Daily Recovery Readings
March 11, 2017

Daily Reflection

GOOD ORDERLY DIRECTION

It is when we try to make our will conform with God’s that we begin to use it rightly. To all of us, this was a most wonderful revelation. Our whole trouble had been the misuse of willpower. We had tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting to bring it into agreement with God’s intention for us. To make this increasingly possible is the purpose of A.A.’s Twelve Steps, and Step Three opens the door.
— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 40

All I have to do is look back at my past to see where my self-will has led me. I just don’t know what’s best for me and I believe my Higher Power does. G.O.D., which I define as “Good Orderly Direction,” has never let me down, but I have let myself down quite often. Using my self-will in a situation usually has the same result as forcing the wrong piece into a jigsaw puzzle—exhaustion and frustration.

Step Three opens the door to the rest of the program. When I ask God for guidance I know that whatever happens is the best possible situation, things are exactly as they are supposed to be, even if they aren’t what I want or expect. God does do for me what I cannot do for myself, if I let Him.

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

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.—AA saying

Before recovery, we never thought we had enough alcohol or other drugs. More would make us feel better, we thought. Sometimes, we are like this in recovery too. We know we need to change, so we want to do it all right now. If we can just change ourselves totally, we’ll feel better, we think.

But we can’t change all at once. If we ask our Higher Power to take charge of our lives, we’ll have the chance to change a little at a time. We’ll learn the right things when we need to know them.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me fix what needs fixing today.

Action for the Day:
I’ll make a list of what is broken. Which things on my list can I fix today?

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You genuinely want to be the best person you can be now, but you may idolize an ideal until it becomes untouchable. Theorizing about your future inspires you to grow, but discontent sets in when you believe you can’t possibly catch up with your vision. You could worry so much nothing gets done, thinking of all the things you can’t do yet. Simply introducing more organization and intention into your everyday routine stabilizes your life and enables you to proactively manage your schedule. Michael Altshuler wrote, “The bad news is time flies; the good news is you’re the pilot.”

Daily Recovery Readings
March 10, 2017

Daily Reflection

TODAY, IT’S MY CHOICE

. . . we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in a position to be hurt.
— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 62

With the realization and acceptance that I had played a part in the way my life had turned out came a dramatic change in my outlook. It was at this point that the A.A. program began to work for me. In the past I had always blamed others, either God or other people, for my circumstances. I never felt that I had a choice in altering my life. My decisions had been based on fear, pride, or ego. As a result, those decisions led me down a path of self-destruction. Today I try to allow my God to guide me on the road to sanity. I am responsible for my action—or inaction—whatever the consequences may be.

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

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

Little things affect little minds.—Benjamin Disraeli

Before recovery, we liked things our way. We thought every new thing we tired should go right the first time. Little problems could really upset us. We let little things spoil our day. We let little things affect big things—our entire lives. And our bad moods affected people around us. Funny how we have fewer of those problems now. The program is teaching us to let go. What a relief when we know we don’t have to control every little thing. How nice when things get done without our “expert advice”! We are starting to see what’s really important, and what’s not. One promise of the program is coming true: we know how to handle situations better.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me see what is really important for me today. Help me to stop worrying about what’s not.

Action for the Day:
When I’m upset, I’ll ask myself, Is this problem really so bad? If I can’t change it. I’ll let go.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your restlessness may increase throughout the day, but there are proactive measures you can take to stop one small slip from turning into a full-blown negative spiral. Putting your ducks in a row as early as possible prevents overwhelm later when the Moon gets serious about organization in meticulous Virgo. Writing down errands and tasks helps you keep grounded in your efforts instead of drowning in details. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. wrote, “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”

Daily Recovery Readings
March 9, 2017

Daily Reflection

SURRENDERING SELF-WILL

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 34

No matter how much one wishes to try, exactly how can one turn his own will and his own life over to the care of whatever God he thinks there is? In my search for the answer to this question, I became aware of the wisdom with which it was written: that this is a two-part Step.

I could see many times where I should have died, or at least been injured, during my previous style of living, and it never happened. Someone, or something, was looking after me. I choose to believe my life has always been in God’s care. He alone controls the number of days I will be granted until physical death.

The matter of will (self-will or God’s will) is the more difficult part of the Step for me. It is only when I have experienced enough emotional pain, through failed attempts to fix myself, that I become willing to surrender to God’s will for my life. Surrender is like the calm after the storm. When my will is in line with God’s will for me, there is peace within.

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

Big Book Quote

“When people presented us with spiritual approaches, how frequently did we all say, “I wish I had what that man has. I’m sure it would work if I could only believe as he believes. But I cannot accept as surely true the many articles of faith which are so plain  to him.” So it was comforting to learn that we could commence at a simpler level.”
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 47~

Keep It Simple

Keep It Simple

You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.
—Irish Proverb

Each of us has been given recovery. Now it’s up to each of us what we do with it. At times, we’ll work hard to grow quickly. At other times, our growth will be slower. This is okay. We’re not in a race. Our pace is not important. What is important is that we’re always working on our recovery.

We’re all part of a fellowship, a caring group. We’re one of many. But we’re each important. Each of us will have a special way to work our programs through our readings, friends, meetings, and what we know of how life works. each of us puts together a miracle of recovery. We than take our miracle and share it with others, so they can build their miracle.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me work at growing. Help me be a person who is an important part of a group.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll work at seeing myself as very important. I’ll remind myself that other’s recovery also depends on my recovery. I am needed.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Family is important to you, whether it’s your blood relatives or the community of friends you choose. Sometimes when you think about your differences for too long, you find yourself rearranging your priorities to match theirs. Although it’s uncomfortable to disagree, you put your own destiny in danger if you adapt too much to what someone else thinks is best. Give yourself permission to blaze your own trail regardless of expectations. True friends will be proud of you even if they wouldn’t do the same thing themselves.

Daily Recovery Readings
March 8, 2017

Daily Reflection

TURNING IT OVER

Every man and woman who has joined A.A. and intends to stick has, without realizing it, made a beginning on Step Three. Isn’t it true that in all matters touching upon alcohol, each of them has decided to turn his or her life over to the care, protection, and guidance of Alcoholics Anonymous? . . . Any willing newcomer feels sure A.A. is the only safe harbor for the foundering vessel he has become. Now if this is not turning one’s will and life over to a newfound Providence, then what is it?
— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 35

Submission to God was the first step to my recovery. I believe our Fellowship seeks a spirituality open to a new kinship with God. As I exert myself to follow the path of the Steps, I sense a freedom that gives me the ability to think for myself. My addiction confined me without any release and hindered my ability to be released from my self-confinement, but A.A. assures me of a way to go forward. Mutual sharing, concern and caring for others is our natural gift to each other and mine is strengthened as my attitude toward God changes. I learn to submit to God’s will in my life, to have self-respect, and to keep both of these attitudes by giving away what I receive.

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

We lose the fear of making decisions, great and small, as we realize that should our choice prove wrong we can, if we will, learn from experience.—Bill W.

As our disease grew, we often felt like any decision we made was wrong. We felt like wrong people. We lost self-respect, because deep inside we knew that, for us alcohol and other drugs was wrong. We went against our spirit. Now we go with our spirit. We follow what we think our Higher Power want for us. Now we learn from our mistakes. Another wonderful gift has been given back to us: the gift of learning. From that gift, we stop playing God. How free it feels!

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, You have taken away my illness and replaced it with many wonderful gifts. I thank You for everything, even my mistakes.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll share with a friend my mistakes of the past week.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

It’s as if someone has tinkered with the contrast settings, throwing your world into greater relief. Though comparing yourself to others isn’t the best daily practice, occasionally it can show you just how far you’ve come. A partner or friend may remind you to think about a previous version of yourself and how many proverbial miles you’ve traversed. Seeing the gaps you’ve bridged leaves you feeling inspired to keep moving toward bigger and better things, leaving outdated paradigms behind you.

Daily Recovery Readings
March 7, 2017

Daily Reflection

THE KEY IS WILLINGNESS

Once we have placed the key of willingness in the lock and have the door ever so slightly open, we find that we can always open it some more.
— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 35

The willingness to give up my pride and self-will to a Power greater than myself has proved to be the only ingredient absolutely necessary to solve all of my problems today. Even the smallest amount of willingness, if sincere, is sufficient to allow God to enter and take control over any problem, pain, or obsession. My level of comfort is in direct relation to the degree of willingness I possess at any given moment to give up my self-will, and allow God’s will to be manifested in my life. With the key of willingness, my worries and fears are powerfully transformed into serenity.

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

To make the world a friendly place One must show it a friendly face.
—James Whitcomb Riley

We are beginning to learn that we get what we expect. Why? If we believe that people are out to get us, we’ll not treat them well. We will think it’s okay to “get them” before they “get us.” Then, they’ll be angry and want to get even. And on it goes. It’s great when we can meet the world with a balance. We are honest people. We can expect others to be fair with us. We get the faith, strength, and courage to do this because of our trust in our Higher Power.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, I put my life in Your care. Use me to spread Your love to others.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll spread friendliness. I will greet people with a smile.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You’re wearing your heart on your sleeve even if you could swear that you left it in your pocket where it was safer. Your family and closest friends are especially apt to see what’s going on in your head because it’s written all over your face. Even your body language quickly responds to every nuance in your mood as the retentive Cancer Moon stimulates your 1st House of Self. Fortunately, there’s no reason to be anything but yourself today and no one expects anything more.

Daily Recovery Readings
March 6, 2017

Daily Reflection

THE IDEA OF FAITH

Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you. — ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 47

The idea of faith is a very large chunk to swallow when fear, doubt and anger abound in and around me. Sometimes just the idea of doing something different, something I am not accustomed to doing, can eventually become an act of faith if I do it regularly, and do it without debating whether it’s the right thing to do. When a bad day comes along and everything is going wrong, a meeting or a talk with another drunk often distracts me just enough to persuade me that everything is not quite as impossible, as overwhelming as I had thought. In the same way, going to a meeting or talking to a fellow alcoholic are acts of faith; I believe I’m arresting my disease. These are ways I slowly move toward faith in a Higher Power.

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

When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck.

Remember how we tried to make others think we were not in trouble? We walked and talked like addicts. We acted like addicts. Most everyone knew the truth but us. We were like ducks pretending to be eagles.

We see ourselves as we really are. But sometimes we can’t see ourselves that way. This is normal.

That’s why we need others to help us see what we can’t. We were addicts. We are now recovering addicts. We need friends, sponsors, and family members to tell us when we may be acting like addicts again. It may save our lives.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, give my friends and family members the strength to tell me when I’m acting like an addict.

Action for the Day:
I’ll go to people whom I trust and ask them to tell me when I’m acting like an addict.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You can learn more than you expect today delving into a favorite topic for research. Whether you’re busy broadening your horizons or just browsing ideas for a dream vacation, you’re like a dry sponge absorbing new information. Follow where your intuitive river flows and your journey will take you to fertile lands ripe for harvest. Anton Chekhov wrote, “Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.”

Daily Recovery Readings
March 4, 2017

Daily Reflection

WEEDING THE GARDEN

The essence of all growth is a willingness to make a change for the better and then an unremitting willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility this entails.
— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 115

By the time I had reached Step Three I had been freed of my dependence on alcohol, but bitter experience has shown me that continuous sobriety requires continuous effort. Every now and then I pause to take a good look at my progress. More and more of my garden is weeded each time I look, but each time I also find new weeds sprouting where I thought I had made my final pass with the blade. As I head back to get the newly sprouted weed (it’s easier when they are young), I take a moment to admire how lush the growing vegetables and flowers are, and my labors are rewarded. My sobriety grows and bears fruit.

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

Big Book Quote

“Assuming we are spiritually fit, we can do all sorts of things alcoholics are not supposed to do. People have said we must not go where liquor is served; we must not have it in our homes; we must shun friends who drink; we must avoid moving pictures which show drinking scenes; we must not go into bars; our friends must hide their bottles if we go to their houses; we mustn’t think or be reminded about alcohol at all. Our experience shows that this is not necessarily so. 

We meet these conditions every day. An alcoholic who cannot meet them, still has an alcoholic mind; there is something the matter with his spiritual status.”

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 100~

Keep It Simple

Better bend than break.——-Scottish proverb

Our program is based on bending. We call it “surrender.” We surrender our self-will to the care of God. We do what we believe our Higher Power want us to do. We learn this as an act of love.

Many of us believed surrender was a sign of weakness. We tried to control everything. But we change as we’re in the program longer and longer. We learn to bend. We start to see that what is important is learning. We learn to do what’s best for us and others. To learn, we need an open mind. To bend, we must stay open. Love and care become the center of our lives.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, teach me that strength comes from knowing how and when to bend.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll check myself. How open am I? Do I bend when I need to?

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

It seems as if everything is in flux and you can’t tell which way is up. Your ambitions are beginning a phase of revisions when magnetic Venus marches backward through your 10th House of Profession. Over the next several weeks, you may rethink your career objectives and question your ability to succeed, leaving you lost in unfamiliar territory. However, self-deprecating thoughts are not to be heeded while the cosmic weather is so foggy. Don’t worry about the low visibility now; there will be time to figure out all the details once the sky is clear.

Daily Recovery Readings
March 3, 2017

Daily Reflection

OVERCOMING SELF-WILL

So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn’t think so. Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us!
— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 62

For so many years my life revolved solely around myself. I was consumed with self in all forms—self-centeredness, self-pity, self-seeking, all of which stemmed from pride. Today I have been given the gift, through the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, of practicing the Steps and Traditions in my daily life, of my group and sponsor, and the capacity—if I so choose—to put my pride aside in all situations which arise in my life. Until I could honestly look at myself and see that I was the problem in many situations and react appropriately inside and out; until I could discard my expectations and understand that my serenity was directly proportional to them, I could not experience serenity and sound sobriety.

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

Big Book Quote

“We have learned that whatever the human frailties of various faiths may be, those faiths have given purpose and direction to millions. People of faith have a logical idea of what life is all about.”
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 49

Keep It Simple

But the alcoholic . . . will be absolutely unable to stop drinking on the basis of self-knowledge.
~Alcoholics Anonymous

Our program says three things are more important than knowing ourselves: (1) admitting we have no control over our addiction, (2) believing in a Higher Power, and (3) turning our lives over to the care of that Higher Power. knowing ourselves makes our lives better in recovery. But it does not give us sobriety. Sobriety starts with surrender to our Higher Power. We now know we need faith and strength we get from a Higher Power. We also need the support of others in our program.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, thanks you for my sobriety today. Teach me what I need to know about myself to do Your will today.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll talk with my sponsor about the change in my spirit that keeps me sober.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You can hardly wait to get together with friends or family to seek the solace only they provide. Planning for your future seems like too much trouble today, especially when you could gather with your loved ones and reminisce about the good old days instead. Although you can’t make your duties magically disappear today, focusing on your blessings brings a sense of ease to your workday until it’s time to kick off your shoes and relax with your favorite people. A grateful mind is a powerful mind.

Daily Recovery Readings
March 2, 2017

Daily Reflection

HOPE

Do not be discouraged. — ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 60

Few experiences are of less value to me than fast sobriety. Too many times discouragement has been the bonus for unrealistic expectations, not to mention self-pity or fatigue from my wanting to change the world by the weekend. Discouragement is a warning signal that I may have wandered across the God line. The secret of fulfilling my potential is in acknowledging my limitations and believing that time is a gift, not a threat.

Hope is the key that unlocks the door of discouragement. The program promises me that if I do not pick up the first drink today, I will always have hope. Having come to believe that I keep what I share, every time I encourage, I receive courage. It is with others that, with the grace of God and the Fellowship of A.A., I trudge the road of happy destiny. May I always remember that the power within me is far greater than any fear before me. May I always have patience, for I am on the right road.

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

Big Book Quote

“So our rule is not to avoid a place where there is drinking, if we have a legitimate reason for being there. That includes bars, nightclubs, dances, receptions, weddings, even plain ordinary whoopee parties. To a person who has had experience with an alcoholic, this
may seem like tempting Providence, but it isn’t.

You will note that we made an important qualification. Therefore, ask yourself on each occasion, ‘Have I any good social, business, or personal reason for going to this place? Or am I expecting to steal a little vicarious pleasure from the atmosphere of such places?’ If you answer these questions satisfactorily, you need have no apprehension. Go or stay away, whichever seems best. But be sure you are on solid spiritual ground before you start and that your motive in going is thoroughly good. Do not think of what you will
get out of the occasion. Think of what you can bring to it. But if you are shaky, you had better work with another alcoholic instead”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 101

Keep It Simple

Love conquers all; let us surrender to love.—Virgil

In Step Three, we turn our lives over to God’s care, God love. If we turn our lives over to a loving God, we can conquer all. If you need proof, look around at your next meeting. The room will be full of people who know that love conquers addiction. Like them, we’ve surrendered to love. Once we’ve done this, we can’t use again. For us, using alcohol or others drugs is an act of hate, not love. To Face the hard things in life, we’ll need a lot of love. We’ll find love in our Higher Power, groups, and friends .We’re all working at turning our lives over to love.

Prayer for the Day:
There was a time that love scared me. It still does, at times. Higher Power, help me see that You are love, and I must follow where love takes me.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You might think your prospects are limited by your past mistakes, but in reality you could be outgrowing the shoes you wear. You find yourself rethinking career possibilities, and for once the future doesn’t seem as restricted by your personal history. This window of opportunity to refashion your loftiest ambitions may be so exciting as to be a bit overwhelming, but there’s no need to fear what such changes portend. As the sensible Taurus Moon transits your 11th House of Friends, reach out to your pals for the moral support you need to face these developments with courage. Nothing is gained by looking for trouble where it doesn’t exist.