“Quite as important was the discovery that spiritual principles would solve all my problems.”
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 42
Through the recovery process described in the Big Book, I have come to realize that the same instructions that work on my alcoholism, work on much more. Whenever I am angry or frustrated, I consider the matter a manifestation of the main problem within me, alcoholism. As I “walk” through the Steps, my difficulty is usually dealt with long before I reach the Twelfth “suggestion,” and those difficulties that persist are remedied when I make an effort to carry the message to someone else. These principles do solve my problems! I have not encountered an exception, and I have been brought to a way of living which is satisfying and useful.
“Where am I still trying to control outcomes instead of practicing trust or surrender? What would letting go look like today?”
For me, letting go today meant staying home from his families celebration. This is the second christmas event that didn’t go as planned, I now realize the first one was so I didn’t get my mom sicker and my grandmother sick. So, after I bought cold & sore throat medication to feel better so I could try to go, I surrendered and accepted staying home for everyone’s sake instead.
Just a funny quick observation…when I read that first BB quote, instead of: Quite as important, I substitute: Quite as astonishing. I can still be surprised that it is in the letting go that the course correction happens, like going hands off the wheel in the first bit of a snowy skid. As said in the rooms of AA and Al-Anon: Hands off, pays off.
In A.A. we aim not only for sobriety—we try again to become citizens of the world that we rejected, and of the world that once rejected us. This is the ultimate demonstration toward which Twelfth Step work is the first but not the final step.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 21
The old line says, “Suit up and show up.” That action is so important that I like to think of it as my motto. I can choose each day to suit up and show up, or not. Showing up at meetings starts me toward feeling a part of that meeting, for then I can do what I say I’ll do at meetings. I can talk with newcomers, and I can share my experience; that’s what credibility, honesty, and courtesy really are. Suiting up and showing up are the concrete actions I take in my ongoing return to normal living.
“What am I avoiding feeling or addressing, and how is that avoidance affecting my peace?”
For me, I’ve been shown I continue to get sick and have plans changed for a reason. I am not slowing down to write my book or do what’s being asked of me-so I am being made to slow down more. I’ve been sitting with this and surrendering more over the last few days. When we aren’t following the path we are meant to, God always steps in. And while it could seem like “my” plans are being derailed (because they are) it’s actually divine intervention to show me what is actually most important for me to do right now vs what I wanted to do.
. . . therefore the joy of good living is the theme of A.A.'s Twelfth Step.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 125
A.A. is a joyful program! Even so, I occasionally balk at taking the necessary steps to move ahead, and find myself resisting the very actions that could bring about the joy I want. I would not resist if those actions did not touch some vulnerable area of my life, an area that needs hope and fulfillment. Repeated exposure to joyfulness has a way of softening the hard, outer edges of my ego. Therein lies the power of joyfulness to help all members of A.A.
“In what ways has surrender shown up as strength rather than weakness in my life?”
Sometimes, I visualize myself trying to swim upstream with a fast moving current working against me. It’s exhausting and I don’t get far, until I surrender. When I allow myself to go in the natural flow of life, things are easier and better. But I can fight against the current if I think I’d be best going upstream. That’s always when I’m inserting my own will into my life instead of the divine path laid out before me. When I surrender to that, life improves. Today I will do my best to surrender to the divine plan for my life instead of my own.
I love your swimming analogy. Sometimes in the middle of struggling upstream against the current, I get quiet enough now to realize that my HP is actually suggesting that I get out of the water and simply walk upstream. Another thing my experience reveals: worrying about something isn’t the same as taking action. Even mapping out the steps, and taking the first or smallest gets us underway. In surrender, clarity.
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 562
Tradition Twelve became important early in my sobriety and, along with the Twelve Steps, it continues to be a must in my recovery. I became aware after I joined the Fellowship that I had personality problems, so that when I first heard it, the Tradition’s message was very clear: there exists an immediate way for me to face, with others, my alcoholism and attendant anger, defensiveness, offensiveness. I saw Tradition Twelve as being a great ego-deflator; it relieved my anger and gave me a chance to utilize the principles of the program. All of the Steps, and this particular Tradition, have guided me over decades of continuous sobriety. I am grateful to those who were here when I needed them.
“Where did I choose progress over perfection recently—and how did that feel?”
Just tonight I did that. (I usually write these the night before I share them) I had so much I wanted to do today, but instead I did what I could. I still made progress on things. I still did my journaling. I began a new budget plan. I did my big book study. I made good food. I got laundry & dishes done and took the trash out. Did I get everything done? No. But I am reminded that it doesn’t always have to be these big huge gestures, especially when I’m still not feeling well. The little things added up and I am grateful for progress over perfection today.
Isn’t it funny that this is the 12th tradition, and not the first? Anonymity was my primary concern before I joined my home group, out of concern for myself. Now, it’s concern for everyone, and the group itself, that brings me to a better understanding of this tradition. It’s not about self-centered fear: “The spiritual substance of anonymity is sacrifice.” 12&12 p.184.
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 must make some plans to live a normal life, but also I must live emotionally within a twenty-four-hour frame, for if I do, I don’t have to make New Year’s resolutions! I can make every day a New Year’s day! I can decide, “Today I will do this . . . Today I will do that.” Each day I can measure my life by trying to do a little better, by deciding to follow God’s will and by making an effort to put the principles of our A.A. program into action.
“What truth about myself am I more willing to face now than I was a year ago?”
Well, it’s been more than a year-really since I started AA…that I don’t know everything. Matter of fact, I actually know very little! Lol. I’m currently listening to Dave Ramsey about finances and I have worked at a credit union for almost 25 years now in all different roles…but there are always new perspectives and new actions we can take as we allow our previous ones to fall away when we admit they aren’t working best. I’m grateful to be more teachable today.
I keep thinking about what I want to do here in 2026.
I’ve been sharing the AA daily reflections for 2 years now.
Do we want to change it up? I’d like to do what helps you guys the most.
Do you like seeing the journal prompts and my own reflection on that? Do you want me to post just a blank journal prompt? Do you want to see different recovery readings daily?
I’m open to all the suggestions!
I did get this book for Christmas and thought I’d share these too!
I usually only visit TS over coffee, so I feel a little sheepish weighing in. Whatever you post always gives me food for thought for the day, and a reply if my thoughts reach a cohesive conclusion. I like As Bill Sees It bits as thought provokers, too. Whatever you post, I’m grateful for these AA threads of sobriety and recovery.
When I came into A.A., was I a desperate person? Did I have a soul-sickness? Was I so sick of myself and my way of living that I couldn’t stand looking at myself in a mirror? Was I ready for A.A.? Was I ready to try anything that would help me to get sober and to getover my soul-sickness? Should I ever forget the condition I was in?
Meditation For The Day
In the new year, I will live one day at a time. I will make each day one of preparation for better things ahead.
I will not dwell on the past or the future, only on the present.
I will bury every fear of the future, all thoughts of unkindness and bitterness, all my dislikes, my resentments, my sense of failure, my disappointments in others and in myself, my gloom and my despondency.
I will leave all these things buried and go
forward, in this new year, into a new life.
Prayer For The Day
I pray that God will guide me one day at a time in the new year. I pray that for each day, God will supply the wisdom and the strength that I need.
