The idea of “twenty-four-hour living” applies primarily to the emotional life of the individual. Emotionally speaking, we must not live in yesterday, nor in tomorrow. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 284 A New Year: 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes — a time to consider directions, goals, and actions. I mustContinue reading “Living In Today – Daily Reflections December 31st”
Category Archives: As Bill Sees It
Rebellion or Acceptance – As Bill Sees It #293
All of us pass through times when we can pray only with the greatest exertion. Occasionally we go even further than this. We are seized with a rebellion so sickening that we simply won’t pray. When these things happen, we should not think too ill of ourselves. We should simply resume prayer as soon asContinue reading “Rebellion or Acceptance – As Bill Sees It #293”
Never The Same Again – As Bill Sees It #209
It was discovered that when one alcoholic had planted in the mind of another the true nature of his malady, that person could never be the same again. Following every spree, he would have to say to himself, “Maybe those A.A.’s were right.” After a few such experiences, often before the onset of extreme difficulties,Continue reading “Never The Same Again – As Bill Sees It #209”
Complete The Housecleaning – As Bill Sees It #213
Time after time, newcomers have tried to keep to themselves shoddy facts about their lives. Trying to avoid the humbling experience of the Fifth Step, they have turned to easier methods. Almost invariably they got drunk. Having persevered with the rest of the program, they wondered why they fell. We think the reason is thatContinue reading “Complete The Housecleaning – As Bill Sees It #213”
Out Of Bondage – As Bill Sees It #210
At Step Three, many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: “God, I offer myself to Thee—to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that my transcendence over them mayContinue reading “Out Of Bondage – As Bill Sees It #210”
Resolving Fear – As Bill Sees It #61
Fear somehow touched about every aspect of our lives. It was an evil and corroding thread; the fabric of our existence was shot through with it. It set in motion trains of circumstances which brought us misfortune we felt we didn’t deserve. But did not we often set the ball rolling ourselves? << << <<Continue reading “Resolving Fear – As Bill Sees It #61”
A Saving Principle – As Bill Sees It #164
The practice of admitting one’s defects to another person is, of course, very ancient. It has been validated in every century, and it characterizes the lives of all spiritually centered and truly religious people. But today religion is by no means the sole advocate of this saving principle. Psychiatrists and psychologists point out the deepContinue reading “A Saving Principle – As Bill Sees It #164”
Powerless Over Alcohol – As Bill Sees It #283
I had gone steadily downhill, and on that day in 1934 I lay upstairs in the hospital, knowing for the first time that I was utterly hopeless. Lois was downstairs, and Dr. Silkworth was trying in his gentle way to tell her what was wrong with me and that I was hopeless. “But Bill hasContinue reading “Powerless Over Alcohol – As Bill Sees It #283”
Coping With Anger – As Bill Sees It #179
Few people have been more victimized by resentments than have we alcoholics. A burst of temper could spoil a day, and a well-nursed grudge could make us miserably ineffective. Nor were we ever skillful in separating justified from unjustified anger. As we saw it, our wrath was always justified. Anger, that occasional luxury of moreContinue reading “Coping With Anger – As Bill Sees It #179”
Anger – Personal and Group Enemy – As Bill Sees It #98
As the book ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’ puts it, ‘Resentment is the Number One offender.’ It is a primary cause of relapses into drinking. How well we of A.A. know that for us ‘To drink is eventually to go mad or die.’ “Much the same penalty overhangs every A.A. group. Given enough anger, both unity and purposeContinue reading “Anger – Personal and Group Enemy – As Bill Sees It #98”