and understanding. We will need much love. Most of all, we’ll need to work a strong program.

Pray that you come to know the Steps well. Pray that you’ll want to help others—always. Pray for these things, and you’ll have a strong program. In the program, we learn that prayer works. We see prayer change our lives and the lives of those around us. We came to know the power of prayer.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, I pray for knowledge of Your will for me and the power to carry it out.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll admit my needs by praying for help from my Higher Power.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your day may get off to a slow start, build to an easy pace and end with a powerful crescendo. Thankfully, you’re swimming in your element as six planets in water signs validate your feelings and soothe your soul. Ironically, there is little uncertainty in your life now, even though your imagination plays a powerful role in determining your behavior. Co-creating the future is possible if you actually take the time to color in all the details of your daydreams. Vincent Van Gogh wrote, “What is done with love is done well.”

Daily Recovery Readings for November 15, 2017:

Daily Reflection

VITAL SUSTENANCE

Those of us who have come to make regular use of prayer would no more do without it than we would refuse air, food, sunshine. And for the same reason. When we refuse air, light or food, the body suffers. And when we turn away from meditation and prayer, we likewise deprive our minds, our emotions, and our intuitions of vitally needed support.

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 97

Step Eleven doesn’t have to overwhelm me. Conscious contact with God can be as simple, and as profound, as conscious contact with another human being. I can smile. I can listen. I can forgive. Every encounter with another is an opportunity for prayer, for acknowledging God’s presence within me. Today I can bring myself a little closer to my Higher Power. The more I choose to seek the beauty of God’s work in other people,
the more certain of His presence I will become.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

It did not satisfy us to be told that we could not control our drinking just because we were maladjusted to life, that we were in full flight from reality, or were outright mental defectives. These things were true to some extent, in fact, to a considerable extent with some of us. But we are sure that our bodies were sickened as well. In our belief, any picture of the alcoholic which leaves out this physical factor is incomplete.

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Doctor’s Opinion, pg. xxvi~

Keep It Simple

The best way to know God is to love many things.—Vincent Van Gogh

Now that we’re in recovery, we’re learning to love people. We’re learning to love nature.

We’re learning to love new ideas about life. The result? We love the way we feel now that we’re taking care of ourselves.

Is our Higher Power really so close? Can we really find our Higher Power just by loving many things? Yes! When we love, we wake up that part of us that is part of all creation—our spirit. We really come to life when we love!

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, remind me that You are near when I love someone or something. The energy of love come from You.

Action for the Day:
I will list three things I love that help me know my Higher Power is near me.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

A new boss might be overbearing today, and you don’t know how to fit the extra work into your busy schedule. Unfortunately, it seems like everyone is expecting more than you can hope to deliver. Your growing anxiety about letting someone down may be unsettling, but you can overcome your worries by focusing on the desired goal rather than the fear of failure. Thankfully, the cosmos supports your efforts to meet your obligations now. Your positive attitude coupled with hard work will take you further than you think. J.K. Rowling wrote, “Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.”

Daily Recovery Readings for November 14, 2017:

Daily Reflection

INTUITION AND INSPIRATION

. . . . we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. We relax and take it
easy. We don’t struggle.

~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 86

I invest my time in what I truly love. Step Eleven is a discipline that allows me and my
Higher Power to be together, reminding me that, with God’s help, intuition and  inspiration are possible. Practice of the Step brings on self-love. In a consistent attempt to improve my conscious contact with a Higher Power, I am subtly reminded of my unhealthy past, with its patterns of grandiose thinking and false feeling of omnipotence. When I ask for the power to carry out God’s will for me, I am made aware of my powerlessness. Humility and a healthy self-love are compatible, a direct result of working Step Eleven.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Big Book Quote

Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kill us! God makes that possible. And there often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His aid. Many of us had moral and philosophical convictions galore, but we could not live up to them even though we would have liked to.

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 62~

Keep It Simple

Make it a point to do something every day that you don’t want to do—Mark Twain

Self-discipline is a key part of living sober life. We need it t get to our meetings regularly. We need it to understand the Steps. We need it to work the Steps.

And we get much in return. With self-discipline, we learn to trust ourselves. We learn to do what is most loving and caring for ourselves. What a great relief! One of the worst parts of our illness was that we couldn’t count on ourselves. We didn’t know what we’d do next. Self-discipline heals this part of our illness.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, You have given me much. It’s only right that I give You part of my day. I will pray and meditate on Your wonders.

Action for the Day:
I will list areas of my program where I lack self-discipline. I will share the list with my group and sponsor, and I’ll let them know in a month how I’m doing.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You are looking at the wide world through your picture window, safe and secure in your protected corner of the universe. Although you accept the limitations of your current circumstances, you wonder what it would be like to throw caution to the wind and buy a one-way ticket to an unknown destination. For now, you have the luxury of exploring this fantasy from your familiar home base. Keep the dream of adventure alive. Henry Miller wrote, “One’s destination is never a place, but rather a new way of looking at things.”