Above us, at the International Convention at St. Louis in 1955, floated a banner on which was inscribed the then new symbol for A.A., a circle enclosing a triangle. The circle stands for the whole world of A.A., and the triangle stands for A.A.’s Three Legacies: Recovery, Unity, and Service. It is perhaps no accidentContinue reading “Circle & Triangle – As Bill Sees It #307”
Category Archives: Middle Way
Another Perspective On Unsuspected Inner Resource By Albert Camus
I love this short letter. It reminds me of this Grapevine article that uses the phrase ‘unsuspected inner resource’ as its title. That phrase is also used in Appendix 2 of the Big Book as a way of connecting us to a spiritual experience that may not meet our expectations of grandeur but is nonethelessContinue reading “Another Perspective On Unsuspected Inner Resource By Albert Camus”
Faith – A Blueprint – And Work – As Bill Sees It #284
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. But I have never been able to see that this means the individual, the group, or A.A. as a whole should give no thought whatever to how to function tomorrowContinue reading “Faith – A Blueprint – And Work – As Bill Sees It #284”
Victory In Defeat – As Bill Sees It #135
Convinced I never could belong, and vowing I’d never settle for any second-rate status, I felt I simply had to dominate in everything I chose to do: work or play. As this attractive formula for the good life began to succeed, according to my then specifications of success, I became deliriously happy. But when anContinue reading “Victory In Defeat – As Bill Sees It #135”
Humility Is Living In Reality – A Spiritual Principle A Day September 9th
In early recovery, we often find ourselves going from unrealistic, grandiose self-perception to believing we are the worst person in history. It’s that familiar addict pendulum swing–from one extreme to the other (with an optional sound effect): I’m a spiritual giant deserving of high praise–WHOOSH!–I’m a worthless piece of trash. I’m the hottest person here–WHOOSH!–I’mContinue reading “Humility Is Living In Reality – A Spiritual Principle A Day September 9th”
For A New Beginning – Recovery Poem By John O’Donohue
For me , this short poem is full of hope about the limitless expansion (BB p.275) of this new ‘design for living’(BB p.25) the program offers us. Bill W describes it this way in the Twelve £ Twelve (p.15) “A.A.’s Twelve Steps are a group of principles, spiritual in their nature, which, if practiced asContinue reading “For A New Beginning – Recovery Poem By John O’Donohue”
Those Other People – As Bill Sees It #268
Just like you, I have often thought myself the victim of what other people say and do. Yet every time I confessed the sins of such people, especially those whose sins did not correspond exactly with my own, I found that I only increased the total damage. My own resentment, my self-pity would often renderContinue reading “Those Other People – As Bill Sees It #268”
Emotional Sobriety In Relationships – Recovery Today March 2015 By Allen Berger
In the Twelve & Twelve, we are presented with this possibility that we are not clear on how to practice partnering with others. On page 53, we read: “But it is from our twisted relations with family, friends, and society at large that many of us have suffered the most. We have been especially stupidContinue reading “Emotional Sobriety In Relationships – Recovery Today March 2015 By Allen Berger”
Emotional Equilibrium Welcoming But Not Clinging – Daily Meditation August 17th 2025 By Father Richard Rohr
Father Richard Rohr describes the necessity of attending to our emotions while not clinging to them. You may also find his reflection on how the Twelve Steps address our Stinking Thinking helpful. Emotions are necessary weathervanes, in great part body-based, that help us read situations quickly and perhaps in depth. But they are also learned andContinue reading “Emotional Equilibrium Welcoming But Not Clinging – Daily Meditation August 17th 2025 By Father Richard Rohr”
Expectations – Just For Today Reflection July 29th
“As we realize our need to be forgiven, we tend to be more forgiving.” Basic Text, p. 39 ❖ Our behavior toward other people in our life is a mirror of our behavior toward ourselves. When we demand perfection of ourselves, we come to demand it from others around us, too. As we strive toContinue reading “Expectations – Just For Today Reflection July 29th”