Daily Recovery Readings
May 3, 2017

Daily Reflection

CLEANING HOUSE

Somehow, being alone with God doesn’t seem as embarrassing as facing up to another person. Until we actually sit down and talk aloud about what we have so long hidden, our willingness to clean house is still largely theoretical.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 60

It wasn’t unusual for me to talk to God, and myself, about my character defects. But to sit down, face to face, and openly discuss these intimacies with another person was much more difficult. I recognized in the experience, however, a similar relief to the one I had experienced when I first admitted I was an alcoholic. I began to appreciate the spiritual significance of the program and that this Step was just an introduction to what was yet to come in the remaining seven Steps.

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

Big Book Quote

“Most of us sense that real tolerance of other people´s shortcomings and viewpoints and a respect for their opinions are attitudes which make us more useful to others.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 19~

Keep It Simple

When I have listened to my mistakes, I have grown.—Hugh Prather

Everyone makes mistakes. We all know that. So why is it so hard to admit our own? We seem to think we have to be prefect. We have a hard time looking at our mistakes. But our mistakes can be very good teachers. Our Twelve Step program helps us learn and grow from our mistakes. In Step Four, half of our work is to think of our mistakes. In step Five, we admit our mistakes to God, ourselves, and another person. We learn, we grow and become whole. All by coming to know our mistakes The gift of recovery is not being free from mistakes. Instead, we do the Steps to claim our mistakes and talk about them. We find the gift of recovery when we learn from our mistakes.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me to see my mistakes as changes to get to know myself better.

Action for the Day:
Today Ill talk to a friend about what my mistakes taught me. Today I’ll feel less shame.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Although unresolved tensions have been floating around at work for weeks, you might have an “aha!” moment today when all the pieces suddenly fall into place. But whatever you learn now is likely to be only one part of an unfinished story that’s still being told. Avoid jumping to conclusions while new data is still coming in or you may become the victim of inadvertently believing your own fantasies. Author Stieg Larsson writes that impulsive actions lead to trouble, “and trouble could have unpleasant consequences.”

Daily Recovery Readings
May 2, 2017

Daily Reflection

LIGHTING THE DARK PAST

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

No longer is my past an autobiography; it is a reference book to be taken down, opened and shared. Today as I report for duty, the most wonderful picture comes through. For, though this day be dark – as some days must be – the stars will shine even brighter later. My witness that they do shine will be called for in the very near future. All my past will this day be a part of me, because it is the key, not the lock.

Big Book Quote

“If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, Page 83~

Keep It Simple

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.—Eleanor Roosevelt

Most of us want to be happy. We just don’t know how. We aren’t sure what happiness is. We’ve learned the hard way that some things we wanted didn’t make us happy. We’re learning that happiness comes when we live the way our Higher Power wants us to live. That’s when we’re honest. When we do our best work. When we are a true friend. We make happiness; we don’t find it. Sometimes we don’t even know we’re happy. We’re too busy with our work, our recovery program, our friends and family. We need to slow down and know that when we do what we need to, happiness comes.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me know that I’m most happy when I listen to You and do Your will. You know better than I do what makes me happy.

Action for the Day:
What parts of my program am I most happy about? Today I’ll think of these and enjoy myself.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your goals are set but you still must state your intentions so others in your network know what you’re doing with your time. Nevertheless, logistical problems rise to the surface today, revealing the unrealistic optimism present in your original thinking. Doing better is not an option; it’s the only option. Giving up on your goal because of one setback is like slashing your other three tires after finding the first one flat. When you feel like quitting, think about why you started. Dust yourself off and try again.

Daily Recovery Readings
May 1, 2017

Daily Reflection

HEALING HEART AND MIND

Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 55

Since it is true that God comes to me through people, I can see that by keeping people at a distance I also keep God at a distance. God is nearer to me than I think and I can experience Him by loving people and allowing people to love me. But I can neither love nor be loved if I allow my secrets to get in the way.

It’s the side of myself that I refuse to look at that rules me. I must be willing to look at the dark side in order to heal my mind and heart because that is the road to freedom. I must walk into darkness to find the light and walk into fear to find peace.

By revealing my secrets – and thereby ridding myself of guilt – I can actually change my thinking; by altering my thinking, I can change myself. My thoughts create my future. What I will be tomorrow is determined by what I think today.

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

Big Book Quote

When you discover a prospect for Alcoholics Anonymous, find out all you can about him. If he does not want to stop drinking, don’t waste time trying to persuade him. You may spoil a later opportunity.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 90

Keep It Simple

Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.–Step Five

Step Five can be scary. we’re to take the wrongs we listed in our Fourth Srep and share them with God, ourselves, and another person. We may look for an easier, softer way. But Step Five stops us.

We’re to share the exact nature of our wrong. Why? So we can take a load off ourselves. So we won’t use again. By totally sharing our past wrongs, we can belong once more. We can heal. We start to forgive ourselves. We become more humble. When you share your Fifth Step, holding nothing back. You deserve the peace this Step will bring you.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, give me courage to tell it all. Give me courage to admit just how wrong I had become.

Action for the Day:
Step Five teaches me that sharing is important. I will find a friend and share my wrongs with that friend. I will hold nothing back.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your moods seem to change quickly today and there’s not much you can do to stop them from ebbing and flowing. Although this constant emotional flux might be tiring, you quickly realize it’s less exhausting when you keep your feelings to yourself. Involving others in your internal machinations just gives you another level of boundaries to manage when the atmosphere is too unstable. Margaret Atwood wrote, “When nothing is sure, everything is possible.”

Daily Recovery Readings
April 29, 2017

Daily Reflection

A GREAT PARADOX

These legacies of suffering and of recovery are easily passed among alcoholics, one to the other. This is our gift from God, and its bestowal upon others like us is the one aim that today animates A.A.’s all around the globe.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 151

The great paradox of A.A. is that I know I cannot keep the precious gift of sobriety unless I give it away.

My primary purpose is to stay sober. In A.A. I have no other goal, and the importance of this is a matter of life or death for me. If I veer from this purpose I lose. But A.A. is not only for me; it is for the alcoholic who still suffers. The legions of recovering alcoholics stay sober by sharing with fellow alcoholics. The way to my recovery is to show others in A.A. that when I share with them, we both grow in the grace of the Higher Power, and both of us are on the road to a happy destiny.

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

Big Book Quote

“Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code.”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 84

Keep It Simple

When you want to be something, it means you really love it.—Andy Warhol

At times, we turned to chemicals because we couldn’t love ourselves. Our addiction gave a promise of relief, but it gave us self-hate. We wanted to love, but couldn’t. What is it we really love ? Where should we put out energy ? In raising children ? In creating art ? In helping addicts who still suffer ? There’s much in this world that needs our love. We can be many things in our lives. Let’s be people we believe in. Let’s be people we can love.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me know myself through my inventories. My skills, talents, values, and my loves must be clear to me so I can use them to do Your will.

Action for the Day:
Today I’ll think about what I’d really love to do through my work.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your moodiness can be quite overwhelming now that the emotional Moon is visiting your self-protective sign. Luckily, you’re able to overcome lingering insecurities and pursue whatever is in your heart. But you could inadvertently stir up unnecessary trouble by demanding more than you need. Instead of focusing on what’s missing from your life, count your blessings; expect nothing and appreciate everything.

Daily Recovery Readings
April 29, 2017

Daily Reflection

GROUP AUTONOMY

Some may think that we have carried the principle of group autonomy to extremes. For example, in its original “long form,” Tradition Four declares: “Any two or three gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that as a group they have no other affiliation.”* . . . But this ultra-liberty is not so risky as it looks.

— A.A. COMES OF AGE, pp. 104-05

As an active alcoholic, I abused every liberty that life afforded. How could A.A. expect me to respect the “ultra-liberty” bestowed by Tradition Four? Learning respect has become a lifetime job.

A.A. has made me fully accept the necessity of discipline and that, if I do not assert it from within, then I will pay for it. This applies to groups too. Tradition Four points me in a spiritual direction, in spite of my alcoholic inclinations.

* This is a misquote; Bill is referring to the Third Tradition.

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

Big Book Quote

“The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 24~

Keep It Simple

When you want to be something, it means you really love it.—Andy Warhol

At times, we turned to chemicals because we couldn’t love ourselves. Our addiction gave a promise of relief, but it gave us self-hate. We wanted to love, but couldn’t. What is it we really love ? Where should we put out energy ? In raising children ? In creating art ? In helping addicts who still suffer ? There’s much in this world that needs our love. We can be many things in our lives. Let’s be people we believe in. Let’s be people we can love.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me know myself through my inventories. My skills, talents, values, and my loves must be clear to me so I can use them to do Your will.

Action for the Day:
Today I’ll think about what I’d really love to do through my work.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Moderating your emotions is challenging when there’s nothing to ground you. In fact, you might have better luck keeping your shifting moods to yourself today, instead of trying to manage them in conversations with others. Unfortunately, everything becomes more complicated once you express your feelings. Thankfully, you will have better luck sharing your heart once the evocative Moon shifts into your sign later tonight. Xenocrates wrote, “I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.”

Daily Recovery Readings
April 28, 2017

Daily Reflection

TWO “MAGNIFICENT STANDARDS”

All A.A. progress can be reckoned in terms of just two words: humility and responsibility. Our whole spiritual development can be accurately measured by our degree of adherence to these magnificent standards.
— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 271

To acknowledge and respect the views, accomplishments and prerogatives of others and to accept being wrong shows me the way of humility. To practice the principles of A.A. in all my affairs guides me to be responsible. Honoring these precepts gives credence to Tradition Four—and to all other Traditions of the Fellowship. Alcoholics Anonymous has evolved a philosophy of life full of valid motivations, rich in highly relevant principles and ethical values, a view of life which can be extended beyond the confines of the alcoholic population. To honor these precepts I need only to pray, and care for my fellow man as if each one were my brother.

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

Big Book Quote

“Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you
trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 164

Keep It Simple

Unless I accept my faults I will most certainly doubt my virtues. — Hugh Prather

Before recovery, we saw only a blurry picture of ourselves, like we were looking through an out-of-focus camera lens. We couldn’t see the good in ourselves because we wouldn’t look close enough.

Step Four helps us look more closely. We see a picture of ourselves, with our good points and our faults. We don’t like everything we see. But we can’t change until we accept ourselves as we are.

Then we can start getting ready to change.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me see the good in me and love myself.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll make a list of four of my good points and four of my faults. Am I getting to have my Higher Power remove these defects of character?

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Someone enters your life today with a thrilling opportunity that seems too good to be true. Unfortunately, it probably is. Much to your chagrin, progress on all projects is excruciatingly slow now and nothing much will change the dynamics, unless you decide to put in the extra time and energy. Thankfully, everything speeds up once messenger Mercury aligns with authoritative Saturn. Proactively drag potential problems into the open before they turn things sour. As is often the case, clearing the air is a cathartic process for everyone involved.

<h1>Daily Recovery Readings
April 27, 2017</h1>

<h2><b><u>Daily Reflection</u></b></h2>

JOYFUL DISCOVERIES

<i>We realize we know only a little. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us.</i>
— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 164

Sobriety is a journey of joyful discovery. Each day brings new experience, awareness, greater hope, deeper faith, broader tolerance. I must maintain these attributes or I will have nothing to pass on.
Great events for this recovering alcoholic are the normal everyday joys found in being able to live another day in God’s grace.

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

<h2><b><u>Big Book Quote</u></b></h2>

<i>”Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be given strength and direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences may be.”</i>

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 79~
<h2><b><u>Keep It Simple</u></b></h2>

<i>I noticed my hopelessness was because I had lost my freedom of choice.<i>—AA member

By doing a Fourth Step, we start to see ourselves more clearly. We see how we’ve acted against ourselves. Soon, we hear a little voice inside telling us to stop before we act. “Are you sure you want to say or do that?” the little voice asks. Then we make a choice: we do something the same old way, or we try a new way. One part of us will always want to do things the old, sick way. This is natural. But we’re getting stronger every day. Our spirit wants to learn new ways so we can be honest and loving. Sometimes we don’t know how. But we still have a choice. We can ask for help.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me listen to the little voice inside that helps me see that I have choices.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll make a choice between old ways and new ways of acting. I will call my sponsor this evening to talk about my choices.

<h2><b><u>Daily Horoscope – Cancer</u></b></h2>

You can rely on your friends and coworkers to support your efforts today. Magically, people seem to show up with the right skill or piece of information just as you need it. Thankfully, the Moon’s receptivity in your 11th House of Networks enables your actions to resonate within your larger group or community. Nevertheless, you might worry that trouble is brewing beneath the surface. There is no reason to be shy; ask questions to bring unspoken feelings out into the open. Author Terry Pratchett wrote, “The best research you can do is to talk to people.”

Daily Recovery Readings
April 25, 2017

Daily Reflection

ENTERING A NEW DIMENSION

In the late stages of our drinking, the will to resist has fled. Yet when we admit complete defeat and when we become entirely ready to try A.A. principles, our obsession leaves us and we enter a new dimension—freedom under God as we understand Him.
— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 283

I am fortunate to be among the ones who have had this awesome transformation in my life. When I entered the doors of A.A., alone and desperate, I had been beaten into willingness to believe anything I heard. One of the things I heard was, “This could be your last hangover, or you can keep going round and round.” The man who said this obviously was a whole lot better off than I. I liked the idea of admitting defeat and I have been free ever since! My heart heard what my mind never could: “Being powerless over alcohol is no big deal.” I’m free and I’m grateful!

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

Big Book Quote

“First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn’t work.”

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

Keep It Simple

You’re never to old to grow up.—Shirley Conran

Some of us have spent many years trying not to grow up. As children, we watched the adults around us. They may not have seemed happy. “Is life all hard work for grown-ups?” we wondered. No, it’s not hard work. There are lots of good things about growing up. We can take charge of our life. We can learn to take care of ourselves. We can learn to share feelings with good friends. We can make our world safe enough for us to express feelings again. We learn how to love others. We do have choices.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me grow up into a happy, grateful adult.

Action for the Day:
There are happy grown-ups. I’ll find one to be my sponsor.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

An unbalanced situation at work may be creating a funky tension between you and your coworkers. It seems as if it’s best to ignore your feelings today, since your words are likely to be upsetting to others. Unfortunately, your silence only feeds the negative energy. Ironically, speaking up is the fastest path to reestablishing equilibrium. It’s your turn to strike like lightning and shock others with the truth. Hopefully, the calm after the storm will be proof you did the right thing.

Daily Recovery Readings
April 24, 2017

Daily Reflection

LEARNING TO LOVE OURSELVES

Alcoholism was a lonely business, even though we were surrounded by people who loved us. . . . We were trying to find emotional security either by dominating or by being dependent upon others. . . . We still vainly tried to be secure by some unhealthy sort of domination or dependence.
— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 252

When I did my personal inventory I found that I had unhealthy relationships with most people in my life—my friends and family, for example. I always felt isolated and lonely. I drank to dull emotional pain.

It was through staying sober, having a good sponsor and working the Twelve Steps that I was able to build up my low self-esteem. First the Twelve Steps taught me to become my own best friend, and then, when I was able to love myself, I could reach out and love others.

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

Big Book Quote

“We have begun to comprehend their futility and their fatality. We have commenced to see their terrible destructiveness. We have begun to learn tolerance, patience and good will toward all men, even our enemies, for we look on them as sick people.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Pg. 70~

Keep It Simple

The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which bridge to burn.—David Russell

Making big decisions is like crossing bridges. Sometimes, these decisions change our lives. We find that turning back will be very hard. This is why we have to be very careful when we decide to burn bridges. When we decide to make changes, we act carefully. We don’t want to make decisions out of anger or envy. Instead , we can think about what we want and how our program can help us make wise decisions.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me cross those bridges that are on my path.

Action for the Day:
What do I really want in life? What decisions do I need to make to get there?

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your interactions tend to grow emotional only when you’re in the company of those you trust. You’re unable to decide how much you want to reveal today because you’re afraid of placing yourself in a vulnerable position. It’s prudent to keep your feelings in check now, since you could easily overwhelm people with your intensity, especially at work. Your associates may not share your desire to dredge water up from the bottom of the well. Taking the rational route enables you to make your point without upsetting or offending anyone along the way.

Daily Recovery Readings
April 23, 2017

Daily Reflection

A.A. IS NOT A CURE-ALL

It would be a product of false pride to claim that A.A. is a cure-all, even for alcoholism.
— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 285

In my early years of sobriety I was full of pride, thinking that A.A. was the only source of treatment for a good and happy life. It certainly was the basic ingredient for my sobriety and even today, with over twelve years in the program, I am very involved in meetings, sponsorship and service. During the first four years of my recovery, I found it necessary to seek professional help, since my emotional health was extremely poor. There are those folks too, who have found sobriety and happiness in other organizations. A.A. taught me that I had a choice: to go to any lengths to enhance my sobriety. A.A. may not be a cure-all for everything, but it is the center of my sober living.

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

Big Book Quote

“Although financial recovery is on the way for many of us, we found we could not place money first. For us, material well being always followed spiritual progress; it never preceded.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 127~

Keep It Simple

When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen. — Ernest Hemingway

It’s hard to listen in a complete way. Often we listen, but we’re still thinking about ourselves. We wonder, “How do their words relate to me? Do I have anything to add?” Often, fear is behind these questions. We fear saying the wrong thing. We fear looking stupid. Good listeners know how to let go of their fears. To listen completely, we step outside ourselves, and we’re totally there for someone else. Sometimes we listen for only a few moments. Sometimes we don’t even agree with the people we’re listening to. But we let them know that they count. What a gift we give when we listen in a complete way!

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, teach me to listen in a complete way. Teach me to step outside myself and be their for others.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll listen to what the person says.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your energy doesn’t express directly today, making others unsure about where you stand. However, you want to be heard and could make multiple attempts at communicating your perspective. But the noise of the cosmos is blowing up a storm that threatens your emotional security and drowns out your voice. You aren’t happy about being put on the spot; you might even seriously consider walking away from the whole situation. Don’t give up until you exhaust all options. A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.