I am LOVING you all sharing your thoughts @Butterflymoonwoman @Amelie & @LAB! Thank you all, these all speak directly to my heart! 
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August 27~Daily Reflections
CENTERING OUR THOUGHTS
When World War II broke out, our A.A. dependence on a Higher Power had its first major test. A.A.ās entered the services and were scattered all over the world. Would they be able to take the discipline, stand up under fire, and endure? -As Bill Sees It, p.200
I will center my thoughts on a Higher Power. I will surrender all to this power within me. I will become a soldier for this power, feeling the might of the spiritual army as it exists in my life today. I will allow a wave of spiritual union to connect me through my gratitude, obedience and discipline to this Higher Power. Let me allow this power to lead me through the orders of the day. May the steps I take today strengthen my words and deeds, may I know that the message I carry is mine to share, given freely by this power greater than myself.
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āWe alcoholics are undisciplined. So we let God discipline us in the simple way we have just outlined.ā ā Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 88
In what ways do I need more discipline in my recovery, and how can I invite God into that?
I was the MOST undisciplined person in my active alcholism. If I didnāt feel like it, I wouldnāt. Iād never finish or follow through with anything. I learned in the rooms of AA how to show up, even if I donāt want to. I remember a man talking in my very early days about how if he didnāt feeeeeel like it, he went anyway and by his example and others in recovery, I have learned how to do the same thing. Am I perfect? Hell no. I am human. But I can do things I may not want to in the moment because itās the next right thing to do. I can finish things more often. I follow my program instead of trying to change it to be more like āIā think it should be. And this has been a change in my life I didnāt often like, but I am grateful for it today. And today I will ask that my HP shows me ways I can be more disciplined in my recovery.
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I love this passage! I can relate to feeling undisciplined in recovery. Wether thats going to a meeting or exercise or juat getting important tasks done. Sometimes procrastination takes over.
I try to think to myself to ādo the oppositeā of what i really want to do. If i dont want to do something that is good and healthy for me, I just do the opposite and do it. Often times, its when i dont feel like going to a meeting, that that is when i need one the most. Same goes for exercise. Or same goes for doing the next right thing.
Great reminder for me today! Thank u!
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I love this! I have even tried this concept in managing some other emotions, even at work with kids. Here is an exampleā¦. A youngster ātalks backā or otherwise shows disrespect. The traditional approach is to put some type of consequence in place. But when I do an āopposite responseā, like bring the child closer with expressions of concern and careā¦. Well letās just say itās a bit like magic.
The word ādisciplineā actually means to teach. So if we can allow ourselves to be taught (higher power? Another human? Ourselves?), then we have a chance to learn. I consider all my work in recovery to be a journey of learning. So yes, allowing ourselves to be disciplined in this process, using real self-discipline, is actually love. Love of ourselves. We care enough to take good care of ourselves. What a gift !
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That same section really stood out to me too, thatās was gold @Butterflymoonwoman! I also love the idea of bringing people closer when they are being challenging. Man, this all hits home for me this morning for SURE! I will remember to use these in a conversation with a challenging family member today and to take care of myself better too. Thank you, you are both amazing! 
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August 28~Daily Reflections
LIGHTENING THE BURDEN
Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very thing which makes life seem so worth while to us now. . . . the dark past is . . . the key to life and happiness for others.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 124
Since I have been sober, I have been healed of many pains: deceiving my partner, deserting my best friend, and spoiling my motherās hopes for my life. In each case someone in the program told me of a similar problem, and I was able to share what happened to me. When my story was told, both of us got up with lighter hearts.
From the book Daily Reflections.
Copyright Ā© 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
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āAbandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us.ā ā Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 164
Which part of this invitation speaks most to me today? Am I living it fully?
All of this speaks directly to my soul. Itās like all of the steps wrapped into one short & neat little package. The part I suppose that stands out the most at the moment is the give freely part. Iām being called to share more of who I am with others. To share more of my inner musings and thoughts. My experiences. My life. I donāt know why that is so scary for me, but it is. More will always be revealed. I apparently have more work to do so I can be a better vessel for my HP. That means admitting my faults and clearing the wreckage of the past. Itās also abandoning myself to god. That short little passage contains everything I needed in this moment in such a simple way, and I am grateful for that today.
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I love ur approach to handling tough situations with other people. Coming from a place of love rather than say, giving consequences for disrespect. Thats such a great way to handle that. Im going to give this a try 
i never thought of ādoing the oppositeā for my interactions with others. Even with strangers on the street for example. Instead of getting impatient that they are walking too slow in front of me (whichI tend to get), i can smile and respond from a place of love and patience instead. Very great advice @LAB Im going to incorporate this āoppositeā approach to my relationships ans interactions with others.
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You are pretty amazing urself friend 
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Are you a fan of Parker Palmer and Robert Coles? What Iāve read of yours so much makes me want to reread them both. Lovely.
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Thatās wonderful stuff!!! I was able to do this today with someone Iāve had a challenging relationship with in my family. I much appreciated the reminder about the magic being found in giving extra love when itās truly what is needed most @LAB
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Im not familiar with their writing. I do read a lot so I will add them to my list. Thank you
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Lightening the load and the view of sobriety and recovery is one of my favorite parts!
Before I hit my bottom and determined that I had to make a change and leave alcohol, I nearly always viewed sobriety as a burden, a loss , and somehow a failed experience.
I was terribly wrong.
The more I learned about becoming sober and working on my recovery, the more amazed I became to find out how much better I could feel and be. I really had no idea how much alcohol was hurting me.
It has been almost 4 years and every day I continue to be amazed. I keep working on myself and find so much joy in the journey.
so of course I share my experiences with people who are interested in learning more. It has been so encouraging to me to see others give it a try and also find their lives improved.
Thank you for sharing this reading. It makes me happy to think about it!
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August 29~Daily Reflections
I CHOOSE ANONYMITY
We are sure that humility, expressed by anonymity, is the greatest safeguard that Alcoholics Anonymous can ever have.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 187
Since there are no rules in A.A. I place myself where I want to be, and so I choose anonymity. I want my God to use me, humbly, as one of His tools in this program. Sacrifice is the art of giving of myself freely, allowing humility to replace my ego. With sobriety, I suppress that urge to cry out to the world, āI am a member of A.A.ā and I experience inner joy and peace. I let people see the changes in me and hope they will ask what happened to me. I place the principles of spirituality ahead of judging, fault-finding, and criticism. I want love and caring in my group, so I can grow.
From the book Daily Reflections.
Copyright Ā© 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
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āOur liquor was but a symptom. So we had to get down to causes and conditions.ā ā Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 64
Beyond alcohol, what deeper causes and conditions am I working to heal today?
Ugh, so many things lol. My drinking was but a symptom and there has been much I have worked on. But, itās absolutely progress, not perfection. More will always be revealed. I am in the flux between things as my sponsor says, and I donāt often do well in that space. So I keep bringing myself back to what CAN I do, as I was reminded of that last night by my sponsor in our chat. I need to bring myself back to trusting my HP and their timing, not mine. And I need to he willing to let go of who I was to become who I am meant to be. I am grateful for the opportunities for growth (even if I donāt always enjoy the process) and for the program that leads the way to change.
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Today, and many days, I am working on my mental state. Always working to calm fears that generate anxiety and open my eyes to the beauty and wonder of the world while serving and loving others. Is it easy? Heck no! Is there enough ugliness and hate to justify trying to block it out and soothe myself with isolation and numbing of the mind? Of course there is. But in the next moment the only thing I would have done is make it all worse for myself. No thank you. Iām a person who does not use alcohol to ease my anxiety and fear. Now I know I can use other tools. I can breathe carefully and if someone wants to learn, I can help them. I can reach out to others for connection and if someone wants to learn, I can help them. I can take care of my mind and my body so much better because I do not pour poison into a glass for myself. I pour care into myself and the people around me with much better results. This brings me joy.
Thank you for this reading today.
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Yes!!! I agree with this wholeheartedly. But boy was it not easy. I had labelled myself many things during those years of addiction and i held onto them firmly bcuz thats all i knew. Coming into recovery, i had to be patient with myself as i learned who i was meant to be. I was like a blank canvas ready toe explore what i liked, didnt like, my passions, my values etc. I think my HP helped alot with that also. Im still learning about who I am genuinely.
When it comes to my addiction, i kind of view myself like peeling layers of an onion lol where layers are peeled every now and then to reveal something new. I know poor mental health and trauma at various stages of life played a big role in my addiction. I can see those being the cause of why i did what i did. But im grateful today that my mental health is stable. I just need to work on the trauma piece 
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August 30~Daily Reflections
THE ONLY REQUIREMENT . . .
āAt one time . . . every A.A. group had many membership rules. Everybody was scared witless that something or somebody would capsize the boat. . . .The total list was a mile long. If all those rules had been in effect everywhere, nobody could have possibly joined A.A. at all, . . .ā
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 139-40
Iām grateful that the Third Tradition only requires of me a desire to stop drinking. I had been breaking promises for years. In the Fellowship I didnāt have to make promises, I didnāt have to concentrate. It only required my attending one meeting, in a foggy condition, to know I was home. I didnāt have to pledge undying love. Here, strangers hugged me. āIt gets better,ā they said, and āOne day at a time, you can do it.ā They were no longer strangers, but caring friends. I ask God to help me to reach out to people desiring sobriety, and to, please, keep me grateful!
From the book Daily Reflections.
Copyright Ā© 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
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āTo be vital, faith must be accompanied by self-sacrifice and unselfish, constructive action.ā ā Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 93
What constructive action can I take today to make my faith vital?
Vital= 1) Absolutely necessary or important; essential or 2) Full of energy; lively
This says to me for my faith to be alive, I need to take the guided actions Iām asked to take and get myself out of the way. I ask my HP to work through me often and to help me be more of what Iām asked to be vs who I am. To get rid of my character defects the get in the way of that. Today I will ask this again and be in the flow of my hp, doing what is asked of me to the best of my ability.
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