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| | From:  Chrismac682 (Original Message) | Sent: 4/5/2008 8:57 PM |
| Twenty-Four Hours a Day Sunday, April 6, 2008 Thought for the Day All alcoholics have personality problems. They drink to escape from life, to counteract feelings of loneliness or inferiority or because of some emotional conflict within them, so that they cannot adjust themselves to life. Alcoholics cannot stop drinking unless they find a way to solve their personality problems. That's why going on the wagon doesn't solve anything. That's why taking the pledge usually doesn't work. Was my personality problem ever solved by going on the wagon or taking the pledge? Meditation for the Day God irradiates your life with the warmth of His spirit. You must open up like a flower to this divine irradiation. Loosen your hold on earth, its cares and its worries. Unclasp your hold on material things, relax your grip and the tide of peace and serenity will flow in. Relinquish every material thing and receive it back again from God. Do not hold on to earth's treasures so firmly that your hands are too occupied to clasp God's hands as He holds them out to you in love. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may be open to receive God's blessing. I pray that I may be willing to relinquish my hold on material things and receive them back from God. Hazelden Foundation |
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| Twenty-Four Hours a Day Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 A.A. Thought for the Day
The way of A.A. is the way of fellowship. We have read a good deal about fellowship and yet it is such an important part of the A.A. program that it seems we cannot think too much about it. Human beings were not meant to live alone. A hermit's life is not a normal or natural one. We all need to be by ourselves at times, but we cannot really live without the companionship of others. Our natures demand it. Our lives depend largely upon it. The fellowship of A.A. seems to us to be the best in the world. Do I fully appreciate what the fellowship of A.A. means to me?
Meditation for the Day
We are all seeking something, but many do not know what they want in life. They are seeking something because they are restless and dissatisfied, without realizing that faith in God can give an objective and a purpose to their lives. Many of us are at least subconsciously seeking for a Power greater than ourselves because that would give a meaning to our existence. If you have found that Higher Power, you can be the means of leading others aright, by showing them that their search for a meaning to life will end when they find faith and trust in God as the answer
Prayer for the Day
I pray that my soul will lose its restlessness by finding rest in my Higher Power. I pray that I may find peace of mind in the thought of my Higher Power and His purpose for my life. From Twenty-Four Hours a Day © 1975 by Hazelden Foundation.  |
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 Twenty-Four Hours a Day Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 Empowerment
You can think. You can make good decisions. You can make choices that are right for you.
Yes, we all make mistakes from time to time. But we are not mistakes.
We can make a new decision that takes new information into account.
We can change our mind from time to time. That's our right too.
We don't have to be intellectuals to make good choices. In recovery, we have a gift and a goal available to each of us. The gift is called wisdom.
Other people can think too. And that means we no longer have to feel responsible for other people's decisions.
That also means we are responsible for our choices.
We can reach out to others for feedback. We can ask for information. We can take opinions into account. But it is our task to make our own decisions. It is our pleasure and right to have our own opinions.
We are each free to embrace and enjoy the treasure of our own mind, intellect, and wisdom.
Today, I will treasure the gift of my mind. I will do my own thinking, make my own choices, and value my opinions. I will be open to what others think, but I will take responsibility for myself. I will ask for and trust that the Divine Wisdom is guiding me. From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©1990, Hazelden Foundation. 
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| Twenty-Four Hours a Day Monday, Dec. 11, 2008 Keep It Simple
When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge.--Tuli Keupferberg.
Recovery has happened to us. We stopped drinking or using other drugs and, like magic, a new world appeared. Being sober sure shakes up a person's life! It's good to shake up our world every now and then. This way, we see there's not just one “world�? but many. We grow each time we step into a new world and learn new things. Of course, the addict's world was new and exciting to us at one time. But we got trapped and couldn't find our way out. Our Higher Power had to free us. We need to try new worlds, but we always need to take our Higher Power with us--into worlds where there's honesty, love, and trust.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, lead me to new worlds where I'll learn more about living fully.
Action for the Day:
I'll list 3 ways I can step into a new world today. For example, I could read something new, go to a museum, or eat a new food.
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 Keep It Simple
God gave us memory that we might have roses in December.--James M. Barrie.
Do you remember what it was like to not have sobriety? Remember the shame? Remember the loneliness? Remember lying and wishing you could stop? Remember the powerlessness? Do you remember, also, how it felt when you began to believe you had an illness? Your shame was lifted. Remember what it was like to look around at your meeting and know you belonged? Your loneliness was lifted.
Remember when you family started to trust you again? Your dishonesty had been lifted. Sobriety gives us many roses. Our memory will help to keep them fresh.
Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, never let me forget what it was like. Why? Because I'm only one drink or pill away from losing You.
Action for the Day:
I'll find a friend I trust. I'll tell that person what my life was like before sobriety. I'll also talk about how I got sober.
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008 Keep It Simple
Live and Let Live--AA slogan
In our addiction, we didn't car. We didn't care about other people, even though we wanted to. We just didn't come through for them in ways that mattered. We didn't care for ourselves. We let bad things happen to us. We didn't care about living. We set no goals, had no fun, smelled no flowers. In our recovery, we do care. We care about others, ourselves, and life. Our spirits are on the move again. There's life in our hearts. Our bodies are getting well. And we're daring to dream. We're living!
Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, put some life and energy into me today. Help me love my new life.
Action for the Day:
Today, I'll focus on being alive. As I breathe in, I'll gather more and more life energy from nature.
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008 Keep It Simple
Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is broken winged bird that cannot fly. --Langston Hughes
Many of our dreams died as our addiction got worse. We felt the loss but couldn't speak it. With recovery, we regain our ability to dream. Dreams of sharing our lives with family and friends return. They push out thoughts of getting high. Dreams of pride and self-respect reappear. They replace the awful feeling of shame. Like the quote above says, "Hold fast to dreams...." Our dreams are our wishes for the future.
They hold a picture of who we want to be. In our dreams, we let our spirits soar. Often, we fell close to a Higher Power, others and ourselves. Thanks our Higher Power, we can dream again.
Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, thanks to you, my wings have been mended. Guide me as I fly.
Action for the Day:
Today, I'll take time out to dream and share my dream with those I love.
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day Monday, Dec. 15, 2008 Keep It Simple
As ass is beautiful to an ass, and a pig to a pig.-- English proverb.
When we see someone drunk and out of control, can we see the beautiful person inside them?
If we can't, who will? Step Twelve reminds us that we have to help the alcoholic or other drug addict who suffers. This task has been given to us because we, most of all, should be able to look past the drunkenness and see the person. We were there. We know what it's like to be trapped in a world without meaning. If these memories have faded, we may need to go back over Step One. We may find ourselves angry with the practicing drunk or other drug addict. This is a sign that we have gotten too far from our past. Remember, "But for the grace of God..."
Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, Help me remember my past and what it's like now. This helps me care about the person who still suffers.
Action for the Day:
Today, I'll respect my illness. I'll look for the beauty inside every drunk and other drug addict.
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008 Keep It Simple
Charity sees the need, not the cause.--German proverb.
Charity is not just giving money to good causes. Charity is having a heart that's ready to give. Charity is helping a friend at two in the morning. Charity is going early to the meeting to put on coffee without being asked.
Service is how Twelve Step programs refer to "Charity". Service and charity are a lifestyle. We see a need, so we try to help. Our values and our heart will guide us in how we help. Service is a big part of our program. Service helps us think of others, not just of ourselves. We stop asking, "What's in it for me?" The act of helping others is what's in it for us. Sobriety is what's in it for us. Serenity is what's in it for us.
Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, You have given me many talents. Help me see how my talents can make the world a better place. Giving of myself is believing in You and myself.
Action for the Day:
Today, I'll list my talents and I'll think of ways I can use them to help others.
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008 Keep It Simple
The rose and the thorn, and sorrow and gladness are linked together. --Saadi.
When we were drinking and drugging, we didn't have to deal much with feelings. We turned them off. Then, when we let go of the alcohol and other drugs, we started to come back to life. Now--we have feelings again! But, even now, in recovery, we're scared of too much happiness.
It's true--we don't want sadness and pain at all. Yet, feelings--the good and the bad--keep on coming. And we have to handle them. We are learning to handle our feelings. We're getting strong enough to deal with them. With the help of our friends in the program, and our Higher Power, we're ready for life.
Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, I want to be fully alive, but I'm a little scared. Help me know what to do with my feelings today.
Action for the Day:
Today, I'll be open to feelings. I'll enjoy my good feelings and share them. I'll ask for help with hard feelings by praying, and by calling my sponsor.
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008 Keep It Simple
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."Franklin D. Roosevelt
As addicts, we had lots of fear. Some of us were afraid of failure. So we didn't try to do much. Or else we tried too hard all the time. We used alcohol and other drugs to forget our fear, but it didn't go away. It got worse. Now we know we don't have to be afraid. When our lives are in the care of our Higher Power, we're safe. Faith is the cure for out fear. But still, fear keeps creeping back inside us. That's okay. It's normal. There is so much that's new in our sober life! We don't know what will happen next. It's hard to always remember to trust our Higher Power. It's hard to always do what our Higher Power says. It's hard to always have faith. We have to practice turning our fear over to our Higher Power.
Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, be with me when I'm afraid. Help me remember to have faith to believe in You, even when my fear tells me not to.
Action for the Day:
Today, I'll notice my fear and pray each time I get afraid.
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day Friday, Dec. 19, 2008 A.A. Thought for the Day
The skeptic and the agnostic say it is impossible for us to find the answer to life. Many have tried and failed. But many more have put aside intellectual pride and have said to themselves: Who am I to say there is no God? Who am I to say there is no purpose in life? The atheist makes a declaration: "The world originated in a cipher and aimlessly rushes nowhere." Others live for the moment and do not even think about why they are here or where they are going. They might as well be clams on the bottom of the ocean, protected by their hard shells of indifference. They are going nowhere and they do not care. Do I care where I am going?
Meditation for the Day
We may consider the material world as the clay, which the artist works with, to make of it something beautiful or ugly. We need not fear material things, which are neither good nor bad in the moral sense. There seems to be no active force for evil - outside of human beings themselves. Humans alone can have either evil intentions - resentments, malevolence, hate and revenge - or good intentions - love and good will. They can make something ugly or something beautiful out of the clay of their lives.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may make something good out of my life. I pray that I may be a good artisan of the materials, which I have been given to use. From Twenty-Four Hours a Day © 1975 by Hazelden Foundation.
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 Keep It Simple
Don't give your advice before you are called upon. --Desiderius Erasmus
If someone wants your advice, the person will ask for it. That's one reason why in Twelve Step programs we don't go around trying to talk people into joining. But people will ask us for advice. They'll see how we've changed, and they'll want what we have. All we have to do is tell them where we found it--in AA, NA or another Twelve Step group. We don't tell them what to do. We tell them our own story--what it was like, what happened, and where we are now. And we invite them to join us.
Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me carry the healing message of the program to these who ask for advice.
Action for the Day:
I'll make a decision to spend time with the next person who ask for my help.
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008 Keep It Simple
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. ---Edith Wharton
Our Higher Power is the candle. And our hearts, like a mirror, reflect a warm, loving glow. But when we used alcohol and other drugs, we tired to be the candle. We wanted to have control. Many of us acted like this to hide how out of control we felt. We never thought we could be happy by admitting we were out of control.
In recovery, we accept that it’s okay to be the mirror. We accept that our Higher Power is the candle that guides us. We want to be the mirror that reflects how much our Higher Power loves us.
Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, thank-you for the light and warmth You give me.
Action for the Day:
Tonight, I’ll light a candle and place it in front of a mirror. I’ll study how they work together to light the room.
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day Monday, Dec. 22, 2008 Keep It Simple
It is possible to be different and still be right.--Anne Wilson Schaef
Each of us is special. In some ways we're all different. It's a good thing too. We'd be bored if we were all the same. Sometimes though, we try to hide the special things about us. We don't want to be "different."
But the ways that we're different makes us special. Others have a knack of fixing things. Some of us make beautiful art. Others are great with kids. Our Higher Power made us as different, as unique, as beautiful snowflakes.
Prayer for the Day:
Higher Power, help me use my special gifts the way You want me to. Help me be thankful that You have given me something special to share with others.
Action for the Day:
I'll think of one thing about me that's special. I'll talk with my sponsor about it.
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008 A.A. Thought for the Day
We have definitely left that dream world behind. It was only a sham. It was a world of our making and it was not the real world. We are sorry for the past, yes, but we learned a lot from it. We can put it down to experience, valuable experience, as we see it now, because it has given us the knowledge necessary to face the world as it really is. We had to become alcoholics in order to find the A.A. program. We would not have got it any other way. In a way, it was worth it. Do I look at my past as valuable experience?
Meditation for the Day
Shed peace, not discord, wherever you go. Try to be part of the cure of every situation, not part of the problem. Try to ignore evil, rather than to actively combat it. Always try to build up, never to tear down. Show others by your example that happiness comes from living the right way. The power of your example is greater than the power of what you say.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may try to bring something good into every situation today. I pray that I may be constructive in the way I think and speak and act today. From Twenty-Four Hours a Day © 1975 by Hazelden Foundation. |
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