Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 31
AVOIDING CONTROVERSY
All history affords us the spectacle of striving nations and
groups finally torn asunder because they were designed for,
or tempted into, controversy. Others fell apart because of
sheer self-righteousness while trying to enforce upon the
rest of mankind some millennium of their own specification.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 176
As an A.A. member and sponsor, I know I can cause real
damage if I yield to temptation and give opinions and
advice on another's medical, marital, or religious problems.
I am not a doctor, counselor, or lawyer. I cannot tell anyone
how he or she should live; however, I can share how I came
through similar situations without drinking, and how A.A.'s
Steps and Traditions help me in dealing with my life.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 30
LIVE AND LET LIVE
Never since it began has Alcoholics Anonymous been
divided by a major controversial issue. Nor has our
Fellowship ever publicly taken sides on any question in an
embattled world. This, however, has been no earned virtue.
It could almost be said that we were born with it. . . . "So
long as we don't argue these matters privately, it's a cinch
we never shall publicly."
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 176
Do I remember that I have a right to my opinion but that
others don't have to share it? That's the spirit of "Live and
Let Live." The Serenity Prayer reminds me, with God's
help, to "Accept the things I cannot change." Am I still
trying to change others? When it comes to "Courage to
change the things I can," do I remember that my opinions
are mine, and yours are yours? Am I still afraid to be me?
When it comes to "Wisdom to know the difference," do I
remember that my opinions come from my experience? If I
have a know-it-all attitude, aren't I being deliberately
controversial?

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 29
OUR SURVIVAL
Since recovery from alcoholism is life itself to us, it is
imperative that we preserve in full strength our means of
survival.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 177
The honesty expressed by the members of A.A. in meetings
has the power to open my mind. Nothing can block the
flow of energy that honesty carries with it. The only
obstacle to this flow of energy is inebriation, but even then,
no one will find a closed door if he or she has left and
chooses to return. Once he or she has received the gift of
sobriety, each A.A. member is challenged on a daily basis
to accept a program of honesty.
My Higher Power created me for a purpose in life. I ask
him to accept my honest efforts to continue on my journey
in the spiritual way of life. I call on Him for strength to
know and seek His will.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 28
AN UNBROKEN TRADITION
We conceive the survival and spread of Alcoholics
Anonymous to be something of far greater importance than
the weight we could collectively throw back of any other
cause.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 177
How much it means to me that an unbroken tradition of
more than half a century is a thread that connects me to Bill
W. and Dr. Bob. How much more grounded I feel to be in a
Fellowship whose aims are constant and unflagging. I am
grateful that the energies of A.A. have never been
scattered, but focused instead on our members and on
individual sobriety.
My beliefs are what make me human; I am free to hold
any opinion, but A.A.'s purpose—so clearly stated fifty
years ago—is for me to keep sober. That purpose has
promoted round-the-clock meeting schedules, and the
thousands of intergroup and central service offices, with
their thousands of volunteers. Like the sun focused through
a magnifying glass, A.A.'s single vision has lit a fire of
faith in sobriety in millions of hearts, including mine.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 27
GLOBAL SHARING
The only thing that matters is that he is an alcoholic who
has found a key to sobriety. These legacies of suffering and
of recovery are easily passed among alcoholics, one to the
other. This is our gift from God, and its bestowal upon
others like us is the one aim that today animates A. A. 's all
around the globe.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 151
The strength of Alcoholics Anonymous lies in the desire of
each member and of each group around the world to share
with other alcoholics their suffering and the steps taken to
gain, and maintain, recovery. By keeping a conscious
contact with my Higher Power, I make sure that I always
nurture my desire to help other alcoholics, thus insuring the
continuity of the wonderful fraternity of Alcoholics
Anonymous.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 26
ONE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY
For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—
a loving God as He may express Himself in our group
conscience.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 132
When I am chosen to carry some small responsibility for
my fellows, I ask that God grant me the patience, openmindedness,
and willingness to listen to those I would lead.
I must remind myself that I am the trusted servant of others,
not their "governor," "teacher," or "instructor." God guides
my words and my actions, and my responsibility is to heed
His suggestions. Trust is my watchword, I trust others who
lead. In the Fellowship of A.A., I entrust God with the
ultimate authority of "running the show."

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 25
A.A.'s HEARTBEAT
Without unity, the heart of A.A. would cease to beat; . . .
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 125
Without unity I would be unable to recover in A.A. on a
daily basis. By practicing unity within my group, with other
A.A. members and at all levels of this great Fellowship, I
receive a pronounced feeling of knowing that I am a part of
a miracle that was divinely inspired. The ability of Bill W.
and Dr. Bob, working together and passing it on to other
members, tells me that to give it away is to keep it. Unity is
oneness and yet the whole Fellowship is for all of us.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 24
"BY FAITH AND BY WORKS"
On anvils of experience, the structure of our Society was
hammered out. . . . Thus has it been with A.A. By faith and
by works we have been able to build upon the lessons of an
incredible experience. They live today in the Twelve
Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, which—God
willing—shall sustain us in unity for so long as He may
need us.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 131
God has allowed me the right to be wrong in order for our
Fellowship to exist as it does today. If I place God's will
first in my life, it is very likely that A.A. as I know it today
will remain as it is.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 23
WHAT WE KNOW BEST
"Shoemaker, stick to thy last!" . . . better do one thing
supremely well than many badly. That is the central theme
of this Tradition [Five]. Around it our Society gathers in
unity. The very life of our Fellowship requires the
preservation of this principle.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 150
The survival of A.A. depends upon unity. What would
happen if a group decided to become an employment
agency, a treatment center or a social service agency? Too
much specialization leads to no specialization, to frittering
of efforts and, finally, to decline. I have the qualifications
to share my sufferings and my way of recovery with the
newcomer. Conformity to A.A.'s primary purpose insures
the safety of the wonderful gift of sobriety, so my responsibility
is enormous. The life of millions of alcoholics
is closely tied to my competence in "carrying the message
to the still-suffering alcoholic."

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 22
TRUE TOLERANCE
Finally, we begin to see that all people, including
ourselves, are to some extent emotionally ill as well as
frequently wrong and then we approach true tolerance and
see what real love for our fellows actually means
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 92
The thought occurred to me that all people are emotionally
ill to some extent. How could we not be? Who among us is
spiritually perfect? Who among us is physically perfect?
How could any of us be emotionally perfect? Therefore,
what else are we to do but bear with one another and treat
each other as we would be treated in similar circumstances?
That is what love really is.

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Words Of Wisdom From His Holiness Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama
Once we have a firm practice of compassion our state of mind becomes stronger which leads to inner peace, giving rise to self-confidence, which reduces fear. This makes for constructive members of the community. Self-centredness on the other hand leads to distance, suspicion, mistrust and loneliness, with unhappiness as the result.

Lao Tzu

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 21
NOTHING GROWS IN THE DARK
We will want the good that is in us all, even in the worst of
us, to flower and to grow.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 10
With the self-discipline and insight gained from practicing
Step Ten, I begin to know the gratifications of sobriety—
not as mere abstinence from alcohol, but as recovery in
every department of my life.
I renew hope, regenerate faith, and regain the dignity of
self-respect. I discover the word "and" in the phrase "and
when we were wrong, promptly admitted it."
Reassured that I am no longer always wrong, I learn to
accept myself as I am, with a new sense of the miracles of
sobriety and serenity.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 20
SOLACE FOR CONFUSION
Obviously, the dilemma of the wanderer from faith is that
of profound confusion. He thinks himself lost to the comfort
of any conviction at all He cannot attain in even a small
degree the assurance of the believer, the agnostic, or the
atheist. He is the bewildered one.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 28
The concept of God was one that I struggled with during
my early years of sobriety. The images that came to me,
conjured from my past, were heavy with fear, rejection and
condemnation. Then I heard my friend Ed's image of a
Higher Power: As a boy he had been allowed a Utter of
puppies, provided that he assume responsibility for their
care. Each morning he would find the unavoidable "byproducts"
of the puppies on the kitchen floor. Despite
frustration, Ed said he couldn't get angry because "that's the
nature of puppies." Ed felt that God viewed our defects and
shortcomings with a similar understanding and warmth.
I've often found solace from my personal confusion in Ed's
calming concept of God.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 19
A.A'S "MAIN TAPROOT"
The principle that we shall find no enduring strength until
we first admit complete defeat is the main taproot from
which our whole Society has sprung and flowered.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 21-22
Defeated, and knowing it, I arrived at the doors of A.A.,
alone and afraid of the unknown. A power outside of
myself had picked me up off my bed, guided me to the
phone book, then to the bus stop, and through the doors of
Alcoholics Anonymous. Once inside A.A. I experienced a
sense of being loved and accepted, something I had net felt
since early childhood. May I never lose the sense of wonder
I experienced on that first evening with A.A., the
greatest event of my entire life.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 18
AN OPEN MIND
True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith, . . .
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 33
My alcoholic thinking led me to believe that I could control
my drinking, but I couldn't. When I came to A.A., I realized
that God was speaking to me through my group. My mind
was open just enough to know that I needed His help. A
real, honest acceptance of AA. took more time, but with it
came humility. I know how insane I was, and I am extremely
grateful to have my sanity restored to me and to be
a sober alcoholic. The new, sober me is a much better
person than I ever could have been without A.A.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 17
A DAILY TUNE-UP
Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's
will into all of our activities.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85
How do I maintain my spiritual condition? For me it's quite
simple: on a daily basis I ask my Higher Power to grant me
the gift of sobriety for that day! I have talked to many
alcoholics who have gone back to drinking and I always ask
them: "Did you pray for sobriety the day you took your first
drink?" Not one of them said yes. As I practice Step Ten
and try to keep my house in order on a daily basis, I have
the knowledge that if I ask for a daily reprieve, it will be
granted.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 16
THROUGHOUT EACH DAY
This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our
lifetime.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84
During my early years in A. A. I saw Step Ten as a
suggestion that I periodically look at my behavior and
reactions. If there was something wrong, I should admit it;
if an apology was necessary, I should give one. After a few
years of sobriety I felt I should undertake a selfexamination
more frequently. Not until several more years
of sobriety had elapsed did I realize the full meaning of
Step Ten, and the word "continued." "Continued" does not
mean occasionally, or frequently. It means throughout each
day.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 15
MY CHECKLIST, NOT YOURS
Gossip barbed with our anger, a polite form of murder by
character assassination, has its satisfactions for us, too.
Here we are not trying to help those we criticize; we are
trying to proclaim our own righteousness.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 67
Sometimes I don't realize that I gossiped about someone
until the end of the day, when I take an inventory of the
day's activities, and then, my gossiping appears like a
blemish in my beautiful day. How could I have said
something like that? Gossip shows its ugly head during a
coffee break or lunch with business associates, or I may
gossip during the evening, when I'm tired from the day's
activities, and feel justified in bolstering my ego at the
expense of someone else.
Character defects like gossip sneak into my life when I
am not making a constant effort to work the Twelve Steps of
recovery. I need to remind myself that my uniqueness is the
blessing of my being, and that applies equally to everyone
who crosses my path in life's journey. Today the only
inventory I need to take is my own. I'll leave judgment of
others to the Final Judge—Divine Providence.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 14
A PROGRAM FOR LIVING
When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. .
. . On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours
ahead. . . . Before we begin, we ask God to direct our
thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from selfpity,
dishonest or self-seeking motives.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 86
I lacked serenity. With more to do than seemed possible, I
fell further behind, no matter how hard I tried. Worries
about things not done yesterday and fear of tomorrow's
deadlines denied me the calm I needed to be effective each
day. Before taking Steps Ten and Eleven, I began to read
passages like the one cited above. I tried to focus on God's
will, not my problems, and to trust that He would manage
my day. It worked! Slowly, but it worked!

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 13
UNREMITTING INVENTORIES
Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment,
and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to
remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately
and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then
we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84
The immediate admission of wrong thoughts or actions is a
tough task for most human beings, but for recovering
alcoholics like me it is difficult because of my propensity
toward ego, fear and pride. The freedom the A.A. program
offers me becomes more abundant when, through
unremitting inventories of myself, I admit, acknowledge
and accept responsibility for my wrong-doing. It is possible
then for me to grow into a deeper and better understanding
of humility. My willingness to admit when the fault is mine
facilitates the progression of my growth and helps me to
become more understanding and helpful to others.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 12
CURBING RASHNESS
When we speak or act hastily or rashly, the ability to be
fair-minded and tolerant evaporates on the spot.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 91
Being fair-minded and tolerant is a goal toward which I
must work daily. I ask God, as I understand Him, to help
me to be loving and tolerant to my loved ones, and to those
with whom I am in close contact. I ask for guidance to curb
my speech when I am agitated, and I take a moment to
reflect on the emotional upheaval my words may cause,
not only to someone else, but also to myself. Prayer,
meditation and inventories are the key to sound thinking
and positive action for me.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 11
SELF-RESTRAINT
Our first objective will be the development of self-restraint.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 91
My drive to work provides me with an opportunity for selfexamination.
One day while making this trip, I began to
review my progress in sobriety, and was not happy with
what I saw. I hoped that, as the work day progressed, I
would forget these troublesome thoughts, but as one
disappointment after another kept coming, my discontent
only increased, and the pressures within me kept mounting.
I retreated to an isolated table in the lounge, and asked
myself how I could make the most of the rest of the day. In
the past, when things went wrong, I instinctively wanted to
fight back. But during the short time I had been trying to
five the A.A. program I had learned to step back and take a
look at myself. I recognized that, although I was not the
person I wanted to be, I had learned to not react in my old
ways. Those old patterns of behavior only brought sorrow
and hurt, to me and to others. I returned to my work station,
determined to make the day a productive one, thanking
God for the chance to make progress that day.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 10
FIXING ME, NOT YOU
If somebody hurts us and we are sore, we are in the wrong
also.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 90
What a freedom I felt when this passage was pointed out to
me! Suddenly I saw that I could do something about my
anger, I could fix me, instead of trying to fix them. I
believe that there are no exceptions to the axiom. When I
am angry, my anger is always self-centered. I must keep
reminding myself that I am human, that I am doing the best
I can, even when that best is sometimes poor. So I ask God
to remove my anger and truly set me free.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 9
A SPIRITUAL AXIOM
It is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed, no
matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 90
I never truly understood the Tenth Step's spiritual axiom
until I had the following experience. I was sitting in my
bedroom, reading into the wee hours, when suddenly I
heard my dogs barking in the back yard. My neighbors
frown on this kind of disturbance so, with mixed feelings of
anger and shame, as well as fear of my neighbors'
disapproval, I immediately called in my dogs. Several
weeks later the exact situation repeated itself but this time,
because I was feeling more at peace with myself, I was able
to accept the situation—dogs will bark—and I calmly
called in the dogs. Both incidents taught me that when a
person experiences nearly identical events and reacts two
different ways, then it is not the event which is of prime
importance, but the person's spiritual condition. Feelings
come from inside, not from outward circumstances. When
my spiritual condition is positive, I react positively.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 8
DAILY INVENTORY
. . . and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 59
I was beginning to approach my new life of sobriety with
unaccustomed enthusiasm. New friends were cropping up
and some of my battered friendships had begun to be
repaired. Life was exciting, and I even began to enjoy my
work, becoming so bold as to issue a report on the lack of
proper care for some of our clients. One day a co-worker
informed me that my boss was really sore because a
complaint, submitted over his head, had caused him much
discomfort at the hands of his superiors. I knew that my
report had created the problem, and began to feel
responsible for my boss's difficulty. In discussing the
affair, my co-worker tried to reassure me that an apology
was not necessary, but I soon became convinced that I had
to do something, regardless of how it might turn out. When
I approached my boss and owned up to my hand in his
difficulties, he was surprised. But unexpected things came
out of our encounter, and my boss and I were able to agree
to interact more directly and effectively in the future.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 7
DAILY MONITORING Continued to take
personal inventory. . . .
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 88
The spiritual axiom referred to in the Tenth Step— "every
time we are disturbed, no matter what the cause, there is
something wrong with us"—also tells me that there are no
exceptions to it. No matter how unreasonable others may
seem, I am responsible for not reacting negatively.
Regardless of what is happening around me I will always
have the prerogative, and the responsibility, of choosing
what happens within me. I am the creator of my own
reality.
When I take my daily inventory, I know that I must stop
judging others. If I judge others, I am probably judging
myself. Whoever is upsetting me most is my best teacher. I
have much to learn from him or her, and in my heart, I
should thank that person.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 6
FACING OURSELVES . . . and Fear says,
"You dare not look!"
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 49
How often I avoided a task in my drinking days just
because it appeared so large! Is it any wonder, even if I
have been sober for some time, that I will act that same
way when faced with what appears to be a monumental
job, such as a searching and fearless moral inventory of
myself? What I discover after I have arrived at the other
side—when my inventory is completed—is that the illusion
was greater than the reality. The fear of facing myself kept
me at a standstill and, until I became willing to put pencil
to paper, I was arresting my growth based on an intangible.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 5
YESTERDAY'S BAGGAGE
For the wise have always known that no one can make
much of his life until self-searching becomes a regular
habit, until he is able to admit and accept what he finds,
and until he patiently and persistently tries to correct what
is wrong.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 88
I have more than enough to handle today, without dragging
along yesterday's baggage too. I must balance today's
books, if I am to have a chance tomorrow. So I ask myself
if I have erred and how I can avoid repeating that particular
behavior. Did I hurt anyone, did I help anyone, and why?
Some of today is bound to spill over into tomorrow, but
most of it need not if I make an honest daily inventory.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 4
A NECESSARY PRUNING
. . . we know that the pains of drinking had to come before
sobriety, and emotional turmoil before serenity.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 94
I love spending time in my garden feeding and pruning my
beautiful flowers. One day, as I was busily snipping away,
a neighbor stopped by. She commented, "Oh! Your plants
are so beautiful, it seems such a shame to cut them back." I
replied, "I know how you feel, but the excess must be
removed so they can grow stronger and healthier." Later I
thought that perhaps my plants feel pain, but God and I
know it's part of the plan and I've seen the results. I was
quickly reminded of my precious A.A. program and how
we all grow through pain. I ask God to prune me when it's
time, so I can grow.

Pope Francis

Pope Francis
"I have a dogmatic certainty: God is in every person’s life. God is in everyone’s life. Even if the life of a person has been a disaster, even if it is destroyed by vices, drugs or anything else—God is in this person’s life. 

You can, you MUST try to seek God in every human life. Although the life of a person is a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always a space in which the good seed can grow. You have to trust God." 

Pope Francis on why God is in every person's life...

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 3
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.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 2
"THE ACID TEST"
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 isn't 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.

Words Of Wisdom From His Holiness Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama
We need to be clear which emotions are harmful and which are helpful; then cultivate those that are conducive to peace of mind. Often, due to a lack of knowledge, we accept anger and hatred as natural parts of our minds. This is an example of ignorance being the source of our problems. To reduce our destructive emotions we strengthen the positive ones; such emotional hygiene can contribute to a healthier society.

Daily Reflection

OCTOBER 1
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.