~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~ ^*^*^*^*^ (    ~~  /) (   (AA)/   ) (_   /AA _)   /AA ^*^*^*^*^ Defiance 'As psychiatrists have often observed, defiance is the outstanding characteristic of many an alcoholic. When we encountered AA, the fallacy of our defiance was revealed. At no time had we asked what God's will was for us; instead we had been telling Him what it ought to be. No man, we saw, could believe in God and defy Him, too. Belief meant reliance, not defiance. In AA we saw the fruits of this belief: men and women spared from alcohol's final catastrophe.' Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 31 Thought to Consider . . . While it isn't always easy, if I keep it simple, it works. *~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~* SIT Stay In Today *~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~* Guidance From We Need Outside Help: If we are fooling ourselves, a competent adviser can see this quickly.  And, as he skillfully guides us away from our fantasies, we are surprised to find that we have few of the usual urges to defend ourselves against unpleasant truths.  In no other way can fear, pride, and ignorance be so readily melted.   After a time, we realize that we are standing firm on a brand-new foundation for integrity, and we gratefully credit our sponsors, whose advice pointed the way. c. 1967, As Bill Sees It, page 248 *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* A LIST OF BLESSINGS One exercise that I practice is to try for a full inventory of my blessings.   .  .  . AS BILL SEES IT, p.  37 What did I have to be grateful for?  I shut myself up and started listing the blessings for which I was in no way responsible, beginning with having been born of sound mind and body.  I went through seventy-four years of living right up to the present moment.  The list ran to two pages, and took two hours to compile; I included health, family, money, A.A.