Releasing Expectations & Soaring – Touchstones May 13th

As long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you otherwise might. –Marion Anderson Because of our resentments we sometimes get tense. We say we aren’t going to have contact with our parents until they doContinue reading “Releasing Expectations & Soaring – Touchstones May 13th”

As Bill Sees It – Freedom To Choose # 124

Looking back, we see that our freedom to choose badly was not, after all, a very real freedom. When we chose because we “must,” this was not a free choice, either. But it got us started in the right direction. When we chose because we “ought to,” we were really doing better. This time weContinue reading “As Bill Sees It – Freedom To Choose # 124”

Make Me A Channel – Grapevine Article November 2020 By Michael J.

How a sponsor’s suggestion to meditate on a prayer led him on a path to peace, love and a sense of belonging I remember when my sponsor gave me an assignment for Step Eleven. After we reviewed the Step in our book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, he told me to read the Eleventh StepContinue reading “Make Me A Channel – Grapevine Article November 2020 By Michael J.”

Freed Prisoners – As Bill Sees It #234

Letter to a prison group: Every A.A. has been, in a sense, a prisoner.  Each of us has walled himself out of society; each has known social stigma.  The lot of you folks has been even more difficult:  In your case, society has also built a wall around you.  But there isn’t any really essentialContinue reading “Freed Prisoners – As Bill Sees It #234”

Happiness Is Not The Point – Daily Reflection April 26th

I don’t think happiness or unhappiness is the point. How do we meet the problems we face? How do we best learn from them and transmit what we have learned to others, if they would receive the knowledge?AS BILL SEES IT, p. 306 In my search “to be happy,” I changed jobs, married and divorced,Continue reading “Happiness Is Not The Point – Daily Reflection April 26th”

The Ego & The AA – Grapevine Article February 2009 By Greg M.

Self-centeredness can be the most baffling of character defects The pain and misery and horrible loneliness I experienced prior to my first meeting, sixteen years ago, finally convinced me of the need to honestly look at my drinking. But that battle and every one since has been hard-fought. At times it seems to take aContinue reading “The Ego & The AA – Grapevine Article February 2009 By Greg M.”

A Reciprocal Dynamic – Grapevine Article April 1992 By Anonymous

When we practice Tradition Four while remembering Step Three, everybody wins TRADITION FOUR: Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole. What does Tradition Four mean to me? This Tradition reminds me of Tradition One. Tradition One deal’s with the relationship between the value of personal recoveryContinue reading “A Reciprocal Dynamic – Grapevine Article April 1992 By Anonymous”

Keystone Of The Arc – As Bill Sees It #87

Faced with alcoholic destruction, we became open-minded on spiritual matters. In this respect alcohol was a great persuader. It finally beat us into a state of reasonableness. << << << >> >> >> We had to quit playing God. It didn’t work. We decided that hereafter, in this drama of life, God was going toContinue reading “Keystone Of The Arc – As Bill Sees It #87”

Losing Financial Fears – As Bill Sees It #75

When a job still looked like a mere means of getting money rather than an opportunity for service, when the acquisition of money for financial independence looked more important than a right dependence upon God, we were the victims of unreasonable fears. And these were fears which would make a serene and useful existence, atContinue reading “Losing Financial Fears – As Bill Sees It #75”

How Do I Turn My Irritations Into Pearls Today – June 12th Today’s Gift

The more a diamond is cut, the more it sparkles.—Anonymous There is something of value to be found even in the worst of things. Consider the oyster. When a grain of sand penetrates an oyster’s shell, it irritates the oyster, making it uncomfortable. The oyster relieves the pain by coating the sand with a soothingContinue reading “How Do I Turn My Irritations Into Pearls Today – June 12th Today’s Gift”