Daily Recovery Readings
May 13, 2017

Daily Reflection

THE EASIER, SOFTER WAY

If we skip this vital step, we may not overcome drinking.
— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 72

I certainly didn’t leap at the opportunity to face who I was, especially when the pains of my drinking days hung over me like a dark cloud. But I soon heard at the meetings about the fellow member who just didn’t want to take Step Five and kept coming back to meetings, trembling from the horrors of reliving his past. The easier, softer way is to take these Steps to freedom from our fatal disease, and to put our faith in the Fellowship and our Higher Power.

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

Big Book Quote

“…we aren’t a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn’t want it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life.”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 132

Keep It Simple

Hating people is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat.
—Harry Emerson Fosdick

Hate is like an illness. It steals our hope, our love, our relationships. Hate puts distance between people. Hate can give us a false sense of power. Do I use hate to make myself feel important?
Our program tells us to let go of hate. Hate and sobriety don’t mix. Hate doesn’t let us connect with our Higher Power.

Ours is a program of love and respect. We’re taught that if someone treats us wrong, we still should be respectful in our response. Why? Because we’re changed by our actions. If we act with hate, we become hateful. If we act in a respectful way, we become respectable.

Prayer for the Day:
Hate is the drug of those who are afraid. Higher Power, help me to be free from hate today.

Action for the Day:
It’s self-centered to hate. Today, I’ll read pages 60-62 of Alcoholics Anonymous(Third Edition) about being self-centered.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your intentions are clear and you can visualize an action-packed day that leads to personal satisfaction. You might start out with high hopes of accomplishing everything on your agenda since your innovative plans catch a wave and immediately impact your progress in a positive manner. However, you’re wise to narrow your focus only to the very best of your ideas. Mythical Icarus acknowledged, “All limits are self-imposed.” But awareness isn’t enough; once you know the truth, you must act on it.

Daily Recovery Readings
May 12, 2017

Daily Reflection

THE PAST IS OVER

A.A. experience has taught us we cannot live alone with our pressing problems and the character defects which cause or aggravate them. If . . . Step Four . . .has revealed in stark relief those experiences we’d rather not remember . . . then the need to quit living by ourselves with those tormenting ghosts of yesterday gets more urgent than ever. We have to talk to somebody about them.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 55

Whatever is done is over. It cannot be changed. But my attitude about it can be changed through talking with those who have gone before and with sponsors. I can wish the past never was, but if I change my actions in regard to what I have done, my attitude will change. I won’t have to wish the past away. I can change my feelings and attitudes, but only through my actions and the help of my fellow alcoholics.

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

Big Book Quote

“In thinking about our day we may face indecision. We may not be able to determine which course to take. Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. We relax and take it easy. We don’t struggle. We are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while.” 

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 86

Keep It Simple

You can observe a lot just by watching. ~Yogi Berra

When we watch others, we learn how to “act as if.” We watch a patient person, and then we “act as if we’re a patient person. The result? Over time, we’ll become a patient person. We watch how good listeners listen, and we “act as if” we know how to listen. Then one day, we realize we’re really listening! We watch people who have faith, and we “act as if” we have it. Then over time, we become spiritual people!

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me find You in the people and events of my day.

Action for the Day:
I will “act as if” my Higher Power is standing next to me all through the Day.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your self-confidence is a powerful tool today, but you hold it close to your chest. It’s as if it might become less useful if everyone knows how sure of yourself you are now. However, someone else’s knowledge can, in turn, catalyze yours. There’s no reason to be cocky; you don’t know everything. In fact, there’s an excellent chance that if you ask the right question, you’ll discover something very important. As philosopher Antonio De Nicolas said, “The search creates the reality.”

Daily Recovery Readings
May 11, 2017

Daily Reflection

A NEW SENSE OF BELONGING

Until we had talked with complete candor of our conflicts, and had listened to someone else do the same thing, we still didn’t belong.
— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 57

After four years in A.A. I was able to discover the freedom from the burden of buried emotions that had caused me so much pain. With the help of A.A., and extra counseling, the pain was released and I felt a complete sense of belonging and peace. I also felt a joy and a love of God that I had never experienced before. I am in awe of the power of Step Five.

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

Big Book Quote

“Step Eleven suggests prayer and meditation. We shouldn’t be shy on this matter of prayer. Better men than we are using it constantly.”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 85

Keep It Simple

An honest man’s the noblest work of God.— Alexander Pope

Step five says,” Admitted to God, to ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” When we did this Step, the person we admitted our wrongs to didn’t run away or reject us. That person stuck with us. Chances are, we were told that we are quite human. And working Step Five helped us to see that we can change, now that we’re sober.

The most important part of Step five is the act of being totally honest about ourselves. Then we know that relationships—with our Higher Power, ourselves, and others—can be built. We have faced the truth. Now we know we never have to lie.

Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, I know no Fifth Step is perfect. Please help me be as honest as I can in doing my Fifth Step and at other times.

Action for the Day: If I’ve avoided doing a Fifth Step, I’ll talk to my sponsor about it today.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Separating your dreams from reality requires extra effort now because your fantasies are so vividly vibrant. Fortunately, your creativity is supercharged when you ride the powerful waves washing through your mind. But losing yourself in your imagination is only useful if you can transform the best ideas into tangible results. Ultimately, you manifest the things you want by relentlessly believing in their existence. Author Terry Pratchett wrote, “It’s still magic if you know how it’s done.”

Daily Recovery Readings
May 10, 2017

Daily Reflection

FREE AT LAST

Another great dividend we may expect from confiding our defects to another human being is humility – a word often misunderstood. . . . it amounts to a clear recognition of what and who we really are, followed by a sincere attempt to become what we could be.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 58

I knew deep inside that if I were ever to be joyous, happy and free, I had to share my past life with some other individual. The joy and relief I experienced after doing so were beyond description. Almost immediately after taking the Fifth Step, I felt free from the bondage of self and the bondage of alcohol. That freedom remains after 36 years, a day at a time. I found that God could do for me what I couldn’t do for myself.

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

Big Book Quote

“We think it no concern of ours what religious bodies our members identify themselves with as individuals. This should be an entirely personal affair which each one decides for himself in the light of past associations, or his present choice.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 28~

Keep It Simple

As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.
—Andrew Carnegie

Doing something with our lives, not just talking about it, is important. When we were sick with our addiction, what we did was drink or use other drugs. We only talked about what we wanted to do. Now that we are sober, we can really live our lives.

We’ve already done a lot. we’ve gotten help for our chemical dependency. We’ve facing the harm we did to our families. We’ve let other people into our lives.

Before recovery, we didn’t have to tell people we were alcoholics and addicts. Our actions showed it, if people knew what to look for. Now we don’t have to tell people we were recovering, because our actions will show it.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, let my actions show that I am getting better every day.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll let my actions speak louder than words. I’ll do one thing that I have been saying I want to do.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You could place too much weight on one interaction and attempt to intensify a relationship too quickly. Whether you’re considering transitioning a friendship into a romance or a casual associate into a business partner, the Scorpio Full Moon casts its light in your 5th House of Spontaneity, triggering feelings that are outside of your conscious control. Nevertheless, trying to deny what’s in your heart is unnecessary; simply ride the emotional currents wherever they carry you. Lao Tzu wrote, “Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river.”

Daily Recovery Readings
May 9, 2017

Daily Reflection

WALKING THROUGH FEAR

If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing.
— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 76

When I had taken my Fifth Step, I became aware that all my defects of character stemmed from my need to feel secure and loved. To use my will alone to work on them would have been trying obsessively to solve the problem. In the Sixth Step I intensified the action I had taken in the first three Steps – meditating on the Step by saying it over and over, going to meetings, following my sponsor’s suggestions, reading and searching within myself. During the first three years of sobriety I had a fear of entering an elevator alone. One day I decided I must walk through this fear. I asked for God’s help, entered the elevator, and there in the corner was a lady crying. She said that since her husband had died she was deathly afraid of elevators. I forgot my fear and comforted her. This spiritual experience helped me to see how willingness was the key to working the rest of the Twelve Steps to recovery. God helps those who help themselves.

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

Big Book Quote

“We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again: ‘Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.’ Commencing to drink after a period of sobriety, we are in a short time as bad as ever.”

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

Keep It Simple

The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.—Frank Lloyd Wright

For many for us, life was a burden while using alcohol and other drugs. As our illness went on, life was more ugly. We grew further from our friends, family, and Higher Power. In recovery, our eyes and hearts open a little more each day. We see the beauty that life holds. We now see the beauty that life holds. We now see that before recovery, we weren’t living—we were dying. In recovery, we again feel happy when we hold a baby. We again may feel joy when we see a sunset. This happens mainly because we’ve chosen to be with people who love life, people who’ve been given a second chance. Once we’ve almost lost something important, it becomes more precious. We almost lost our lives. Now our lives are special.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, thank-you for a second chance. Thank-you for opening my eyes and heart. Give me the strength to keep them open.

Action for the Day:
I’ll list the most beautiful parts of my life. I’ll open my heart today to the joy in store for me.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You surprise everyone with your original ideas today because they are so different from what anyone expects. In fact, you might even wonder about the source of this sudden mental creativity. Oddly enough, your inner directed cyber-acrobatics may require external stimulation or your brain will go quiet. Being around others feeds a very deep feeling that goes beyond language. Don’t be afraid to go on a vision quest without the need to fill in the emptiness with words. Author John Grossman wrote, “Silence is not the absence of something but the presence of everything.”

Daily Recovery Readings
May 8, 2017

Daily Reflection

A RESTING PLACE

All of A.A.’s Twelve Steps ask us to go contrary to our natural desires . . . they all deflate our egos. When it comes to ego deflation, few Steps are harder to take than Five. But scarcely any Step is more necessary to longtime sobriety and peace of mind than this one.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 55

After writing down my character defects, I was unwilling to talk about them, and decided it was time to stop carrying this burden alone. I needed to confess those defects to someone else. I had read – and been told – I could not stay sober unless I did. Step Five provided me with a feeling of belonging, with humility and serenity when I practiced it in my daily living. It was important to admit my defects of character in the order presented in Step Five: “to God, to ourselves and to another human being.” Admitting to God first paved the way for admission to myself and to another person. As the taking of the Step is described, a feeling of being at one with God and my fellow man brought me to a resting place where I could prepare myself for the remaining Steps toward a full and meaningful sobriety.

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

Big Book Quote

“It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worth while.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 66~

Keep It Simple

The only way to speak truth is to speak lovingly.—Thoreau

Recovery teaches us to tell the truth. We must be honest if we want to save our lives. We must learn to speak with care—care for ourselves and for others. To be honest means to speak in a fair and truthful way. To be honest and loving means learning when to speak, and how to speak, in a caring way. We can help others by honestly telling them what we think and feel and see—but only when we do this with love. We must be careful when we speak. Speaking the truth is like using a sharp knife—it can be used for good, or it can be used to hurt others. We should never handle it carelessly of use it to hurt someone.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me know the truth. Help me speak the truth to others with love.

Action for the Day:
I’ll make a list of three times I’ve hurt someone be being honest, but not with love. I’ll also list three times I’ve helped someone by being truthful, with love.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your objective approach to solving problems is refreshing, prompting your coworkers to bring their challenging situations to you for advice. Luckily, you’re an excellent listener and your sensitivity enables people to open up even more. Although you may have a strong and sympathetic shoulder to lean on, you don’t have quick answers to everyone’s complex questions. Nevertheless, your compassion means more to others than if you actually fixed their problems. Author John Maxwell wrote, “Nurturing has the ability to transform people’s lives.”

Daily Recovery Readings
May 7, 2017

Daily Reflection

RESPECT FOR OTHERS

Such parts of our story we tell to someone who will understand, yet be unaffected. The rule is we must be hard on ourself, but always considerate of others.
— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 74

Respect for others is the lesson that I take out of this passage. I must go to any lengths to free myself if I wish to find that peace of mind that I have sought for so long. However, none of this must be done at another’s expense. Selfishness has no place in the A.A. way of life.

When I take the Fifth Step it’s wiser to choose a person with whom I share common aims because if that person does not understand me, my spiritual progress may be delayed and I could be in danger of a relapse. So I ask for divine guidance before choosing the man or woman whom I take into my confidence.

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

Big Book Quote

“Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power? Well, that’s exactly what this book is about.”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 45

Keep It Simple

So live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.—Will Rogers

Secrets help keep us sick. In our drinking and using days, we did things we weren’t proud of. We lived in a secret world we were ashamed of. This part of the power of addiction. Our behavior and our secrets kept us trapped. Recovery offers us a way out of this secret world. In our groups, we share our secrets, and they lose their power over us. There may be things we’re too ashamed to talk about in our groups. When we share these things in our Fifth Step, they lose their power over us.

We have a new life that we’re not ashamed to talk about. When shame leaves, pride enters our hearts. We know we’re good people!

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me live a good life.

Action for the Day:
Do I have any secrets that get in my way? Do I need to do a Fifth Step? If so, I’ll pick a date—today.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Pinning down the details on an upcoming adventure may be nearly impossible now. You might be feeling pressure to make a decision about an important project, but it’s wiser to let the current events unfold further before committing to anything major. Thankfully, things should fall into place over the next few days whether or not you worry about them today. In the meantime, treat yourself kindly. Author Mandy Hale wrote, “It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.”

Daily Recovery Readings
May 6, 2017

Daily Reflection

“HOLD BACK NOTHING”

The real tests of the situation are your own willingness to confide and your full confidence in the one with whom you share your first accurate self-survey. . . .Provided you hold back nothing, your sense of relief will mount from minute to minute. The dammed-up emotions of years break out of their confinement, and miraculously vanish as soon as they are exposed. As the pain subsides, a healing tranquility takes its place.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 61-62

A tiny kernel of locked-in feelings began to unfold when I first attended A.A. meetings and self-knowledge then became a learning task for me. This new self-understanding brought about a change in my responses to life’s situations. I realized I had the right to make choices in my life, and the inner dictatorship of habits slowly lost its grip.

I believe that if I seek God I can find a better way to live and I ask Him daily to assist me in living a sober life.

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

Big Book Quote

“Neither could we reduce our self-centeredness much by wishing or trying on our own power. We had to have God’s help.”

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

Keep It Simple

Anyone who follows a middle course is called a sage.— Maimonides

Much of the wisdom of our program is about how to live in the middle. We learn how to pause and think before we act. We ask, “What is the best way to handle this?” We look for the smooth part of the road. Our actions tell us who we are. We listen to our actions, and we think about them. This listening and thinking takes time. This slows us down. It’s good for us. It gives us time to talk with our Higher Power. After all, we want our actions to come from the new values our Higher Power has given us. Thus, over time we act and feel wiser. The wisdom of the program becomes part of who we are.

Prayer for the Day:
I pray that I I don’t get caught up in the rush of the day. Higher Power, teach me to stop and think, to seek Your wisdom.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll set aside time to think, meditate, and be alone. I will listen to what’s inside me.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You are being pushed out of your comfortable nest today, but you’re actually ready for the experience. You’re the one who tends to cling onto familiar places and people from the past. Nevertheless, you’re eager to toss your emotional baggage and head into the future, unencumbered with unnecessary weight. Enjoy the adrenaline surging through your body and go where you feel the most alive. Terry Litwiller wrote, “Success comes from having dreams that are bigger than your fears.”

Daily Recovery Readings
May 5, 2017

Daily Reflection

THE FOREST AND THE TREES

. . . what comes to us alone may be garbled by our own rationalization and wishful thinking. The benefit of talking to another person is that we can get his direct comment and counsel on our situation. . .

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 60

I cannot count the times when I have been angry and frustrated and said to myself, “I can’t see the forest for the trees!” I finally realized that what I needed when I was in such pain was someone who could guide me in separating the forest and the trees; who could suggest a better path to follow; who could assist me in putting out fires; and help me avoid the rocks and pitfalls.
I ask God, when I’m in the forest, to give me the courage to call upon a member of A.A.

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

Big Book Quote

“Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted.
We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and
ease. Our fears fall from us. We begin to feel the nearness of our
Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to
have a spiritual experience.”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 75

Keep It Simple

Forgiveness is all-powerful. Forgiveness heals all ills.—Catherine Ponder

We need to forgive so we can heal. Forgiveness means not wanting to get even. Forgiveness means letting go of self-will. Anger and hate are forms of self-will take up room in our heart. Yet, a still, small voice inside of us wants to forgive. Just as others have forgiven us, we need to forgive them. When we forgive, we give our will to our Higher Power. When we forgive, we make room in our heart for our Higher Power. By giving up our anger and our hate, we let that still, small voice come through a little louder. This is how we heal. This is why forgiving is so powerful for us.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me let go of self-will. Help me forgive people.

Action for the Day:
I will list any anger or hate I have. I will think about how this gets in my way, and I’ll pray to have this removed.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your practical side saves you from going over the emotional edge today. It’s natural to put extra energy into your social world when you’re so confident in your mind. But one doesn’t necessarily translate to the other. You still might find it awkward to share your hopes and dreams with those around you. Nevertheless, your communication skills are solid now and you connect with your peers more consistently than you realize. Confucius wrote, “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”

Daily Recovery Readings
May 4, 2017

Daily Reflection

“ENTIRELY HONEST”

We must be entirely honest with somebody if we expect to live long or happily in this world.

— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, pp. 73-74

Honesty, like all virtues, is to be shared. It began after I shared “. . . [my] whole life’s story with someone . . .” in order to find my place in the Fellowship. Later I shared my life in order to help the newcomer find his place with us. This sharing helps me to learn honesty in all my dealings and to know that God’s plan for me comes true through honest openness and willingness.

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

Big Book Quote

“…with us, to drink is to die.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 66~

Keep It Simple

I am the greatest.—Muhammad Ali
We need to believe in ourselves. we’re sober. We’re honest. We’re trustworthy. We’re not making so many problems for other people anymore We do our share. We can even help others sometimes.

We’re glad that others help us. We thank our Higher Power every day. But we also give ourselves credit. We’re working our program. We can handle life as best we can. And as long as we ask our Higher Power to work through us, we are the greatest.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me feel proud of the changes in my life.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll talk with my sponsor about pride. What is good pride? What should I watch out for?

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You might feel as if your private life is too public today. You may be required to deliver a report, make an introduction or just be on display when you wish you were working quietly in a more sheltered space. Remember that you are still in complete control of what you disclose and what you keep to yourself. Demonstrating your competence right from the start enables you to meet the expectations of others before you honor your own needs. Shine now; reflect later.