Daily Recovery Readings
February 14, 2017

Daily Reflection

EXPECTATIONS vs. DEMANDS

Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well
regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and
clean house.
— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 98

Dealing with expectations is a frequent topic at meetings. It isn’t wrong to expect progress of myself, good things from life, or decent treatment from others. Where I get into trouble is when my expectations become demands. I will fall short of what I wish to be and situations will go in ways I do not like, because people will let me down sometimes. The only question is: “What am I going to do about it?” Wallow in self-pity or anger; retaliate and make a bad situation worse; or will I trust in God’s power to bring blessings on the messes in which I find myself? Will I ask Him what I should be learning; do I keep on doing the right things I know how to do, no matter what; do I take time to share my faith and blessings with others?

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

Big Book Quote

“This painful past may be of infinite value to other families still struggling with their problem. We think each family which has been relieved owes something to those who have not, and when the occasion requires, each member of it should be only too willing to bring former mistakes, no matter how grievous, out of their hiding places.
Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very thing which makes life seem so worth while to us now.”
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 124~

Keep It Simple

Some things have to be believed to be seen. –Ralph Hodgson

In recovery, we learn to trust. We trust that our Higher Power is on our side. Maybe we can’t see our Higher Power , but once we start trusting things change. Step Two says, “Came to believe. . . ” Once we come to believe, we start to see our Higher Power working in many ways. We make new program friends. We find new peace. Our family and friends trust us again. Life won’t always be fair. We won’t get all we want. But we’ll find the love and care we need. If we’re open to believing in love, the easy times will be easier and the harder times a bit softer. Do I believe in love?

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me believe, especially when times are hard. Help me not blame You for the hard times.

Action for the Day:
I will write what I believe the program and my Higher Power want for me.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Keeping up with your daily schedule is demanding when it seems like there’s always another level to which you must rise. However, your natural tenacity is reinforced by a grounding Sun-Saturn connection, empowering you to do the legwork without cracking under pressure. One of the best parts about putting in a full day of work is coming home to a peaceful environment, and the sweet Libra Moon in your 4th House of Family invites a sense of serenity to your abode. No matter the nature of your living situation, the spirit of compromise inspires you to do your part to bring harmony to your world.

Daily Recovery Readings
February 13, 2017

Daily Reflection

WE CAN’T THINK OUR WAY SOBER

To the intellectually self-sufficient man or woman, many A.A.’s can say, “Yes, we were like you — far too smart for our own good. . . . Secretly, we felt we could float above the rest of the folks on our brain power alone.”
— AS BILL SEES IT, p. 60

Even the most brilliant mind is no defense against the disease of alcoholism. I can’t think my way sober. I try to remember that intelligence is a Godgiven attribute that I may use, a joy—like having a talent for dancing or drawing or carpentry. It does not make me better than anyone else, and it is not a particularly reliable tool for recovery, for it is a power greater than myself who will restore me to sanity—not a high IQ or a college degree.

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

Big Book Quote

“Despite all we can say, many who are real alcoholics are not going to believe they are in that class. By every form of self deception and experimentation, they will try to prove themselves exceptions to the rule, therefore nonalcoholic. If anyone who is showing inability to control his drinking can do the right about face and drink like a gentleman, our hats are off to him. Heaven knows, we have tried hard enough and long enough to drink like other people!”
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 31~

Keep It Simple

Tomorrow doesn’t matter, for I have lived today. –Horace

Life is found in the present. One of the first things we hear when we enter the program is, One Day at a Time. We break life into short time periods. This give us the power to change. We’re not sure we can stay sober for a lifetime. But we know that with God, and our program, we can stay sober for today.

This holds true for many other things in out lives. We’re not sure we can go a lifetime without feeling self-pity, but we can give it up for a day. By living One Day at a Time, we become more sure of our strength. We have the power to change things only in the present. The present holds much for us, if we get a hold on it.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, You are found in the moment. You are here. I will stay with You minute by minute.

Action for the Day:
I will ground myself in the present. Today, I’ll not worry about the past or the future.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

One task leads to another today, and before you know it you’re tweaking little things that you typically don’t even notice. It feels constructive to tend to the tiniest details while the efficient Virgo Moon sorts through your 3rd House of Immediate Environment. However, you can’t help but realize that your nit-picking detracts from your normal routine when stern Saturn steps in. The challenge is to satisfy your need for perfection without falling behind on daily chores. Discernment and discipline are your key ingredients for success.

Daily Recovery Readings
February 12, 2017

Daily Reflection

“THE ROOT OF OUR TROUBLES”

Selfishness — self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 62

How amazing the revelation that the world, and everyone in it, can get along just fine with or without me. What a relief to know that people, places and things will be perfectly okay without my control and direction. And how wordlessly wonderful to come to believe that a power greater than me exists separate and apart from myself. I believe that the feeling of separation I experience between me and God will one day vanish. In the meantime, faith must serve as the pathway to the center of my life.

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

Big Book Quote

“We, who have recovered from serious drinking, are miracles of mental health.”
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 133~

Keep It Simple

We are always the same age inside.—Gertrude Stein

Deep inside, we each have a child’s spirit. We still have many of the feelings we had when we were young. Some of us have a hurting child inside. There’s sadness, fear, or anger that hasn’t gone away. We’re still lonely, no matter how many people care about us. Our inner child needs special help to heal. We can be good parents to our inner child. We do this by being gentle and caring with ourselves. In time, this child can be a happy center in our hearts.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, please heal the child inside of me a little more each day. Help my inner child be alive, free, and full of joy.

Action for the Day:
Right now, I’ll close my eyes for a minute. I’ll think kind thoughts about myself. Than I’ll say out loud, “Inner child, I love you. I’ll take good care of you.” I’ll do this two more times today.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

There’s no time to slow down as your list grows longer by the minute. It feels as if you don’t have a choice but to add another errand to your agenda. However, there are only so many hours in a day and so much gas in your tank. The obedient Virgo Moon nudges you toward compliance, but an awkward connection between mental Mercury and wounded Chiron reminds you that sometimes words aren’t enough. Putting your heart into just one or two things is better than scattering your energy between several commitments. You can do anything, but you can’t do everything.

Daily Recovery Readings
February 11, 2017

Daily Reflection

THE LIMITS OF SELF-RELIANCE

We asked ourselves why we had them [fears]. Wasn’t it because self-reliance failed us?
— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 68

All of my character defects separate me from God’s will. When I ignore my association with Him I face the world and my alcoholism alone and must depend on self-reliance. I have never found security and happiness through self-will and the only result is a life of fear and discontent. God provides the path back to Him and to His gift of serenity and comfort. First, however, I must be willing to acknowledge my fears and understand their source and power over me. I frequently ask God to help me understand how I separate myself from Him.

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

Big Book Quote

“Thus we grow. And so can you, though you be but one man with this book in your hand. We believe and hope it contains all you will need to begin.”
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 162

Keep It Simple

Sanity is madness put to good use.—George Santayana

In Step Two we come to believe a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity. In a way, as we work Step Two, we’re praying that our madness can be put to good use. This is just what happens. Addiction was wrecking our life. But it’s also our addiction that forced us into a new way of life.

As long as we remember what our madness was like, we can put it to good use. When we feel like giving up, let’s remember our madness. It will help us go on. When we see someone suffering from the illness of addiction, let’s remember our days of madness. It will help us be there for that person. It’s also good to remember that our madness is only a pill or a drink away.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, I believe You can put my madness to good use. I give up my madness; do with it what You want.

Action for the Day:
I’ll list a couple ways my Higher Power and I have changed my madness into sanity.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You feel like opening all the windows of your heart to let the breeze in. Your inner sky has cleared to blue today, and you can finally take a long deep breath. This space to breathe is perfect for journaling your thoughts as the detail-oriented Virgo Moon graces your 3rd House of Writing. Exploring your feelings is less disorienting now, and might lead to a greater sense of peace without the turmoil that sometimes accompanies soul-searching. Rune Lazuli wrote, “Inside the chaos, build a temple of love.”

Daily Recovery Readings
February 10, 2017

Daily Reflection

I DON’T RUN THE SHOW

When we became alcoholics, crushed by a self-imposed crisis we could not postpone or evade, we had to fearlessly face the proposition that either God is everything or else He is nothing. God either is, or He isn’t. What was our choice to be?
— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 53

Today my choice is God. He is everything. For this I am truly grateful. When I think I am running the show I am blocking God from my life. I pray I can remember this when I allow myself to get caught up into self. The most important thing is that today I am willing to grow along spiritual lines, and that God is everything. When I was trying to quit drinking on my own, it never worked; with God and A.A., it is working. This seems to be a simple thought for a complicated alcoholic.

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

Big Book Quote

“What used to be the hunch or the occasional inspiration gradually becomes a working part of the mind. Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. We might pay for this
presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and ideas. Nevertheless, we find that our thinking will, as time passes, be more and more on the plane of inspiration. We come to rely upon it.”
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 87~

Keep It Simple

Life didn’t promise to be wonderful. —Teddy Pendergrass

Life doesn’t promise us anything, except a chance. We have a chance to live any way we like. No matter how we choose to live, we’ll have pain and we’ll have joy. And we can learn from both.

Because of our recovery program, we can have life’s biggest wonder—love. We share it in a smile, a touch, a phone call, or a note. We share it with our friends, our partners, our family. Life didn’t promise to be wonderful, but it sure is full of little wonders! And we only have to open up and see them, feel them, and let them happen.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me see the wonders of life today, in nature, in people’s faces, in my own heart.

Action for the Day:
I can help make a wonderful things happen for others, with a smile, a greeting, a helping hand. What “little” things will I do for somebody today?

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Where you spend your resources is always your choice, and those choices are now clearly laid out in front of you. Sometimes it’s easier to invest in others rather than yourself, but the Leo Lunar Eclipse is centered in your 2nd House of Self-Worth and there’s no hiding from the realizations it illuminates. You cannot truly give to those you love without being emotionally whole yourself. Being completely honest about your values is the most direct route to happiness.

Daily Recovery Readings
February 9, 2017

Daily Reflection

GETTING THE “SPIRITUAL ANGLE”

How often do we sit in AA meetings and hear the speaker declare, “But I haven’t yet got the spiritual angle.” Prior to this statement, he had described a miracle of transformation which had occurred in him—not only his release from alcohol, but a complete change in his whole attitude toward life and the living of it. It is apparent to nearly everyone else present that he has received a great gift; “. . . except that he doesn’t seem to know it yet!” We well know that this questioning individual will tell us six months or a year hence that he has found faith in God.
— THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART, p. 275

A spiritual experience can be the realization that a life which once seemed empty and devoid of meaning is now joyous and full. In my life today, daily prayer and meditation, coupled with living the Twelve Steps, has brought about an inner peace and feeling of belonging which was missing when I was drinking.

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

Big Book Quote

“We try not to indulge in cynicism over the state of the nations, nor do we carry the world’s troubles on our shoulders. When we see a man sinking into the mire that is alcoholism, we give him first aid and place what we have at his disposal.”
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 132

Keep It Simple

H.A.L.T. — AA Slogan

H.A.L.T. stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired. These feelings can be danger to us. They can lead us away from our program. We need to eat regular meals. When we get too hungry, we get cranky. Then we say and do things we regret. We need to turn anger over to our Higher Power, or else our anger turns into rage. We need friends to help us in recovery. If we get to lonely, we may turn our addictive way for friendship. We don’t stay sober by ourselves. We need a clear mind to deal with life. If we get too tried, we tend to feel sorry for ourselves. Being tired get us into crazy thinking.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, remind me to H.A.L.T. Help me to not get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll review the four parts of H.A.L.T. In which areas do I practice good self-care? In which areas do I not? How can I improve?

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

A new sense of certainty allows you to stride toward your ambitions with renewed fervor. It’s easier to walk with your head held higher when the Moon struts into confident Leo, accentuating your 2nd House of Self-Worth. You’re eager to take your future goals into your own hands today, knowing you can rely on your unwavering self-determination. Be mindful of overextending your resources; overestimating your capacity will land you in a state of exhaustion if you don’t pace yourself with care. Transformation rarely happens overnight.

Daily Recovery Readings
February 8, 2017

Daily Reflection

CONVINCING “MR. HYDE”

Even then, as we hew away, peace and joy may still elude us. That’s the place so many of us A.A. oldsters have come to. And it’s a hell of a spot, literally. How shall our unconscious—from which so many of our fears, compulsions, and phony aspirations still stream—be brought into line with what we actually believe, know, and want! How to convince our dumb, raging, and hidden “Mr. Hyde” becomes our main task.
— THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART, p. 237

Regular attendance at meetings, serving and helping others is the recipe that many have tried and found to be successful. Whenever I stray from these basic principles, my old habits resurface and my old self also comes back with all its fears and defects. The ultimate goal of each A.A. member is permanent sobriety, achieved One Day at a Time.

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

Big Book Quote

“Many a man, yet dazed from his hospital experience, has stepped over the threshold of that home into freedom. Many an alcoholic who entered there came away with an answer. He succumbed to that gay crowd inside, who laughed at their own misfortunes and understood his. Impressed by those who visited him at the hospital, he capitulated entirely when, later, in an upper room of this house, he heard the story of some man whose experience closely tallied with his own. The expression on the faces of the women, that indefinable something in the eyes of the men, the stimulating and electric atmosphere of the place, conspired to let him know that here was haven at last.”
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 160

Keep It Simple

You must find the ideas that have some promise in them…it’s not enough to just have ideas. –George E. Woodberry

Each day we’re flooded with ideas. Everyone seems to have found the truth, and now they want to share it. We may feel loaded down with all these ideas. Who and what do we believe? We’ve fallen on a set of ideas that hold great promise: The Twelve Steps. The ideas of the program have much promise because they’re simple. They ask nothing that isn’t good for us. They have been proven to work. Now we’re people with more than ideas that work. We’re people with good ideas that work. When we find ourselves wondering how to live, all we need to do is look to the Steps.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me to put my energy into working the Steps.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll list what is right about the Steps for me. What promises do the Steps hold for me?

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

Your receiver is turned up too high and you’re surprised by the amount of feedback you are getting now. The impressionable Moon in your sign reflects shocking Uranus and preposterous Jupiter, putting you on the spot. Although you may feel like you must go to extremes to regain power, overreactions will only make the situation worse. Try not to take things too personally; staying conscious as you respond to the changing tides of the day will enable you to choose your battles wisely.

Daily Recovery Readings
February 3, 2017

Daily Reflection

A PATH TO FAITH

True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith, and every A.A. meeting is an assurance that God will restore us to sanity if we rightly relate ourselves to Him.
— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 33

My last drunk had landed me in the hospital, totally broken. It was then that I was able to see my past float in front of me. I realized that, through drinking, I had lived every nightmare I had ever had. My own self-will and obsession to drink had driven me into a dark pit of hallucinations, blackouts and despair. Finally beaten, I asked for God’s help. His presence told me to believe. My obsession for alcohol was taken away and my paranoia has since been lifted. I am no longer afraid. I know my life is healthy and sane.

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

Big Book Quote

“Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill.”
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 89~

Keep It Simple

I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work and my God.—Helen Keller.

None of us ever wanted to be addicts. It’s not what we would choose to be— just as no one would choose to blind and deaf. Helen Keller, who was blind and deaf, told of how her problems became her biggest gift. Through them, she found true meaning in her life. We can accept our handicap—our addiction— and learn from it. The truth is, we’re all handicapped in some way. Recovery is about facing our addiction and learning to live with it. When we see we can’t do things alone, we see the need for a Higher Power.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me see myself as I really am. Give me the serenity that comes from accepting my handicaps.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll list all the ways I am handicapped. I’ll ask myself, “What gift does each of these hold for me?”

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You don’t feel like hiding in your personal cave quite so much now. In fact, you could wear your heart on your sleeve while the emotional Moon is visiting your 1st House of Self. You express your feelings eloquently once brainy Mercury shifts into thought-provoking Aquarius, highlighting your 8th House of Intimacy. It’s ironic that you can talk about such passionate issues while maintaining such a cool demeanor. Nevertheless, life is ultimately subjective; what one person loves another person loathes.

Daily Recovery Readings
February 3, 2017

Daily Reflection

A RALLYING POINT

Therefore, Step Two is the rallying point for all of us. Whether agnostic, atheist, or former believer, we can stand together on this Step.
— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 33

I feel that A.A. is a God-inspired program and that God is at every A.A. meeting. I see, believe, and have come to know that A.A. works, because I have stayed sober today. I am turning my life over to A.A. and to God by going to an A.A. meeting. If God is in my heart and everyone else’s, then I am a small part of a whole and I am not unique. If God is in my heart and He speaks to me through other people, then I must be a channel of God to other people. I should seek to do His will by living spiritual principles and my reward will be sanity and emotional sobriety.

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

Big Book Quote

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

Keep It Simple

We will not know unless we begin.——-Howard Zinn

Let us begin! Whether it be working on our First Step, Finding a sponsor, or talking to someone we hurt—Let us begin. Doubt will set in if we wait too long. Fear will follow. So, let us begin. We learn by doing. Recovery is for doers. Sobriety doesn’t just happen. We create it. We create it by working the Steps and learning from them. We’ll never totally understand the Steps unless we work them. In the same way, we’ll never learn how to have friends unless we try. So, call your friends, instead of waiting to be called. Begin and begin again. Each day is a new beginning.

Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, today I’ll begin. I begin by asking for Your help and love. Be with me as I go through my day. Help me work for progress, not perfection.

Action for the Day:
Today, I’ll not sit on the sidelines. I’ll be a doer. I’ll decide what to do to move closer to friends, family, Higher Power, and myself.

Daily Horoscope – Cancer

You prefer to keep things to yourself today as you just don’t have the energy to explain what’s on your mind. It’s a challenge to stay focused when your thoughts keep distracting you from the task at hand. Walking away from your work may seem counter-intuitive, but taking short breaks to enjoy some silence can help you gracefully move through the day. If you ignore your need for rest, you may end up so mentally exhausted that you call it quits before you achieve your goals. Reconnecting with your center supplies you with enough stamina to go the distance.