Daily Reflection

FEBRUARY 2
RESCUED BY SURRENDERING
Characteristic of the so-called typical alcoholic is a
narcissistic egocentric core, dominated by feelings of
omnipotence, intent on maintaining at all costs its inner
integrity. . . . Inwardly the alcoholic brooks no control from
man or God He, the alcoholic, is and must be the master of
his destiny. He will fight to the end to preserve that
position.
A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 311
The great mystery is: "Why do some of us die alcoholic
deaths, fighting to preserve the 'independence' of our ego,
while others seem to sober up effortlessly in A.A.?" Help
from a Higher Power, the gift of sobriety, came to me when
an otherwise unexplained desire to stop drinking coincided
with my willingness to accept the suggestions of the men
and women of A.A. I had to surrender, for only by reaching
out to God and my fellows could I be rescued.

Daily Reflection

FEBRUARY 1
GOAL: SANITY
". . . Step Two gently and very gradually began to infiltrate
my life. I can't say upon what occasion or upon what day I
came to believe in a Power greater than myself, but I
certainly have that belief now."
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 27
"Came to believe!" I gave lip service to my belief when I
felt like it or when I thought it would look good. I didn't
really trust God. I didn't believe He cared for me. I kept
trying to change things I couldn't change. Gradually, in
disgust, I began to turn it all over, saying: "You're so
omnipotent, you take care of it." He did. I began to receive
answers to my deepest problems, sometimes at the most
unusual times: driving to work, eating lunch, or when I was
sound asleep. I realized that I hadn't thought of those
solutions—a Power greater than myself had given them to
me. I came to believe.

Daily Reflection

JANUARY 31
OUR COMMON WELFARE COMES FIRST
The unity of Alcoholics Anonymous is the most cherished
quality our Society has . . . We stay whole, or A. A. dies
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 129
Our Traditions are key elements in the ego deflation
process necessary to achieve and maintain sobriety in
Alcoholics Anonymous. The First Tradition reminds me
not to take credit, or authority, for my recovery. Placing
our common welfare first reminds me not to become a
healer in this program; I am still one of the patients. Selfeffacing
elders built the ward. Without it, I doubt I would
be alive. Without the group, few alcoholics would recover.
The active role in renewed surrender of will enables me
to step aside from the need to dominate, the desire for
recognition, both of which played so great a part in my
active alcoholism. Deferring my personal desires for the
greater good of group growth contributes toward A.A.
unity that is central to all recovery. It helps me to
remember that the whole is greater than the sum of all its
parts.

Daily Reflection

JANUARY 30
FREEDOM FROM . . . FREEDOM TO
We are going to know a new freedom. . . .
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 83
Freedom for me is both freedom from and freedom to. The
first freedom I enjoy is freedom from the slavery of
alcohol. What a relief! Then I begin to experience freedom
from fear—fear of people, of economic insecurity, of
commitment, of failure, of rejection. Then I begin to enjoy
freedom to—freedom to choose sobriety for today, freedom
to be myself, freedom to express my opinion, to experience
peace of mind, to love and be loved, and freedom to grow
spiritually. But how can I achieve these freedoms? The Big
Book clearly says that before I am halfway through making
amends, I will begin to know a "new" freedom; not the old
freedom of doing what I pleased, without regard to others,
but the new freedom that allows fulfillment of the promises
in my life. What a joy to be free!

Daily Reflection

JANUARY 29
THE JOY OF SHARING
Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to
see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a
fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends—
this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will
not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and
with each other is the bright spot of our lives.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 89
To know that each newcomer with whom I share has the
opportunity to experience the relief that I have found in this
Fellowship fills me with joy and gratitude. I feel that all the
things described in A.A. will come to pass for them, as they
have for me, if they seize the opportunity and embrace the
program fully.

Daily Reflection

JANUARY 28
THE TREASURE OF THE PAST
Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the
very thing which makes life seem so worth while to us now.
Cling to the thought that, in God's hands, the dark past is
the greatest possession you have—the key to life and
happiness for others. With it you can avert death and
misery for them.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 124
What a gift it is for me to realize that all those seemingly
useless years were not wasted. The most degrading and
humiliating experiences turn out to be the most powerful
tools in helping others to recover. In knowing the depths of
shame and despair, I can reach out with a loving and
compassionate hand, and know that the grace of God is
available to me.

Daily Reflection

JANUARY 27
FREEDOM FROM GUILT
Where other people were concerned, we had to drop the
word "blame" from our speech and thought.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 47
When I become willing to accept my own powerlessness, I
begin to realize that blaming myself for all the trouble in
my life can be an ego trip back into hopelessness. Asking
for help and listening deeply to the messages inherent in
the Steps and Traditions of the program make it possible to
change those attitudes which delay my recovery. Before
joining A.A., I had such a desire for approval from people
in powerful positions that I was willing to sacrifice myself,
and others, to gain a foothold in the world. I invariably
came to grief. In the program I find true friends who love,
understand, and care to help me learn the truth about
myself. With the help of the Twelve Steps, I am able to
build a better life, free of guilt and the need for selfjustification

Daily Reflection

JANUARY 26
RIGOROUS HONESTY
Who wishes to be rigorously honest and tolerant? Who
wants to confess his faults to another and make restitution
for harm done? Who cares anything about a Higher Power,
let alone meditation and prayer? Who wants to sacrifice
time and energy in trying to carry A.A. 's message to the
next sufferer? No, the average alcoholic, self-centered in
the extreme, doesn't care for this prospect—unless he has
to do these things in order to stay alive himself.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 24
I am an alcoholic. If I drink I will die. My, what power,
energy, and emotion this simple statement generates in me!
But it's really all I need to know for today. Am I willing to
stay alive today? Am I willing to stay sober today? Am I
willing to ask for help and am I willing to be a help to
another suffering alcoholic today? Have I discovered the
fatal nature of my situation? What must I do, today, to stay
sober?

Daily Reflection

JANUARY 25
WHAT WE NEED—EACH OTHER
. . . A.A. is really saying to every serious drinker, "You are
an A.A. member if you say so . . . nobody can keep you
out."
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 139
For years, whenever I reflected on Tradition Three ("The
only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop
drinking"), I thought it valuable only to newcomers. It was
their guarantee that no one could bar them from A.A.
Today I feel enduring gratitude for the spiritual
development the Tradition has brought me. I don't seek out
people obviously different from myself. Tradition Three,
concentrating on the one way I am similar to others,
brought me to know and help every kind of alcoholic, just
as they have helped me. Charlotte, the atheist, showed me
higher standards of ethics and honor; Clay, of another race,
taught me patience; Winslow, who is gay, led me by
example into true compassion; Young Megan says that
seeing me at meetings, sober thirty years, keeps her coming
back. Tradition Three insured that we would get what we
need—each other.

Daily Reflection

JANUARY 24
GETTING INVOLVED
There is action and more action. "Faith without works is
dead." . . . To be helpful is our only aim.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, pp. 88-89
I understand that service is a vital part of recovery but I
often wonder, "What can I do?" Simply start with what I
have today! I look around to see where there is a need. Are
the ashtrays full? Do I have hands and feet to empty them?
Suddenly I'm involved! The best speaker may make the
worst coffee; the member who's best with newcomers may
be unable to read; the one willing to clean up may make a
mess of the bank account—yet every one of these people
and jobs is essential to an active group. The miracle of
service is this: when I use what I have, I find there is more
available to me than I realized before.

Daily Reflection

JANUARY 23
HAVING FUN YET?
. . . we aren't a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or
fun in our existence, they wouldn't want it. We absolutely
insist on enjoying life. We try not to indulge in cynicism
over the state of the nations, nor do we carry the world's
troubles on our shoulders
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 132
When my own house is in order, I find the different parts of
my life are more manageable. Stripped from the guilt and
remorse that cloaked my drinking years, I am free to
assume my proper role in the universe, but this condition
requires maintenance. I should stop and ask myself, Am I
having fun yet? If I find answering that question difficult or
painful, perhaps I'm taking myself too seriously—and finding
it difficult to admit that I've strayed from my practice of
working the program to keep my house in order. I think the
pain I experience is one way my Higher Power has to get
my attention, coaxing me to take stock of my performance.
The slight time and effort it takes to work the program—a
spot-check inventory, for example, or the making of
amends, whatever is appropriate—are well worth the effort.

Daily Reflection

JANUARY 22
"LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE"
A few hours later I took my leave of Dr. Bob. . . . The
wonderful, old, broad smile was on his face as he said
almost jokingly, "Remember, Bill, let's not louse this thing
up. Let's keep it simple!" I turned away, unable to say a
word. That was the last time I ever saw him.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS COMES OF AGE, p. 214
After years of sobriety I occasionally ask myself: "Can it be
this simple?" Then, at meetings, I see former cynics and
skeptics who have walked the A. A. path out of hell by
packaging their lives, without alcohol, into twenty-four
hour segments, during which they practice a few principles
to the best of their individual abilities. And then I know
again that, while it isn't always easy, if I keep it simple, it
works.