HAPPY BIRTHDAY AA We all owe a deep debt of gratitude to Bill & Bob! It is our responsibility to Pass It On I Am Responsible When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. And for that I am responsible.

Daily Reflections IMPATIENT? TRY LEVITATING We reacted more strongly to frustrations than normal people. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 111 Impatience with other people is one of my principal failings. Following a slow car in a no-passing lane, or waiting in a restaurant for the check, drives me to distraction. Before I give God a chance to slow me down, I explode, and that's what I call being quicker than God. That repeated experience gave me an idea. I thought if I could look down on these events from God's point of view, I might better control my feelings and behavior. I tried it and when I encountered the next slow driver, I levitated and looked down on the other car and upon myself. I saw an elderly couple driving along, happily chatting about their grandchildren. They were followed by me---bug-eyed and red of face---who had no time schedule to meet anyway. I looked so silly that I dropped back into reality and slowed down. Seeing things from God's angle of vision can be very relaxing. From the book Daily Reflections © Copyright 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Twenty-Four Hours A Day A.A. Thought for the Day If we have had some moral, religious, or spiritual training, we're better prospects for A.A. When we reach the bottom, at this crucial moment when we're thoroughly licked, we turn instinctively to whatever decency is left in us. We call upon whatever reserves of morality and faith are left down deep in our heart. Have I had this spiritual experience? Meditation for the Day The world wonders when it sees a person who can unexpectedly draw large and unsuspected sums from the bank for some emergency. But what the world has not seen are the countless small sums paid into that bank, earned by faithful work over a long time. And so is the bank of the spirit. The world sees the person of faith make a demand on God's stores of power and the demand is met. The world does not see what that person has been putting in, in thanks and praise, in prayer and communion, in small good deeds done faithfully, steadily over the years. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may keep making deposits in God's bank. I pray that in my hour of need, I may call upon these. From the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day © Copyright 1975 by Hazelden Foundation

NA - Just for Today Changing motives Page 168 "When we finally get our own selfish motives out of the way, we begin to find a peace that we never imagined possible." Basic Text, p. 45 As we examine our beliefs, our actions, and our motives in recovery, we'll find that sometimes we do things for the wrong reasons. In our early recovery, we may have spent a great deal of money and time on people, wanting only for them to like us. Later on, we may find that we still spend money on people, but our motives have changed. We do it because we like them. Or perhaps we used to get romantically involved because we felt hollow inside and were seeking fulfillment through another person. Now our reasons for romantic involvement are based in a desire to share our already rewarding lives with an equal partner. Maybe we used to work the steps because we were afraid we'd relapse if we didn't. Today we work the steps because we want to grow spiritually. We have a new purpose in life today, and our changing motives reflect that. We have so much more to offer than our neediness and insecurities. We have developed a wholesomeness of spirit and a peace of mind that moves our recovery into a new realm. We extend our love and share our recovery with complete generosity, and the difference we make is the legacy we leave to those who have yet to join us. Just for Today: In recovery, my motives have changed. I want to do things for the right reason, not just for my personal benefit. Today, I will examine my motives. From the book Just for Today © Copyright 1991-2013 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Thought for Today The quieter we become, the more we hear. --unknown Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism. ~ Carl Jung  Remembering Gratitude Larry R.   A lot has changed about ourselves since we first joined AA The misery that we used to know has finally gone away And in its place, we live a life, protected from its maul Released from what we had become, a slave to alcohol   But just because we drink no more does not negate the fact That we still harbor defects that are waiting to attack We nurtured them for many years, not caring what we’d done Now in AA we face them down, not let them overrun   A fellow shared the other day about one he still fought It was the one called envy and it made him feel distraught It did not come on often, but whenever it arose He’d have to use the tools he’d learned to help it to dispose   He told of how it had occurred while visiting his brother His sibling had just sold his house and mover into another The new one could, by all accounts, be labeled as a mansion The decorations in the house conveyed the height of fashion   And as our fellow looked around this defect reared its head He envied what his brother had, said “why not me instead” He was the older of the two and started to feel shame He should have had this type of house, he had himself to blame   But then he knew that he was wrong, this alcoholic thinking He could not let it carry on; this path could lead to drinking It’s then a thought had reappeared, one he had just neglected Remember to be grateful, keep sobriety protected   His brother had had great success in building up his business He’d worked real hard and now he’d could enjoy his many riches But there are more important things that money can’t replace Like children and their children and the feel of their embrace   The brother had two full grown kids, a daughter and a son The girl had not conversed with him for years, they’d come undone The young man lived a coast away, the rarely ever met A life devoid of family, a thing he surely must regret   Unable to experience the joy that grandkids bring The way they make you loosen up, partake in silly things To watch them grow from tiny tots to kids and young adults And know that you’re a part of it, take pride in the results   That’s how it took our fellow to begin to be relieved Remember to be grateful for the blessings he’d received A showcase house, expensive cars are enviable things But they do not replace the joy that love of family brings   His children now respect him, they rejoice in how he’s changed They want their kids to know him, never more to feel estranged With gratitude for what you have instead of what you’re missing Envy loses its appeal, its power is dismissing   His share had struck a chord with me, I too often do forget That gratitude for what I have relieves me from regret It was a sort of wake-up call, I cannot take for granted Those things that add the most to life, as gratitude commanded    Larry R.

Buddha/Zen Thoughts Greater in battle than the man who would conquer a thousand-thousand men, is he who would conquer just one -- himself. -Dhammapada, 8, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Native American "Each day, whatever I am doing, I am always praying and thinking of God." --Thomas Yellowtail, CROW Have you ever tries going through your day and carrying on a conversation with the Creator? Many of our Elders live in prayer. They talk to the Creator like the Creator is their best friend. It is easiest to do this if we pray in the morning and ask the Great Spirit to direct our thinking. When the Creator in involved in guiding our lives, we will have less stress, anxiety and tension. Maybe this is something we would like to try today. "Oh, Creator, look at the Sun, how beautiful you have made it. Oh, look at this child, isn't she just beautiful! Well, Creator, I'm not sure how I should do this task, what do you think? This person is starting to irritate me; I need your help to redirect my thinking. Thanks for returning me to a peaceful mind." Remember, the Creator also has a sense of humor. Grandfather, Grandmother, let me walk in prayer.

Keep It Simple Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be.  --- Clementine Pappleford At meetings, we meet people who have what we want. Our old way is to think these people are better or luckier than us. Our old way is to wish we were like them. But our program tells us how to work to change, not just wish for it. There is a big difference! There are many ways to work for recovery. We practice the Steps. We attend meetings, and we help out at meetings. We welcome new members. We call our sponsor often. And we sponsor others when we're ready. It takes more than a wishbone. It takes courage and hard work, with the help of our Higher Power. Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me know that wishing is lost energy. I must work at recovery. As I do today's work, guide me. Action for the Day: Today, I'll do an extra bit of work on my recovery. I'll call a group member. I'll read. I'll spend extra time in prayer and meditation.

Big Book Chapter 7     Working With Others (pg 94) Outline the program of action, explaining how you made a self-appraisal, how you straightened out your past and why you are now endeavoring to be helpful to him. It is important for him to realize that your attempt to pass this on to him plays a vital part in your recovery. Actually, he may be helping you more than you are helping him. Make it plain he is under no obligation to you, that you hope only that he will try to help other alcoholics when he escapes his own difficulties. Suggest how important it is that he place the welfare of other people ahead of his own. Make it clear that he is not under pressure, that he needn’t see you again if he doesn’t want to. You should not be offended if he wants to call it off, for he has helped you more than you have helped him. If your talk has been sane, quiet and full of human understanding, you have perhaps made a friend. Maybe you have disturbed him about the question of alcoholism. This is all to the good. The more hopeless he feels, the better. he will be more likely to follow your suggestions. Your candidate may give reasons why he need not follow all of the program. He may rebel at the thought of a drastic housecleaning which requires discussion with other people. Do not contradict such views. Tell him you once felt as he does, but you doubt whether you would have made much progress had you not taken action. On your first visit tell him about the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. If he shows interest, lend him your copy of this book.