Your Daily Reprieve 03.31.14

Your Daily Reprieve for Monday March 31, 2014

From Stuart, Florida

If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the
shoulder of giants. ~-- Isaac Newton

It is quite possible to waste a lot of time and energy trying to make impossible changes. Many of us, inspired by the dynamics of the program and driven more by enthusiasm than prudence, strike out on missions that cannot be accomplished -- missions we cannot win and should never undertake.

Turning back the clock is one of these. It can't be done. Controlling someone else's behavior is another. We can set the stage for the desired behavior, encourage it, and improve the odds by getting out of the way, but we don't have it in our bag of tricks to make people think, feel, or do any one thing.

The program addresses the art of the possible. The only options we have are the options that are available to us. If our former partners don't want to reconcile with us, that's not an available option. A happily-ever-after marriage is not possible if we haven't yet learned how to have a healthy relationship. Instead, we can focus on acquiring these people skills by building to our own possibilities.

-- Days of Healing

I learned again and again in my life, until you get your own act together, you’re

not ready for Big Love. What you’re ready for is one of those codependent

relationships where you desperately need a partner.

~-- The Science of Creating Heaven on Earth

"You've got to get up every morning with determination

if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction."
~ George Lorimer

Big Book Quote

"...we were approached by those in whom the problem had been solved,
there was nothing left for us but to pick up the simple kit of
spiritual tools laid at our feet."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, Page 25~

Daily Share!

AA Speaker of the Day

Ken Devanney

at Damerham , UK. June 2013

http://tinyurl.com/mmhz5w8

Wee Willie’s

Sobriety First Media

AA CD’s Literature and tapes

http://www.mediafire.com/sobrietyfirst

Your Daily Reprieve is now on Facebook

It is a PRIVATE GROUP

https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourdailyreprieve/

To be added, email: txm1@comcast.net

Please share your wisdom, anecdotes and travels with other members of Your Daily Reprieve.

Twitter

https://twitter.com/YourDailyReprie

Celebrate Your Anniversary Here

SHOW HOW IT WORKS!!!

If you are celebrating an anniversary this month,

please send along the date and any message you would

like to share with the other 2200 people on this email list and

perhaps as many as 10000 others who have it forwarded.

You need to remind me every year!

Send your day, your location and number of years to:

txm1@comcast.net

March 2014 Anniversaries

3/1 Michelle B. ()…..23

3/2 James M. (New York, NY)…..1

3/2 Liz C. (NYC, NY)…..5

3/2 Ellen S. (New York, NY)…..16

3/2 Rusty S. (Trenton, NJ)…..5

3/3 Kelly T. (Newmarket, NH)…..23

3/3 Steve H. (Atlantic Highlands, NJ)…..8

3/3 Colleen D-W. (Danvers, MA)…..20

3/3 J R (Hobe Sound, FL)…..23

3/3 Robert M. (Portsmouth, NH)…..11

3/4 June Bug W.(Covington, LA)…..11

3/4Wayne S. (Boxford, MA)…..10

3/5 Tom M. (Stuart, FL)…..20

3/5 Tommy P. (Melbourne, FL)…..6

3/5 Kristin (Providence RI/Gr. Camano, BVI)…..2

3/5 Andy Mac (Southampton, UK)…..5

3/6 Chris O. (NYC,NY)…..3

3/6 John D. (Cavan, Ireland)…..6 mos

3/7 David G. (Vancouver, BC)…..11

3/7 George H. (Milwaukee, WI)…..6

3/7 Diane C. (Larkspur, CA)…..40

3/7 Terry M. (Hoboken, NJ)…..5

3/7 Stephen S. (Quincy, MA)…..4

3/8 Calvin H. (Orlando, FL)…..1

3/8 Rockne L. (Raquette Lake, NY)……16

3/9 Andy W. (City Island, NY)…..27

3/9 Peter R. (New York, NY)…..3

3/9 Sheila J. (NYC, NY) …..28

3/9 Kelly M. (Carversville, PA)…..5

3/9 Patti K. (Baiting Hollow, NY)…..30

3/9 Tony C. (Punta Gorda, FL)…..35

3/10 Nard B. (Bridgewater, NJ)…..1

3/10 Lou C. (Waterford, CT)…..6

3/11 Michael L. (NYC, NY)…..2

3/12 Jesse T. (New York, NY)…..90 days

3/12 Tony L. (Orlando, FL)…..2

3/12 Mark W. (Dallas, TX)…..13

3/13 Tom V. (East Hanover, NJ)…..7

3/13 Grace P. (Chatham, NJ)…..25

3/13 Sue S. (Naples, FL)…..2

3/13 Brian H. (Haverhill, MA)…..21

3/14 Vik R. (Bernardsville, NJ)…..26

3/15 Brian G. (S. Harpswell, ME)…..24

3/15 Henry Z. (Punta Gorda, FL)…..27

3/16 Bill I. (Islington, MA)…..29

3/16 Kate C. (Ventura, CA)…..38

3/17 Dan D. (Tortola, BVI)…..35

3/18 Dawn (Amesbury, MA)…..16

3/18 Jane C. (London, UK)…..1

3/18 Sanyu (Tortola, BVI)…..1

3/20 Bill M. (Clearwater, FL)…..40

3/20 Rob A. (Highland Falls, NY)…..1

3/20 Gloria F. (West Roxbury, MA)…..3

3/21 Norm A. (Boston/Miami)…..25

3/21 Manny S. ( )…..2

3/22 Lee H. (Montreal, Quebec)…..5

3/22 Dane M. (Nongprue, Thailand)…..22

3/23 Isobel A-D. (Madison, NJ)…..33

3/22 Sally S. (NJ/Nantucket)…..26

3/23 Yvonne M. (Caguas, Puerto Rico)…..1

3/23 David C. (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)…..1

3/23 Marlene P. ( ) …..12

3/23 Laura P. (Melville, NY)…..1

3/24 Willie B. (Davenport, FL)…..29

3/24 Kevin T. (NYC, NY)…..28

3/25 Deb K. (Hampton, NH)…..25

3/25 Mike D.(Barcelona, Spain)…..10

3/25 Buffy H. (Gambier, OH)…..22

3/26 Stella A. (Ringwood, UK)…..

3/26 Fred L. (Long Beach, NY)…..6

3/27 Cathy C-T. (Palm City, FL)…..6

3/27 Chuck L. (Key largo, FL)…..27

3/27 Jonelle A. (Laguna Beach, CA)…..26

3/29 Cliff K. (Philadelphia, PA)…..9

3/29 Robyn S. (New City, NY)…..21

3/29 Francis G. (Southampton, UK)…..38

3/30 Mike C. (Townsend, MA)…..2

3/31 Susan W. (Ringwood, UK)…..1

1106 Total Years of Sobriety

12&12

Tradition Eleven - "Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films."

This, in brief, in the process by which A.A.'s Tradition Eleven was constructed. To us, however, it represents far more than a sound public relations policy. It is more than a denial of self-seeking. This Tradition is a constant and practical reminder that personal ambition has no place in A.A. In it, each member becomes an active guardian of our Fellowship.

p. 183

Twenty Four Hours

A.A. Thought For The Day

Since I've been in A.A., have I made a start toward being more
unselfish? Do I no longer want my own way in everything? When things
go wrong and I can't have what I want, do I no longer sulk? Am I
trying not to waste money on myself? And does it make me happy to see
my family and my home have enough attention from me? Am I trying not
to be all "get" and no "give"?

Meditation For The Day

Each day is a day of progress, steady progress forward, if you make it
so. You may not see it, but God does. God does not judge by outward
appearance. He judges by the heart. Let Him see in your heart a simple
desire always to do His will. Though you may feel that your work has
been spoiled or tarnished, God sees it as an offering for Him. When
climbing a steep hill, people are often more conscious of the weakness of
their stumbling feet than of the view, the grandeur, or even of the
upward progress.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may persevere in all good things. I pray that I may advance
each day in spite of my stumbling feet.

Daily Thought

^*^*^*^*^
(\ ~~~ /)
( \(AA)/ )
(_ /AA\ _)
/AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Illusion

"Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows. Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people. The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death."

Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 30

Thought to Consider . . .

"Many alcoholics are enthusiasts. They run to extremes.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
DENIAL
Don't Even Notice I Am Lying

Daily Reflection

NO ONE DENIED ME LOVE

On the A. A. calendar it was Year Two. . . . A newcomer

appeared at one of these groups. . . . He soon proved that

his was a desperate case, and that above all he wanted to

get well . . . [He said], "Since I am the victim of another

addiction even worse stigmatized than alcoholism, you may

not want me among you."

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 141-42

I came to you—a wife, mother, woman who had walked out

on her husband, children, family. I was a drunk, a pill-head,

a nothing. Yet no one denied me love, caring, a sense of

belonging. Today, by God's grace and the love of a good

sponsor and a home group, I can say that—through you in

Alcoholics Anonymous—I am a wife, a mother, a

grandmother and a woman. Sober. Free of pills. Responsible.

Without a Higher Power I found in the Fellowship, my

life would be meaningless. I am full of gratitude to be a

member of good standing in Alcoholics Anonymous.

Pot Luck

"I can't help it" . . . that's what we all say when we don't want to exert ourselves.
--Eva Lathbury
Irresponsible behavior is not unfamiliar to us. Passivity is equally familiar. In the past, excusing ourselves of all responsibility prevented us from being blamed. We have learned that it also prevented us from feeling worthy, from fulfilling our potential, from feeling the excitement that comes with achievement.

Our fear of failure helped us to be irresponsible. We may still fear failure, but the program offers us an antidote. We can't fail if we have turned our lives over to our higher power. We will be shown the way to proceed. Our fellow travelers have messages for us that will smooth our path.

I have chosen recovery. I have already said, "I can help it." I will celebrate that I am taking responsibility for my life today.

You are reading from the book: