July 10th

DAILY PONDERABLES

Together WE Trudge The Road OF Happy Destiny

Daily Reflections

TOWARD PEACE AND SERENITY

. . . when we have taken a square look at some of these defects, have discussed them with another, and have become willing to have them removed, our thinking about humility commences to have a wider meaning.

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 74

When situations arise which destroy my serenity, pain often motivates me to ask God for clarity in seeing my part in the situation. Admitting my powerlessness, I humbly pray for acceptance. I try to see how my character defects contributed to the situation. Could I have been more patient? Was I intolerant? Did I insist on having my own way? Was I afraid? As my defects are revealed, I put self-reliance aside and humbly ask God to remove my shortcomings. The situation may not change, but as I practice exercising humility, I enjoy the peace and serenity which are the natural benefits of placing my reliance in a power greater than myself.

From the book Daily Reflections

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought for the Day

We in Alcoholics Anonymous do not enter into theological discussions, but in carrying our message we attempt to explain the simple "home' of the spiritual life. How faith in a Higher Power can help you to overcome loneliness, fear, and anxiety. How it can help you get along with other people. How it can make it possible for. you to rise above pain, sorrow, and despondency. How it can help you to overcome your desires for the things that destroy Have I reached a simple, effective faith?

Meditation for the Day

Expect miracles of change in people's lives. Do not be held back by unbelief. People can be changed and they are often ready and waiting to be changed. Never believe that human nature cannot be changed. We see changed people every day. Do you have the faith to make those changes possible? Modern miracles happen every day in the lives of people. All miracles are in the realm of personalities. Human nature can be changed and is always being changed. But we must have enough faith so that we can be channels for God's strength into the lives of others.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may have the faith to expect miracles. I pray that I may be used by God to help change the lives of others.

From the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day

NA - Just for Today

A positive attitude

Page 200

"That old nest of negativism followed me everywhere I went."

Basic Text, p. 137

A negative attitude is the trademark of active addiction. Everything that occurred in our lives was someone or something else's fault. We had blaming others for our shortcomings down to a fine science. In recovery, one of the first things we strive to develop is a new attitude. We find that life goes a lot easier when we replace our negative thinking with positive principles.

While a negative attitude dogged us in our active addiction, all too often it can follow us into the rooms of Narcotics Anonymous. How can we begin to adjust our attitudes? By altering our actions. It isn't easy, but it can be done.

We can start by listening to the way we talk. Before we open our mouths, we ask ourselves some simple questions: Does what I'm going to say speak to the problem, or the solution? Is what I'm going to say framed in a kind manner? Is what I have to say important, or would everyone be just as well off if I kept my mouth shut? Am I talking just to hear myself talk, or is there some purpose to my "words of wisdom"?

Our attitudes are expressed in our actions. Often, it's not what we say, but the way we say it, that really matters. As we learn to speak in a more positive manner, we will notice our attitudes improving as well.

Just for Today: I want to be free of negativity. Today, I will speak and act positively.

From the book Just for Today

Thought for Today

Don't sign up to be an agent for the "FDI"

Fear, Doubt and Insecurity (thanks Stu K.)

This Day Is Mine

Please, may I use it well

This is the day that belongs to me, for it was given to me early in the morning freely and without obligation. The moment that I accepted the gift, I accepted the responsibility for its growth. I received it in good condition, fresh, young and clean, and now that it is mine, I can choose what kind of day it will become. I can make it ugly by deciding to be miserable or I can make it beautiful by deciding to be glad.

This is the day to be happy. I know I can be just as contented as I wish to be. Above all, I can find contentment now, instead of thinking it necessary to wait for some uncertain, future pleasure.

This is the day to be free, to cut the bonds of all those tomorrows and all those yesterdays. I would be unwise to waste any part of today in useless guilt or distress about a yesterday, or pointless worry or panic about a tomorrow.

This is a day to treat life as a great adventure and each moment of it as a satisfying and rewarding experience. Since I want to live it fully, and I want to live it well. I hope that I will handle myself in such a manner that when today becomes yesterday, my memories will be pleasant and when tomorrow becomes today my regrets will be few. On this day, I do not want to indulge in crippling, selfish emotions such as anger, hatred and fear; I want instead to seek their opposites.

This is the day to thankful for some pains removed and some blessing received; to translate my gratitude from mere words into cheerful, wholehearted achievement.

This is the day to promise myself that I am going to build my world with gladness and with love, right now, because this is the only day that belongs to me.

H.W., Toronto, Ontario

Buddha/Zen Thoughts

There is only one time when it is essential to awaken. That time is now.

Native American

"Each soul must meet the morning sun, the new, sweet earth, and the great silence alone."

--Charles Alexander Eastman, OHIYESA SANTEE SIOUX

Each morning a new sun for a new day arises. Each morning the sweet perfume from the Mother Earth spreads across the land. This combination of sun, earth, smell and quiet is a magic door for me to enter to kneel before the Grandfathers. The sacred time to commune with the Great Spirit.

Oh Great Spirit, I humbly stand before You along with the new sun, the Mother Earth and the smells of the morning. I ask You to direct my thinking today. Let me live in the silence. Teach me Your wisdom, Teach me to love my brothers and sisters. Let me respect the things You have made.

Keep It Simple

Everybody knows that when they're happy, than usually the people around them are happy. --- George Harrison

Do we think we can't be happy until others are happy? Then nobody is happy. Our unhappy friends won't take our advice. They say,” Why should I do what you say? You are not happy either." And we answer, "I'll be okay when you're happy." We make them responsible for our happiness. What a mess!

We can only make one person happy---ourselves. How? By living as our Higher Power leads us. By working the Steps. By being grateful for the good things in our lives. By loving ourselves and others, just as we are.

And maybe when we're happy, our friends will learn from us. They can be happy too. But only our friends can make themselves happy.

Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, as I do my part in Your plan today, help me feel connected to You and to life.

Action for the Day: Today I'll enjoy my happiness. I'll look for three ways to share it with others.

Big Book

Chapter 9 The Family Afterwards (pg 126 & top 127)

We think it dangerous if he rushes headlong at his economic problem. The family will be affected also, pleasantly at first, as they feel their money troubles are about to be solved, then not so pleasantly as they find themselves neglected. Dad may be tired at night and preoccupied by day. He may take small interest in the children and may show irritation when reproved for his delinquencies. If not irritable, he may seem dull and boring, not gay and affectionate as the family would like him to be. Mother may complain of inattention. They are all disappointed, and often let him feel it. Beginning with such complaints, a barrier arises. He is straining every nerve to make up for lost time. He is striving to recover fortune and reputation and feels he is doing very well.

Sometimes mother and children don’t think so. Having been neglected and misused in the past, they think father owes them more than they are getting. They want him to make a fuss over them. They expect him to give them the nice times they used to have before he drank so much, and to show his contrition for what they suffered. But dad doesn’t give freely of himself. Resentment grows. He becomes still less communicative. Sometimes he explodes over a trifle. The family is mystified. They criticize, pointing out how he is falling down on his spiritual program.

This sort of thing can be avoided. Both father and the family are mistaken, though each side may have some justification. It is of little use to argue and only makes the impasse worse. The family must realize that dad, though marvelously improved, is still convalescing. They should be thankful he is sober and able to be of this world once more. Let them praise his progress. Let them remember that his drinking wrought all kinds of damage that may take long to repair. If they sense these things, they will not take so seriously his periods of crankiness, depression, or apathy, which will disappear when there is tolerance, love, and spiritual understanding.