I love allllll of this, thank you for sharing!!
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September 28~Daily Reflections
LOVE WITHOUT STRINGS
Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 89
Sponsorship held two surprises for me. First, that my sponsees cared about me. What I had thought was gratitude was more like love. They wanted me to be happy, to grow and remain sober. Knowing how they felt kept me from drinking more than once. Second, I discovered that I was able to love someone else responsibly, with respectful and genuine concern for that personās growth. Before that time, I had thought that my ability to care sincerely about anotherās well-being had atrophied from lack of use. To learn that I can love, without greed or anxiety, has been one of the deepest gifts the program has given me. Gratitude for that gift has kept me sober many times.
From the book Daily Reflections.
Copyright Ā© 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
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āWe feel that elimination of our drinking is but a beginning. A much more important demonstration of our principles lies before us in our respective homes, occupations, and affairs.āā Big Book, p. 19
How am I demonstrating recovery principles in my daily responsibilities?
Today I get to show up. Even when itās hard or it sucks. I donāt shy or run away from it. I am there for others today, itās not all about me. I get to honor other people and love them. My drinking was but a symptom. Today I am different, because of this program and I am thankful for that today.
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In my experience, the not-drinking bit is a side-effect of practicing the rest of the program. Any notion of a first drink begins to subside when I learn to accept my place in the world, with its obligations and responsibilities, without resentment, and to look for gratitude in all. Then Iām more spiritually fit to go out among other ppl, to be of service, no longer trying to pour from an empty cup. Funny, isnāt it, how it works?
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Abbbbbbbsolutely! 
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EXACTLY ALIKE
Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 89
A man came to the meeting drunk, interrupted the speakers, stood up and took his shirt off, staggered loudly back and forth for coffee, demanded to talk, and eventually called the groupās secretary an unquotable name and walked out. I was glad he was there ā once again I saw what I had been like. But I also saw what I still am, and what I still could be. I donāt have to be drunk to want to be the exception and the center of attention. I have often felt abused and responded abusively when I was simply being treated as a garden variety human being. The more the man tried to insist he was different, the more I realized that he and I were exactly alike.
From the book Daily Reflections.
Copyright Ā© 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
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āWe began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow, or the hereafter.ā ā Big Book, p. 47
Which fears still cling to me, and how can I begin to let them go?
Right now itās the fear of losing my pup. Iām trying to not borrow trouble as my sponsor puts it and live in the moment. I know there is also a greater picture and God knows what is best. Iām also very blessed Iāve got him in my life. So, whatever heās facing, we will face it together. Today, we are together and life is good. We will deal with tomorrow when it arrives.
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September 30~Daily Reflections
THE CIRCLE AND THE TRIANGLE
The circle stands for the whole world of A.A., and the triangle stands for A.A.'s Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity, and Service. Within our wonderful new world, we have found freedom from our fatal obsession.
A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 139
Early in my A.A. life, I became employed in its services and I found the explanation of our societyās logo to be very appropriate. First, a circle of love and service with a well-balanced triangle inside, the base of which represents our Recovery through the Twelve Steps. Then the other two sides, representing Unity and Service, respectively. The three sides of the triangle are equal. As I grew in A.A. I soon identified myself with this symbol. I am the circle, and the sides of the triangle represent three aspects of my personality: physical, emotional sanity, and spirituality, the latter forming the symbolās base. Taken together, all three aspects of my personality translate into a sober and happy life.
From the book Daily Reflections.
Copyright Ā© 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
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āWe have begun to learn tolerance, patience and good will toward all men, even our enemies, for we look on them as sick people.ā ā Big Book, p. 70
Who in my life can I see today with compassion rather than resentment?
My sponsor showed me how to pray for people I was resentful for, sometimes this is by using a sick friend prayer. Sometimes I need to pray for willingness to do so, but it does work.
Iām also reminded that I myself am not perfect-If I am spotting something within another, they are often just a reflection for me to see. My sponsor says if I spot it, Iāve got it. It took me a long time to grasp that there is some truth to that statement.
We are all just doing our best to get by and I donāt get to judge another souls journey. Iām not perfect, and I still do from time to time. But I do have the necessary tools in this program to work around this and have life be better for us all. Today I watch for new opportunities to do so.
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October 1~Daily Reflections
LEST WE BECOME COMPLACENT
It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85
When I am in pain it is easy to stay close to the friends I have found in the program. Relief from that pain is provided in the solutions contained in A.A.'s Twelve Steps. But when I am feeling good and things are going well, I can become complacent. To put it simply, I become lazy and turn into the problem instead of the solution. I need to get into action, to take stock: where am I and where am I going? A daily inventory will tell me what I must change to regain spiritual balance. Admitting what I find within myself, to God and to another human being, keeps me honest and humble.
From the book Daily Reflections.
Copyright Ā© 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
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āWe are like men who have lost their legs; they never grow new ones. Neither does there appear to be any kind of treatment which will make alcoholics of our kind like other men.ā ā Big Book, p. 30
How does remembering the permanence of my condition strengthen my daily surrender?
This reminds me that I canāt turn a pickle into a cucumber. I am an alcoholic, I can never drink like a ānormalā person. Once I actually accepted that, life got SO much easier for me! When I kept up the insanity and hoping I could drink while I tried allllll the different rules, it was exhausting. And I just continued the insanity. Acceptance instead brought me freedom so I could stop the mental yo-yo and just commit to my sobriety. I am grateful for that today.
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This is a perfect reading for me as I have noticed recently that I have become a bit complacent. Things get busy and I āforgetā to do the things I need to do to have that quality recovery. Im grateful today that when i find myself feeling irritable and discontent, i can realize that its bcuz im not doing the daily work, and therefore change it. I have to remember that the reason why things are good in my life is BCUZ im doing the work 
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October 2~Daily Reflections
āTHE ACID TESTā
As we work the first nine Steps, we prepare ourselves for the adventure of a new life. But when we approach Step Ten we commence to put our A.A. way of living to practical use, day by day, in fair weather or foul. Then comes the acid test: can we stay sober, keep in emotional balance, and live to good purpose under all conditions?
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 88
I know the Promises are being fulfilled in my life, but I want to maintain and develop them by the daily application of Step Ten. I have learned through this Step that if I am disturbed, there is something wrong with me. The other person may be wrong too, but I can only deal with my feelings. When I am hurt or upset, I have to continually look for the cause in me, and then I have to admit and correct my mistakes. It isnāt easy, but as long as I know I am progressing spiritually, I know that I can mark my effort up as a job well done. I have found that pain is a friend; it lets me know there is something wrong with my emotions, just as a physical pain lets me know there is something wrong with my body. When I take the appropriate action through the Twelve Steps, the pain gradually goes away.
From the book Daily Reflections.
Copyright Ā© 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
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āWe try not to indulge in cynicism over the state of the nations, nor do we carry the worldās troubles on our shoulders.ā ā Big Book, p. 132
Where am I carrying burdens today that arenāt mine to carry?
The weight of the world is heavy these days. I have to remind myself that I am powerless to control it and I donāt need to carry it. This program allows me to be a light in the world. Sometimes I need to re-center first. Connect with nature. Talk with my sponsor. Attend a meeting. Laugh with a friend. Connect to love. But I have to drop the rock first so I can move forward in the best possible way today.
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I cannot let external or internal conditions affect my sobriety. So, I have had to Drop the Rock, a book to recommend! I still like to place a strategic kick at the rock, though, in these times, with like-minded others. My New Yearās resolution was, two actions for every complaint, but recently I evolved it to be two Positive actions for every complaint. The first day, a woman in line ahead of meās benefit card ran out, so I paid her grocery balance. She burst into tears, and told me that her father was having heart surgery, etc.. The levers of power are still influenced by our kindness, thank God. This principle gives me the faith to stay sober and keep doing good things, like that old Mother Teresa poem, the first in the link below, tho we are not saints 
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I find all of this SO hard. To see pain as a friend that is letting u know that something is wrong with my emotions, is tough to see. I usually dont like feeling pain and will try to run from it (not with drugs and alcohol anymore, but with food). I am going to try and see pain as a friend.
I also have a difficult time in realizing that when i am disturbed, there is something wrong with me. Its so easy to find fault in others, but in all reality, its usually me not finding acceptance in things that causes my irritability. I can be either impatient, or judgmental, or critical, or whatever the case may be, and i have control over how i allow things effect me.
Good topic today! Its a great reminder
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I absolutely love this!!
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Amen sister! My sponsor had to remind me last night that I need to reframe some of my thinking as I still think āIām handling things well if Iām not crying about themāā¦..yup!!! Lol. I have a hard time letting me feel those uncomfortable feelings, Iāve gotten better with some of it over time but I am absolutely a work in progress.
The pages (417) about acceptance in the big book are SO helpful for me to read. We had to discuss what my sponsor called a ājustifiable resentmentā last night too as I found myself in a position where I was suddenly going to unload my irritation yesterday to someone, but it was just to bitch and have it be allllll about me being a victim of circumstance. I wasnāt looking for solutions and I was pissy about it. I was about to spew that poison out to someone else, but my HP immediately stepped in and stopped me. Instead, I need to discuss the situation with my boss and own my own stuff so we can find a better way forward together.
We are never truly in it alone!
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October 3~Daily Reflections
SERENITY AFTER THE STORM
Someone who knew what he was talking about once remarked that pain was the touchstone of all spiritual progress. How heartily we A.A.'s can agree with him. . . .
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 93-94
When on the roller coaster of emotional turmoil, I remember that growth is often painful. My evolution in the A.A. program has taught me that I must experience the inner change, however painful, that eventually guides me from selfishness to selflessness. If I am to have serenity, I must STEP my way past emotional turmoil and its subsequent hangover, and be grateful for continuing spiritual progress.
From the book Daily Reflections.
Copyright Ā© 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
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āIn some circumstances we have gone out deliberately to meet calamity, sure we could handle it alone.ā ā Big Book, p. 37
Where do I still try to manage life on self-will instead of turning it over?
This is precisely how I lived my life before. Entirely on my own will, seeking out calamity, chaos and drama. This kept me sick. Today I ask my HP for thy will to be done. I connect to my sponsor and in meetings. I do my best to live in the solution. I am not perfect, nor a saint. But Iām living a life entirely different than my past because I finally surrendered to the fact I tried doing it on my own and it didnāt work.
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