August 31 | Alcoholics Anonymous Steps In Action

August 31| Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon Old me back then, self-hate and self-harm no ability to love. Today enough self-esteem, to love, be loved and useful. I can love people and not like their behaviour and develop forgiveness daily. Acceptance and forgiveness, progress not perfect is a two way street today…

I used to expect everyone had the same outlook as me. Treat others as you might expect them to treat you. In fellowship we have principles which we learn, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly and sometimes never. Forgive those who never do, they are a blinking nuisance to our serenity today…

August 2008 ~ 2010

Alcoholics Anonymous will never have a professional class: As the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, the doors are always open in the fellowship of A.A. No class divisions, no separation, no hierarchy. We are always on the same page, on the same journey, one day at a time. We bring experience, strength and hope to fellowship and just for today. We become students in the master class of life. Progress is dependent on our spiritual condition, the ability to live in reality with least denial and without fixing ourselves with people, places and things.

Acceptance of how we are today means we do not judge or control. And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation -- some fact of my life -- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's [our world as it may be today] world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.

August 31 2010 ~ wisdom freely received and freely given and always today... A fellowship where we develop our: spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. Spiritual: how much I live in reality, emotional; how balanced is my outlook; physical, as well as I may be today. Perspective in fellowship, sharing wisdom to live harmoniously in the moment of now

August 31 2010 ~ Freedom in humility... The journey of living is now, not the destination. Freedom today is letting go control and letting choices happen. If I try to control and shape, it is my world and not ours. Freedom and humility: to learn and develop choices as life offers in harmony and not in conflict. Humility offers learning and progress today
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "A unique programme... Alcoholics Anonymous will never have a professional class. We have gained some understanding of the ancient words “Freely ye have received, freely give.” We have discovered that at the point of professionalism, money and spirituality do not mix. [12&12]

I believe that Alcoholics Anonymous stands alone in the treatment of alcoholism because it is based solely on the principle of one alcoholic sharing with another alcoholic. This is what makes the program unique. When I decided that I wanted to stay sober, I called a woman who I knew was a sober member of A.A., and she carried the message of Alcoholics Anonymous to me. She received no monetary compensation, but rather was paid by staying sober another day herself. Today I could ask for no payment other than another day free from alcohol, so in that respect, I am generously paid for my labour."
-/-
August 30 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous

DonInLondon A good restful bank holiday weekend for me, including two days without meeting, lovely conversations with family. How am I feeling? Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired? Not sure, usual routines missed, and I know regular routines are important to me, pray meditate, steps 1,2 & 3, acceptance, serenity prayer. And in writing these words, putting sober first reminds me of what I can and cannot do today...

Can do, get to a meeting and listen, be early for the meeting before the meeting and the meeting after the meeting. Share experience strength and hope. Be loving, know the many voices in recovery keep us sober. I see the need to help, asked and answered as best one person can, know the limits one to one or be pulled down, swamped and useless. Its always the many voices making the difference in fellowship...

August 2008 ~ 2010

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking... A fellowship of inclusion each individual unique and authentic with one similarity, a desire to be sober today. I always saw the pitfalls in joining anything which might take away my individuality. Fellowship gave me back my authenticity, gratitude every day...

Less denial and more truth, always just for today. Everything happens in the moment, at the same time we can be living in the past or living in the future in our thinking. Thinking about life back then, in the malady of alcoholism, and thinking about the possibilities in the future. In the present moment, we can feel, we can live and deal with reality as we find the truth of now...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "THE ONLY REQUIREMENT. . . “At one time. . .every A.A. group had many membership rules. Everybody was scared witless that something or somebody would capsize the boat. . .The total list was a mile long. If all those rules had been in effect everywhere, nobody could have possibly joined A.A. at all [12&12]
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August 29 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon Bank Holiday Monday, less meetings of fellowship today as some venues for meetings are closed. Good news, any meeting close to home is likely to be full of people I know, a chance to say hello and catch up just for today…

And lots of people are coming back from holidays as August comes to an end. Some mad as hatters, some so chilled out they are horizontal. Some angry and resentful, mostly serene as the meetings start, preamble sharing and a prayer to truth, love and wisdom for today…

August 2008 ~ 2010

"Since there are no rules in A.A."

Truth, love and wisdom learned, key to living openly, honestly and willing to face the consequences of who I am today. Sober life has taught me to accept the consequences of not only my attitudes and behaviour but those of others too. No secrets to keep me or you deluded or stuck, one day at a time...

Anonymity in fellowship offers confidentiality. Anonymity to find the truth of who I am and can be a day at a time. Truth is my spiritual compass, truth the foundation of spiritual living... The horrible truth of addiction back then locked me in secrecy, truth today liberates, not just me, but everyone who knows me today...
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "I choose anonymity... We are sure that humility, expressed by anonymity, is the greatest safeguard that Alcoholics Anonymous can ever have. [12 & 12]

Since there are no rules in A.A., I place myself where I want to be, and so I choose anonymity. I want my God to use me, humbly, as one of His tools in this program. Sacrifice is the art of giving of myself freely, allowing humility to replace my ego. With sobriety, I suppress that urge to cry out to the world, “I am a member of A.A.” and I experience inner joy and peace. I let people see the changes in me and hope they will ask what happened to me. I place the principles of spirituality ahead of judging, fault-finding, and criticism. I want love and caring in my group, so I can grow."

-/-

August 28 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon Speaking for myself! In fellowship I may speak for myself, never speak for you. Experience strength and hope is particular to each of us. And we are non-professional in a fellowship based on love not science. We may be learning the art of life together, each with our own particular outlook. Each and everyone a teacher in what works or does not work today. Can do, change me, cannot do change you, the wisdom to cherish always...

A kind word, a handshake and "how are you doing?" We never know what the response may be. We may try help and not be worried if we are not welcome. Fear and isolation are so frequent, and then we make a difference as another shares their story to us today. Simply listening to good news or bad news open the door, offers inclusion on a dark night when loneliness grips and bites deep in the soul...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Light of heart... when we wake up each knowing we are never alone, that we can share our good news and our hard news and be supported and challenged helpfully, a heavy heart is lightened. Conscious contact with good conscience, a broader view, our life choices become more open and realistic today

How am I feeling, why and what to do... I feel good, because I am not alone, and I can share openly, honestly and be willing to change. I can cover my needs today, be free of wants, know desires are good and be open to all possibilities. Good choices, possibilities, options, a No is as good as Yes.
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Lightening the burden... Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very thing which makes life seem so worth while to us now. . . . the dark past is . . . the key to life and happiness for others. [big book]
Since I have been sober, I have been healed of many pains: deceiving my partner, deserting my best friend, and spoiling my mother’s hopes for my life. In each case someone in the program told me of a similar problem, and I was able to share what happened to me. When my story was told, both of us got up with lighter hearts."
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August 27 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon Three meetings in two days: One felt good and I connected, the second a disagreeable chap wanted the window open which let in noise and still good for me, the third full of friends and courage to change. Conclusion, some need medication for their ailments of the mind and others need none…

As many can attest, sobriety offers powerful healing, emotional and physical. Living in the moment where feelings fit reality the spiritual connection to now. Fellowship helps us be sober, then mental health is improved in time and sanity returns on a daily basis. AA is not a cure for other mental health conditions which emerge as self-medication with alcohol ceases. Great harm can ensue when non-professionals discount and shun professional help and advise against it...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Centre my thoughts, or in other words grounding myself? How do we close down at the end of one day and start afresh? Every day we are open to every influence, good and bad and we have choices. I start most mornings asking myself how I am feeling why and what can I do. If I know my mood, know why I feel good, bad or indifferent, I have choices to actions to improve my outlook.

Usually my reflex on waking, step one, powerless over people places and things, at the same time I have choices. And step two, beware the madness of doing the same thing over and over and expecting something different to happen. Step three, can do, cannot do and wisdom to know the difference. Let go my self-will and let in help and support from those around me... truth, love and wisdom of others will help my perspective today

Pray and meditate, to improve my attitude and behaviour! I am an atheist, agnostic and believer in the god of my understanding. God is truth, love and wisdom in the ever present moment of now. Where do I learn the truth? Most often, truth learned from others and not from my opinions or beliefs. How do I learn to love? From everyone I encounter and from everything I have learned on my life journey. Where does wisdom manifest? From the experience learned from others and my life journey. Prayer and meditation is about faith in what we come to understand about life as it is. Prayer: the serenity prayer for acceptance of reality, prayers as they fit to good conscience. Meditation: listening to the answers each day and understanding what works. Meditation is the silence I need to hear the inner voice, informed by all my senses and others I encounter. God lives in the moment of now...

AA Daily Reflections ~ "CENTERING OUR THOUGHTS When World War II broke out, our A.A. dependence on a Higher Power had its first major test. A.A.’s entered the services and were scattered all over the world. Would they be able to take the discipline, stand up under fire, and endure . . . ? As Bill Sees It, p.200

I will centre my thoughts on a Higher Power. I will surrender all to this power within me. I will become a soldier for this power, feeling the might of the spiritual army as it exists in my life today. I will allow a wave of spiritual union to connect me through my gratitude, obedience and discipline to this Higher Power. Let me allow this power to lead me through the orders of the day. May the steps I take today strengthen my words and deeds, may I know that the message I carry is mine to share, given freely by this power greater than myself."
-/-

August 26 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous

DonInLondon After eights meeting, issues of later sobriety. Brilliant chair, one similarity: a desire to be sober. And diversity: we are from all walks of life, with an abundance of wisdom. We are trusted servants and no leaders telling us what to do. We can be who we choose to be, just for today…

August 2008 ~ 2010




Moments of clarity: in recovery always today. Living in reality with a sober head, we need less coping strategies, less coping tactics. The more honest our living, the more honest our outlook, needs met wants forgotten, our expectations no longer resentments under construction, clarity only a moment away? Always...

Giving it away for me means sharing experience strength and hope and receiving experience strength and hope from fellow "recoverers". Modest and realistic in our aspirations to be sober today. As spiritual is now, reality is now and everything works in the now, denial and acceptance are now, the odds are good today!

God & Higher Powers... I cannot define God or higher powers. Recently I mentioned I can be an agnostic, atheist and believer all in one. Life experiences offer us evidence of what works for us in our living today. And for me, truth, love and wisdom seem to be the bedrock of living as well as we can. I am full of opinions and self-knowledge based on life experiences and influences around me. Truth, love and wisdom from others helps me make better decisions, improves my outlook and behaviour.
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Giving it away... Though they knew they must help other alcoholics if they would remain sober, that motive became secondary. It was transcended by the happiness they found in giving themselves to others. [big book]

Those words, for me, refer to transference of power, through which God, as I understand Him, enters my life. Through prayer and meditation, I open channels, and then I establish and improve my conscious contact with God. Through action I then receive the power I need to maintain my sobriety each day. By maintaining my spiritual condition, by giving away what has been freely given to me, I am granted a daily reprieve."
-/-

August 25 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon A desire to stop drinking is the only requirement, no rules laws and regulations. Anarchic democracy without leaders and everyone is a trusted servant. Always sharing experience strength and hope and everyone can let off steam. We are learning to live life, open honest and willing in unity service and recovery. We learn our part in the big picture and life on life's terms. Freedom to choose always...

Life balance can be at odds with modern virtues, to become top at a single element of life. Driven by: ambition and self-will, adulation for being famous as: an athlete, a pop star, a celebrity, a business person, a politician, a guru, a drunk. One skill: in pursuit of perfection. Burnt out and worn out too soon, the road of recovery, extraordinary ordinary, learning to love, be loved and truly useful one day at a time...

August 2008 ~ 2010

An emphatic NO is better than a half-hearted yes. Learning how to say NO: is one of the most difficult lessons for some of us in recovery. Learning not to get pulled into some situations with people and places means we can make better choices about what we like doing and must do to be "ourselves" each and every day...

Inclusion, choices and love today: these are possible today, not guaranteed and not certain. No longer isolated in a malady, now more open to being a part of life around me. When I reach out to help or ask for help, I may need do this as often as I can, as I include then others include me in what is happening today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 25 Step 8 Daily Reflections Video Reading: The gift of bonding... Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. [big book]

Many times in my alcoholic state, I drank to establish a bond between myself and others, but I succeeded only in establishing the bondage of alcoholic loneliness. Through the A.A. way of life, I have received the gift of bonding – with those who were there before me, with those who are there now, and with those yet to come. For this gracious gift from God, I am forever grateful."
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August 24 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon Back in the final days of drinking I can forget how bad it got... Then I hear a harrowing share detailing the physical and emotional horror. I sat there feeling the shock of truth. My story no less shocking mirrored what I heard. We humans have amazing capacities to recover when we find a path.

In recent months many newcomers to the fellowship. Some very wary of the people, the places, what they hear and what they see. In early days I wanted to fit in and be a good student. I did people please, and I did get caught in the web of some with little or no integrity. And then realised that fellowship is like all walks of life, people are people, some good and some bad, plenty of wisdom to learn and plenty of chaff a day at a time...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Spiritual experience, all day every day... some suggest it is the ability to cope with now, some suggest it is letting go our opinion and personal view "thinking kept me drinking," some suggest less denials and more truth, less of a personal judgment and standing in others shoes. Could it be simply living in the moment?


"All inclusive today" In fellowship, in life and more in tune with "truth, love and wisdom shared with me." To be included, loved and develop choices in life as life happens. There is always a balance in what we can and cannot do today, accepting the truth is my connection to spiritual today...

-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 24 Step 8 Daily Reflections Video Reading: A riddle that works... It may be possible to find explanations of spiritual experiences such as ours, but I have often tried to explain my own and have succeeded only in giving the story of it. I know the feeling it gave me and the results it has brought, but I realize I may never fully understand its deeper why and how. [As Bill sees it..]

I had a profound spiritual experience during an open A.A. meeting, which led me to blurt out. “I’m an alcoholic!” I have not had a drink since that day. I can tell you the words I heard just prior to my admission, and how those words affected me, but as to why it happened, I do not know. I believe a power greater than myself chose me to recover, yet I do not know why. I try not to worry or wonder about what I do not yet know; instead, I trust that if I continue to work the Steps, practice the A.A. principles in my life, and share my story, I will be guided lovingly toward a deep and mature spirituality in which more will be revealed to me. For the time being, it is a gift for me to trust God, work the Steps and help others."
-/-
August 23 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon How am I feeling? Yesterday, a brief encounter with a friend lifts me up inside, and a gift given. Learning how to love is deep, practical and without any conditions. Being loved without conditions is a wonder to experience. The truth, as we give, we receive and never quite as we may have learned in the past. New days, new beginnings and cherish always...

Step eight, working on the wreckage of the past. A list of amends and willing to make them and I was thorough and rigorous. And still some amends become clearer as the years have passed and I am more human, making progress and not perfect. At my worst, it was the best I could be, at their worst it was the best they could be. Forgiveness and acceptance deepens with every encounter in the present day...

August 2008 ~ 2010

My family... Relieved beyond imagination I found recovery, no longer confounded by silence, broken promises and old behaviour from back then. As I am learning who I am today, they too see the changes in me. A son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend ... more real, open honest and willing to be a part of all living today...

How am I feeling today... Upon waking, how am I feeling? Open to share, honest in my outlook and willing to be a part of the big picture today? Or do I feel closed down, not able to share my truth and unwilling to be part of the big picture today? Most likely I am making progress and never perfect, just for today...
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 23 Step 8: Bringing the message home... Can we bring the same spirit of love and tolerance into our sometimes deranged family lives that we bring to our A.A. group? [12&12]

My family members suffer from the effects of my disease. Loving and accepting them as they are - just as I love and accept A.A. members - fosters a return of love, tolerance and harmony to my life. Using common courtesy and respecting other's personal boundaries are necessary practices for all areas of my life."
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August 22 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon Emotional stability suggests balance in our outlook. Our feelings fit with reality, what we experience right now. If our current situation is stable, our emotions are likely to be stable and we are in the moment of now. When we face extremes, then our feelings are likely to move toward extremes. We find balance in how we react and respond. Feelings inform our thinking, our response then can be more considered than a split second reaction...

Self-Reliance and Interdependence, is always a balance and something we learn every day. When we make decisions which are about us, we may not feel the need to consult day to day. When decisions impact on others we need include them in the decision making. Agreement and acceptance offers empathy and equality. We need not tread on the toes of our fellows today...

August 2008 ~ 2010

We are a part of life, community society, as we gain perspective and see the big picture we are open to all possibilities and not limited to one view or outlook. Life experience and being inter-dependent our world is enriched as we listen and live new experience, strength and hope today. Open to truth and love today...

I need slow down... to now! One step ahead? We need be, to asses risk, be open to future possibilities. All good. And "still myself" to know how I am feeling today, why and what to do. "Still ourselves" to know how we are feeling today, why and what we can do. Together, live now with an eye on the future...
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 22 Step 8: Seeking emotional stability... When we developed still more, we discovered the best possible source of emotional stability to be God himself. We found that dependence upon His perfect justice, forgiveness, and love was healthy, and that it would work where nothing else would. If we really depended upon God, we couldn't very well play God to our fellows nor would we feel the urge wholly to rely on human protection and care. [12 & 12]

All my life I depended on people for my emotional needs and security, but today I cannot live that way anymore. By the grace of God, I have admitted my powerlessness over people, places and things. I had been a real "people addict"; wherever I went there had to be someone who would pay some kind of attention to me. It was the kind of attitude that could only get worse, because the more I depended on others and demanded attention, the less I received. I have given up believing that any human power can relieve me of that empty feeling. Although I remain a fragile human being who needs to work A.A.'s Steps to keep this particular principle before my personality, it is only a loving God who can give me inner peace and emotional stability."
-/-
August 21 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ Atheist, agnostic or believer in God, by design we are built to live in the moment. Whether it is nature, evolution, a grand design we have instincts. And we have emotions. If our emotions or feelings fit the present moment, most often we are in reality? Today we may travel somewhere and wonder how we got there, or we may enjoy the journey or be on autopilot. Twelve steps keep me more grounded in the journey and reality and in the moment today...

London still in shock after riots, less people out and about at night enjoying the sights and sounds and the feel of the city is different. I am grateful for where I live, hope life returns to normal, that extraordinary ordinary heartbeat. And very grateful I have fellowship to keep me safe, more willing, open and honest. Service comes in many forms, unity and recovery inside and outside fellowship. Part of the bigger society today...

August 2008 ~ 2010

12 steps to live well take action and learn from experience. We simply try to be ourselves and share the message of experience strength and hope. In fellowship we lean on the many, never just one. As we may tumble we need the many hands of AA to help guide us to safe ground, today and every day...

In fellowship we help as we may. We are all equal in our rights and responsibilities. We may suggest, never instruct, we may shudder at another’s path, it is not our own. Always: freedom of choice, the path of spiritual and emotional well-being. Always rocks and hard places as well as joy, maybe all today …
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 21: We just try... My stability came out of my trying to give, not out of demanding that I receive. [The best of Bill]

As long as I try, with all my heart and soul, to pass along to others what has been passed along to me, and do not demand anything in return, life is good to me. Before entering this program of Alcoholics Anonymous I was never able to give without demanding something in return. Little did I know that, once I began to give freely of myself, I would begin to receive, without ever expecting or demanding anything at all. What I receive today is the gift of “stability”, as Bill did: stability in my A.A. program; within myself; but most of all, in my relationship with my Higher Power, whom I choose to call God. [Ghandi: "God is Truth" Truth in the moment of now, God is Love & God works Through people.. what we come to believe is our personal understanding and not something imposed by anyone upon another human on their path of life today, faith in truth, love and wisdom may be where we start with a higher power than our own outlook]"
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August 20 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ A life story in step four becomes our reference book. In step five we share our assets and liabilities. Step six, contingent on the day we ask, less drawn into our liabilities and step seven improving our courage faith and confidence today. Step eight making the list of amends and being willing to make them. Preparation for step nine follows. Step work, timely and particular to each of us. Sober, good and usually difficult, life works better today...

Our way back to extraordinary ordinary living is truly a gift in recovery learning as we go with gentle stoicism. Hope each day slows down or speeds up to be in the moment of now, where feelings fit our current situation, no burden from the past, enough faith to continue our journey's today...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Toward emotional freedom... Feelings first then we think about them. Our mood and emotions, felt then thought through, sometimes limits the actions we take, sometimes extends our actions. We make risk assessments all day long, consciously and some without thought. What was I thinking about when..?

How am I feeling, why and what can I do is assertive. How are we feeling, why and what can we do is empathy. To be able to feel, express and be assertive in the moment helps us find empathy, of how we feel, the why and express what we can do together. Empathy part of our emotional progress today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 20: Toward emotional freedom... Since defective relations with other human beings have nearly always been the immediate cause of our woes, including our alcoholism, no field of investigation could yield more satisfying and valuable rewards than this one. [12&12]

Willingness is a peculiar thing for me in that, over a period of time, it seems to come, first with awareness, but then with a feeling of discomfort, making me want to take some action. As I reflected on taking the Eighth Step, my willingness to make amends to others came as a desire for forgiveness, of others and myself. I felt forgiveness toward others after I became aware of my part in the difficulties of relationships. I wanted to feel the peace and serenity described in the Promises. From working the first seven Steps, I became aware of whom I had harmed and that I had been my own worst enemy. In order to restore my relationships with my fellow human beings, I knew I would have to change. I wanted to learn to live in harmony with myself and others so that I could also live in emotional freedom. The beginning of the end to my isolation - from my fellows and from God - came when I wrote my Eighth Step list."
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August 19 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ Actions fit the situation? It took time to experience feelings in the moment. Back in the day, I often walked away from situations confused, and only then wondered how I felt. Today feelings are not blocked by overwhelming fear. Good, bad, happy or sad feelings happen, no need to second guess or pretend. "Now, is what it is," feelings fit the reality of now and I can be myself as life unfolds...

After Eight meeting tonight: Chair was funny fantastic. Steps stop us from suicide, Traditions stop us from homicide. And life is real in recovery, good bad sad joyful. So many friends there. Hugs all round. I belong in fellowship :)

August 2008 ~ 2010

Agnostic, atheist and believer all in one... Back then and even now, when I feel the need to think, isolated and alone, the agnostic and atheist prevails in self-will. When I share and ask for help, I receive truth, love and wisdom. For me, the believer prevails in conscious contact with you today…

Ego vs. Esteem... Back then, self will run riot, ego raw, and no room for faith. Now, as I see "Truth and Wisdom" shared, I am open and learning. Ghandi, “god is truth, love and wisdom of others." Interdependent in the reality of now, equal to listen and to share, learn and grow today...
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "Step 8 Daily Reflections August 19: A frame of reference... Referring to our list [inventory] again. Putting out of our minds the wrongs others had done, we resolutely looked for our own mistakes. Where had we been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking and frightened? [big book]

There is a wonderful freedom in not needing constant approval from colleagues at work or from the people I love. I wish I had known about this Step before, because once I developed a frame of reference, I felt able to do the next right thing, knowing that the action fit the situation and that it was the correct thing to do"
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August 17 | Step Eight Reading



From my life story in step four, I was able to see harm done to me and everyone. Awful and calamitous times, and undermined by alcohol, emotional and spiritual damage was done. In step eight making the list of amends and being willing meant I could see my part in matters, deal with the reality and prepare to progress to step nine…

A recent meeting, I shared about how the steps help me live in the moment. I do not control my feelings. Feelings are the foundation of my thinking patterns. If I feel right, most likely my thinking which follows is right sized. If old feelings are evoked by a situation, old thinking is likely to cloud the situation. Sometimes bad if feelings make me feel and think in the old insane ways, "here we go again!" Today in the moment feelings can fit with reality, letting go and letting in the new...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Self-harm done: spiritual and emotional. Open, honest and willing, and making progress, and not perfect. Life is full of denial, white lies and dark lies, yet truth is where we share our spiritual core today. When denial creeps in as it may, or lies, the self-harm for me wounds me deeper than ever imagined back then. Truth endures more today...

Just for today... I have choices, first to be sober, sober first and then the rest of life can happen. I see real life more fully, more able to react and respond to each and every experience with strength and hope, courage to see the big picture and consider my impact and see life as you see it too. All in the moment of now...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Step 8 Daily Reflections August 17: Righting the harm... In many instances we shall find that though the harm done others has not been great, the emotional harm we have done ourselves has. [12&12]

Have you ever thought that the harm you did a business associate, or perhaps a family member, was so slight that it really didn’t deserve an apology because they probably wouldn’t remember it anyway? If that person, and the wrong done to him, keeps coming to mind, time and again, causing an uneasy or perhaps guilty feeling, then I put that person’s name at the top of my “amends list,” and become willing to make a sincere apology, knowing I will feel calm and relaxed about that person once this very important part of my recovery is accomplished."
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August 16 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ Step five chair last night, all about sharing our life story with another human being and our higher power. It is part of clearing the wreckage of the past, making room for new beginnings. Romance and finance are big in our lives. Romance and heart break a part of living, to love, and be loved. Finance, needs met, wants forgotten. These elements of life, always confounding and better approached with a sober head and open heart today...

How am I feeling? Okay in myself. Why? Today I have freedom to choose. What am I going to do? Live in the moment, my intention is to deal with every encounter fairly, be open to change, and say no emphatically to anything which is not good for me. An emphatic no is better than a half-hearted yes...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Yes I had dropped out. In isolation back then and powerless over anything, and trying to fix the emptiness, no real choices, broken. To now, involved and included with choices each day, equal and now the same size and rights as all humans. Inclusion: with rights and responsibilities. To love, be loved and useful always just for today

Amends and living... "Life is difficult" M Scott Peck. As we learn from experience in recovery, what strength and hope may be in our lives, "difficult" becomes a fact and not an obstacle; it becomes the nature of living in the moment. We are part of this universe, joyful or sad we are connected, forgive, live and cherish always...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 16 "I had dropped out..." We might next ask ourselves what we mean when we say that we have “harmed” other people. What kinds of “harm” do people do one another, anyway? To define the word “harm” in a practical way, we might call it the result of instincts in collision, which cause physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual damage to people. [12&12]

I had been to Eighth Step meetings, always thinking, “I really haven’t harmed many people, mostly myself.” But the time came when I wrote my list out and it was not as short as I thought it would be. I either liked you, disliked you, or needed something from you – it was that simple. People hadn’t done what I wanted them to do and intimate relationships were out of hand because of my partners unreasonable demands. Were these “sins of omission”? Because of my drinking, I had “dropped out” – never sending cards, returning calls, being there for other people, or taking part in their lives. What a grace it has been to look at these relationships, to make my inventories in quiet, alone with the God of my understanding, and to go forth daily, with a willingness to be honest and forthright in my relationships."
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August 15 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



~ DonInLondon

How am I feeling? Good in myself, but... discombobulated by last night. Why? One or two were in judgmental mode in my fellowship meeting, and held opinions about their worthiness to be alcoholics with dire experiences. What can I do? I can say I am an alcoholic in recovery. A rock bottom is a rock bottom and anyone who finds sobriety, emotionally and spiritually is okay with me...

A desire to stop drinking is the only requirement. When I hear people judge others as "non alcoholics" I do shudder inside. We are non professional, and there are no rules, laws or regulations in AA fellowship. It is hard enough to step into a meeting to find out what we are. The burden of proof is always with the individual and if we say we are in, we are in AA fellowship...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Step 8, Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all... Harm we did, not harm they did, willingness for me became more obvious in the amends I felt unable to make, and then become willing. Each amends as potent as any other as we learn to cherish always in the moment of now...

Amends we make just for today... Sometimes we may feel the amends is done, in my experience our living amend is constant in the way we change our attitude and behaviour as encounter old and new situations, as we have made the list of people harmed and become willing, our daily endeavours show us and others the way...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 15: Didn't we hurt anybody? Some of us, though, tripped over a very different snag. We clung to the claim that when drinking we never hurt anybody but ourselves. [12&12]

This Step seemed so simple. I identified several people whom I had harmed, but they were no longer available. Still, I was uneasy about the Step and avoided conversations dealing with it. In time I learned to investigate those Steps and areas of my life which made me uncomfortable. My search revealed my parents, who had been deeply hurt by my isolation from them; my employer, who worried about my absences, my memory lapses, my temper; and the friends I had shunned, without explanation. As I faced the reality of the harm I had done, Step Eight took on a new meaning. I am no longer uncomfortable and I feel clean and light."
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August 14 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon Amends take time. An amend to self, accepting I need make every amend I can to those I have harmed emotionally, and any other where restitution is key. It is my 55th birthday today, and few years older than I would have been had I carried on drinking. Yesterday, being part of fellowship and sharing, and today chatting with family by phone. Amends take many forms, learning to love, be loved back and useful in the moment of now...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Repairing the damage... we did not know it was self will run riot, self-obsession, or obsession about people, places and things. And there was denial too, as we self-harmed, we were open to harm done by others as well as love from others. As we live the steps, right people and right places become part of our lives today

Amends as we may just for today... as we live and practice the steps, the right people, places and things remain in our lives, as do the new right people, places and things. Amends can be inclusion or letting go. No more hanging on to grudges or righteous resentments, forgiveness is always key today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Step 8 Daily Reflections August 14: Repairing the damage ~ We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we haven’t the will to do this, we ask until it comes. Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol. [AA big book]

Making a list of people I had harmed was not a particularly difficult thing to do. They had showed up in my Fourth Step inventory: people towards whom I had resentments, real or imagined, and whom I had hurt by acts of retaliation. For my recovery to be thorough, I believed it was not important for those who had legitimately harmed me to make amends to me. What is important in my relationship with God is that I stand before Him, knowing I have done what I can to repair the damage I have done."
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August 13 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



~ DonInLondon The sin of omission: Tell, don’t tell. Anonymity helped me find the truth of who I am in fellowship. Sacrosanct, anonymity works in the rooms, an umbrella of confidentiality. In living my life, secrets will keep me stuck, and leave me open to every character defect. Open, honest and willing I have nothing to hide. With courage, faith and confidence, the right people are in my life today…

Down the generations we learn from history, sometimes good and sometimes bad. A child learns from parents how to live. "The virtues and the sins." As we learn in recovery, it is what we do today which makes the difference. So important to know we learn the difference if we are able, open honest and willing with 12 principles. Practice to make progress: from ignorance to denial and then acceptance. Forgive always...

Wonderful lunch time meeting: I forgave my Dad everything long ago, and was reminded how blighted his life had been. War, orphan, badly treated, he never found peace until his last days in 1991. I had a long way to go before I found recovery... helped by so many, gratitude and cherish always

August 2008 ~ 2010

A clean sweep, from our fearless moral inventory in step 4, in step 8 & 9, we find those we need make amends to, immediately, when we can and to those we cannot. Step 8 sometimes is a clean sweep, in my experience more is revealed as time goes by, and my wisdom to make amends is tempered with growing wisdom today...

A clean sweep not just for today, it is every day with step 10! Living in the now, in recovery we learn the difference between natural feelings, and welcome reactions and the need to consider our response to events and experiences. Self will run riot? It can be, and hopefully less so in the moment, less harm done to you or me, acceptance is today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Step 8 Daily Reflections August 13: A clean sweep... and third, having thus cleared away the debris of the past, we consider how, with our newfound knowledge of ourselves, we may develop the best possible relations with every human being we know. [12&12]

As I faced the Eighth Step, everything that was required for successful completion of the previous seven Steps came together: courage, honesty, sincerity, willingness and thoroughness. I could not muster the strength required for this task at the beginning, which is why this Step reads “Became willing. . .”I needed to develop the courage to begin, the honesty to see where I was wrong, a sincere desire to set things right, thoroughness in making a list, and willingness to take the risks required for true humility. With the help of my Higher Power in developing these virtues, I completed this Step and continued to move forward in my quest for spiritual growth."
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August 12 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ A wonderful experience last night, after eight meeting. How to love, be loved and useful. Seeing friends, being with people who understand what its like on our first day, thirty and forty years later, life is in the moment and just for today... I feel happy and humble...

Morning meditations. I am alive and breathing, check my situation as a type 1 diabetic, blood sugar levels and insulin requirements. Daily meditations starts with, step one, two and three, "freedom to choose, sane enough right now, let go and let good happen, and serenity prayer, can do cannot do. At bedtime, gratitude for and anything disturbing me? Usually me and my attitudes...

August 12 2008 ~ 2010

Look back don't stare, as we move on to the maintenance steps, 10 11 12. Step 8 our list of amends and willingness to make them. As we look at harm done by us, we need reflect the steps are not for judging harm done to us. The gift, understanding our part in all matters, our side of the street clean, what others do is their business...

Making amends not just for today. The living amend to self is recovery and spiritual progress as each of us understands, a personal view. Our thorough and fearless inventory, and time illuminates more to do and less to do, more open, honest and willing. When I falter, I share and listen for experience strength and hope today...

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AA Daily Reflections August 12 ~ Look backward... First, we take a look backward and try to discover where we have been at fault; next we make a vigorous attempt to repair the damage we have done [12&12]

As a traveller on a fresh and exciting A.A. journey of recovery, I experienced a newfound peace of mind and the horizon appeared clear and bright, rather than obscure and dim. Reviewing my life to discover where I had been at fault seemed to be such an arduous and dangerous task. It was painful to pause and look backward. I was afraid I might stumble! Couldn't I put the past out of my mind and just live in my new golden present? I realized that those in the past whom I had harmed stood between me and my desire to continue my movement toward serenity. I had to ask for courage to face those persons from my life who still lived in my conscience, to recognize and deal with the guilt that their presence produced in me. I had to look at the damage I had done, and become willing to make amends. Only then could my journey of the spirit resume."
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DonInLondon Step Eight Video Reading



A wonderful experience tonight, after eight meeting. How to love, be loved and useful. Seeing friends, being with people who understand what its like on our first day, thirty and forty years later, life is in the moment and just for today... I feel happy and humble...

Expression of feelings... open, honest and willing to let out the pain of the past? That was then and this is now. If we are to express our feelings genuinely and authentically in the day, we need find acceptance of back then, or we drag the past into the present and risk the "same old same old" in the future, progress daily

August 11 2008 ~ 2010

Expression of feelings... open, honest and willing to let out the pain of the past? That was then and this is now. If we are to express our feelings genuinely and authentically in the day, we need find acceptance of back then, or we drag the past into the present and risk the "same old same old" in the future, progress daily

Let go anger one day at a time... Less fixing and more living in the moment, occasions happen where old feelings rise up in daily experiences. Letting go is recognising the impact of today’s events, accepting we need change our responses rather than reacting in the same old ways. If I don't see it, you do, tell me today...

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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Step eight "removing the ground glass...”: The moral inventory is a cool examination of the damages that occurred to us during life and a sincere effort to look at them in a true perspective. This has the effect of taking the ground glass out of us, the emotional substance that still cuts and inhibits. [as Bill sees it...]

My Eighth Step list used to drag me into a whirlpool of resentment. After four years of sobriety, I was blocked by denial connected with an on-going abusive relationship. The argument between fear and pride eased as the words of the Step moved from my head to my heart. For the first time in years I opened my box of paints and poured out an honest rage, an explosion of reds and blacks and yellows. As I looked at the drawing, tears of joy and relief flowed down my cheeks. In my disease, I had given up my art, a self-inflicted punishment far greater than any imposed from outside. In my recovery, I learned that the pain of my defects is the very substance God uses to cleanse my character and to set me free."
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August 10 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ The high ground of arrogance, something I cannot afford. Shouting down and putting down. A politicians thin veneer wears off as a torrent of anger spews in every sentence. I was never like that? In our own heads we will have felt that way. Sober and level headed, we are less prone to outbursts and even feeling that way. When we leave people to rot, rotten things happen...

It's all your fault! Blame, blame and more blame. They did it, if you hadn't, then I had to. Politicians last night on the riots. Beligerent denial, in the grip of righteousness. Establish law and order, and they too feel anger and resentment. The conservative cries out, then gets angry, talks down, feels he gets away with it, accusing another as mealy mouthed. A violent verbal assault, an example of not getting his own way... denial of reality

August 10 2008 ~ 2010

At my worst I was doing my best, at their worst they are doing their best! I need find forgiveness for my worst efforts in living, especially when in the iron grip of an "ism" or addiction I had lost my choices in living. I need forgive everyone everything, accept the consequences of actions even when exclusion may happen today...

Amends made one day at a time, our daily amend is recovery our gift to self and everyone we meet today. Recovery is freedom to be honest open and willing to change. We will make mistakes and sometimes pay a high price, as we admit, learn and gain wisdom, our shared experiences enrich us and everyone today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 10 AA Daily Reflections : Redoubling our efforts ~ To a degree, he has already done this when taking moral inventory, but now the time has come when he ought to
redouble his efforts to see how many people he had hurt, and in what ways. [12&12]

As I continue to grow in sobriety, I become more aware of myself as a person of worth. In the process, I am better able to see others as persons, and with this comes the realization that these were people whom I had hurt in my drinking days. I didn't just lie, I lied about Tom. I didn't just cheat, I cheated Joe. What were seemingly impersonal acts, were really personal affronts, because it was people - people of worth - whom I had harmed. I need to do something about the people I have hurt so that I may enjoy a peaceful sobriety."
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August 9 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous

DonInLondon ~ On a positive note, Thank God I am sober



Riots in London. A breakdown in law and order. Anger and resentment, loss of reason and insanity rules. Why? The answers will come in time. Most of us know the answers, and many just cannot accept them. If we do not invest in people, people will likely divest those privileged in a broken society. Weak leadership, process driven, reliant on "the establishment," out of touch and out of sight need a kick up the arse...

I can recall working hard and putting every effort into my work. Driven beyond reason to sustain the unsustainable. Job cuts, sell off and no guarantees of a future. I did what I always did, found another job to start. It looked bigger and better, and turned out to be more of the same. A breakdown, loss of purpose and no identity, I sought oblivion and wanted to end it all. Drink helped me on my way to hell back then...

August 9 2010 ~ Before I go to bed at night, I forgive everyone and everything who has ever harmed me... Much easier after step 9 in our programme and after a while of practicing the steps. But if the resentment still lingers, I say "fuck em" and then pray for them and eventually forgiveness finds its way. Progress not perfect today...

August 9 2010 ~ This matter of honesty everyday... Upon waking, my daily practice, is ask myself how am I feeling, then think why, then what may I do. If I try deny my feelings, I start my day dishonestly. What I do is reflect and meditate, see the big picture, remind myself of steps 1 to 3, serenity prayer. I can do this anytime of day...
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August 8 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ A lovely meeting last night, had a great impact on me. I love people and trying to help by sharing. We never know our impact on others or where they are just now in their lives. If drink and drugs are part of another’s story, I never criticise anyone sharing about other addictions because it could have been me! Life is precious and precarious one day at a time...

Step eight, listing amends and being willing. I did not realise my part in all matters until I really understood simply being in the wrong place, wrong time and not willing to let go. Justifiable outrage from the past is now over. Today I can be firm, state my case if needs be, at the same time I need not take inventory of others. I have steps to take to keep to my side of the street and not dig potholes in yours...

August 8 ~ Step Eight... making a list of people we have harmed and being willing to make amends. Alcoholism: self-harm and no way to stop on our own. We could not stop and no one could stop us. Our amends to self is recovery, our willingness to make amends starts with a list, step nine the amends comes later... a list each day is step ten...

August 8 ~ Experience and wisdom... just for today, every day we start afresh, how we are feeling and why, a morning meditation, step one acceptance, step two sanity, step three letting go and letting in the worlds wisdom. At days end, step ten and gratitude, I know more of who I am just for today
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Step Eight "made a list..." August 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed. [12&12]

When I approached the Eighth Step, I wondered how I could list all the things that I have done to other people since there were so many people, and some of them weren’t alive anymore. Some of the hurts I inflicted weren’t bad, but they really bothered me. The main thing to see in this Step was to become willing to do whatever I had to do to make these amends to the best of my ability at that particular time. Where there is a will, there’s a way, so if I want to feel better, I need to unload the guilt feeling I have. A peaceful mind has no room for feeling of guilt. With the help of my Higher Power, if I am honest with myself, I can cleanse my mind of these feelings."
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August 7 Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous

DonInLondon ~ “It’s all about me!” I never thought it was. Ignorance: followed by denial and drink. Driven to consume back then in the day. Now is different, humility to learn, share experience strength and hope, and listen always to the wisdom of my fellows…

And of course we need determine the difference when listening. No one is perfect, and there are no perfect solutions, simply progress, what may seem wisdom can be opinion and dogma, doctrine and expressions of the selective truth…

The psychic change in steps 6 & 7 ... from extremes of fear, brave facing and brittle ego we found in step six, to a balance in faith, courage and confidence in step seven. It was suggested to me "I let go and let God." As God works through people, not just me, I ask for help in fellowship or elsewhere. My faith is not blind it's all around me today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "A "design for living": August 7 We in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, “a design for living” that really works. [AA big book]

I try each day to raise my heart and hands in thanks to God for showing me a “design for living” that really works through our beautiful Fellowship. But what, exactly, is this “design for living” that “really works”? For me, it is the practice of the Twelve Steps to the best of my ability, the continued awareness of a God who loves me unconditionally, and the hope that, in each new day, there is a purpose for my being. I am truly, truly blessed in the Fellowship."
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August 6 Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



I don't know when I became aware of my drinking being a problem, for many years it was never a problem to me. Drink served me or so I thought. My best friend always in hand. Then came denial, workaholic, relationships and driven to perfection. A breakdown, boken, blaming the world, denial and acceptance years apart. Now I realise acceptance is a daily practice living life on life's terms...

DonInLondon ~ I don't know when I became aware of my drinking being a problem, for many years it was never a problem to me. Drink served me or so I thought. My best friend always in hand. Then came denial, workaholic, relationships and driven to perfection. A breakdown, boken, blaming the world, denial and acceptance years apart. Now I realise acceptance is a daily practice living life on life's terms...

We hear tragedy every day in the media. And almost every day in recovery we hear heart rending stories. We are allowed to share how similar our experience may be. Sometimes we don't know if we have helped or hindered, and then out of the blue, we find out we have made a difference. And we can feel peace, just for today unity, service and recovery and every day as life permits...

August 6 In the driving seat? No longer driven by a hundred forms of fear, anger and resentment, ego and brave facing, what next? Now we live on a two way street, we can drive with courage, faith and confidence. We learn our boundaries, know our choices and take account of everyone, lest we forget the wisdom and remember today...

August 6 Sanity returns just for today... always there will be vexatious people, places and things, as we apply and live the 12 step programme, we change our attitude and behaviour and how we feel when conflicts occur. In a moment insanity can flare up, with courage faith and confidence, our sanity can be restored any time of day...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Driven... Aug 6 : Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. [AA big book]
My selfishness was the driving force behind my drinking. I drank to celebrate success and I drank to drown my sorrows. Humility is the answer. I learn to turn my will and my life over to the care of God. My sponsor tells me that service keeps me sober. Today I ask myself: Have I sought knowledge of God's will for me? Have I done service for my A. A. group?"
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August 4 & 5 Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ DonInLondon ~ I was out travelling yesterday to see family. Being there and being a part of life and family is one of the amends which keeps on developing stronger and more deep understanding of life today. To be: included and a part of, to be welcomed rather than feared, to be sober offers enlightened and hope just for today? Sober today is one day, where emotional and spiritual wellbeing may flourish. Tomorrow is always another day in sobriety...

Step eight, making the list of amends and being willing to make them. Over the years I have learned my part in living. More than ever it is my responsibility to live well to the principles of the twelve steps. My daily amends to self, put sober first, be open honest and willing to change so I may find truth, love and wisdom today and with hope, every day which follows…
August 5 ~ Always Already Listening... That inner voice in my head, "here we go again," "I know what you are going to say," "nagging doubts," "you always say that," "same old same old," It will always be the "same old, same old" if that is what we look for. We can change and influence what we listen to inside and outside as we make choices today...

August 5 ~ Can I hear what you say to me? Feedback is often thought to be a gentle art. We are our hardest critics or our most ardent admirers, somewhere in between is balance and truth. Listening to feedback from others we find out more of who we are. Listening is a skill we develop when we know we need to, certainly today and everyday...
AA Daily Reflections ~ August 5 Listening deeply: 5 How persistently we claim the right to decide all by ourselves just what we shall think and just how we shall act. [12&12]

If I accept and act upon the advice of those who have made the program work for themselves, I have a chance to outgrow the limits of the past. Some problems will shrink to nothingness, while others may require patient, well-thought-out action. Listening deeply when others share can develop intuition in handling problems which arise unexpectedly. It is usually best for me to avoid impetuous action. Attending a meeting or calling a fellow A.A. member will usually reduce tension enough to bring relief to a desperate sufferer like me. Sharing problems at meetings with other alcoholics to whom I can relate, or privately with my sponsor, can change aspects of the positions in which I find myself. Character defects are identified and I begin to see how they work against me. When I put my faith in the spiritual power of the program, when I trust others to teach me what I need to do to have a better life, I find that I can trust myself to do what is necessary.
August 4 ~ Seeds of faith...our personal faith in next right actions. In recovery we put sober first, so our lives work today with clarity, we feel life as it is, we think about what we do, we live to good conscience...
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August 4 ~ "Neither Saint nor Prophet" M Scott Peck , no pedestals in recovery, newcomers bring wisdom of life, old timers bring wisdom of life, medium timers bring wisdom of life, we are all learning the wisdom of recovery, all equal to living life a day at a time. A higher power? A collective wisdom in fellowship just for today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Seeds of faith... Faith, to be sure, is necessary, but faith alone can avail nothing. We can have faith, yet keep God [good conscience, truth, love and wisdom of others] out of our lives.[12&12]

As a child I constantly questioned the existence of God. To a "scientific thinker" like me, no answer could withstand a thorough dissection, until a very patient woman finally said to me, "You must have faith." With that simple statement, the seeds of my recovery were sown! Today, as I practice my recovery -- cutting back the weeds of alcoholism -- slowly I am letting those early seeds of faith to grow and bloom. Each day of recovery, of ardent gardening, brings the Higher Power of my understanding more fully into my life. My God [a personal understanding - for example my understanding is god is truth, love and works through people] has always been with me through faith, but it is my responsibility to have the willingness to accept His presence. I ask God [for me, truth of now, good conscience, wisdom learned, to work to the greater good and not my self-interest] to grant me the willingness to do His will [the common good and not just mine]."
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August 3 Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ “Anything for a quiet life?” “Children should be seen and not heard.” Fear and a brave face kept me silent on many an occasion to avoid dark consequences. The noise in my head was deafening back then. When I speak out now I find serenity and the inner “silence is golden” today…

Can do, can’t do today… Can share experience strength and hope. Cannot judge what is right for you or impose my beliefs on you. The wisdom of what works is in the action and with freedom to choose in the moment of now.

To be of service... human beings are all equal in their rights and responsibilities to each other. We behave in ways consistent with our beliefs we improve our courage faith and confidence, we need not complain about others, simply be even handed, “Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit."

One day life plan... underpinned by recovery, each day is all we have to experience truth, cope, be happy, be sad, be angry, be resentful, have fun, love be loved and useful. The less we deny our feelings, the more we understand them, the more we are able to form the right actions, be ourselves and others be themselves today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "AA Daily Reflections . . .to be of service: Aug 3: Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God [good conscience] and the people about us. [AA big book]

It is clear that God's plan for me is expressed through love. God loved me enough to take me from alleys and jails so that I could be made a useful participant in His world. My response is to love all of His children through service and by example. I ask God to help me imitate His love for me through my love for others."
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August 2 Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ A step 3 chair last night, let go and let good. I say “good” because I need let go knowing all the answers today. Powerlessness over alcohol, people places and things has given me the greatest freedom, to make real choices, just for today…

And making a list of all those I have harmed and being willing to make amends liberates me from the bondage to my past. Holding on to righteous anger and resentments kept me in the insanity of judging the world and history. My part in it… always a revelation as I see it today…

Sharing how we truly feel with our partners and family and community, and dare I say it... work, helps us with not only our spiritual progress, but theirs too. Who would wish to hamper another’s spiritual progress today?

In our AA "daily reflections" , August focus is step eight, making the list of people we have harmed and willing to make amends. Can be difficult, our part, not theirs. Steps for cleaning up our side of the street, not digging up theirs…
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Daily Reflections We become willing 2 Aug: At the moment we are trying to put our lives in order. But this is not an end in itself. [Big Book]

How easily I can become misdirected in approaching the Eighth Step! I wish to be free, somehow transformed by my Sixth and Seventh Step work. Now, more than ever, I am vulnerable to my own self-interest and hidden agenda. I am careful to remember that self-satisfaction, which sometimes comes through the spoken forgiveness of those I have harmed, is not my true objective. I become willing to make amends, knowing that through this process I am mended and made fit to move forward, to know and desire God’s will for me."
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August 1 Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ A newcomers chair always reminds me of how recovery started for me, from despair to repair one day at a time. I could not wait to pass the milestones in recovery, now I might prefer they slow down. So much to do one day at a time…

Living in the moment is the spiritual connection to truth. How we see our day with fewer filters determines our ability to make best choices and have freedom today. There will be doubt, sometimes fear and we may hide and brave face. With 12 steps, courage and faith will help our esteem facing our challenges today...


A better perspective, how am I feeling today, knowing what it is like to be me and not what I thought you wanted me to be. Today I feel good, the past is gone and has given me wisdom. I have shared plans and thoughts, accepted feedback, adapted and in this one day I can be happy or sad as life is... serenity today
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Living it: 1 Aug ~ The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it. [AA Big Book]

When new in the program, I couldn’t comprehend living the spiritual aspect of the program, but now that I’m sober, I can’t comprehend living without it. Spirituality was what I had been seeking. God, as I understand Him, has given me answers to the whys that kept me drinking for twenty years. By living a spiritual life, by asking God for help, I have learned to love, care for and feel compassion for all my fellow men, and to feel joy in a world where, before, I felt only fear."
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August 30 | Alcoholics Anonymous Steps In Action

August 30 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous

DonInLondon A good restful bank holiday weekend for me, including two days without meeting, lovely conversations with family. How am I feeling? Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired? Not sure, usual routines missed, and I know regular routines are important to me, pray meditate, steps 1,2 & 3, acceptance, serenity prayer. And in writing these words, putting sober first reminds me of what I can and cannot do today...

Can do, get to a meeting and listen, be early for the meeting before the meeting and the meeting after the meeting. Share experience strength and hope. Be loving, know the many voices in recovery keep us sober. I see the need to help, asked and answered as best one person can, know the limits one to one or be pulled down, swamped and useless. Its always the many voices making the difference in fellowship...

August 2008 ~ 2010

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking... A fellowship of inclusion each individual unique and authentic with one similarity, a desire to be sober today. I always saw the pitfalls in joining anything which might take away my individuality. Fellowship gave me back my authenticity, gratitude every day...

Less denial and more truth, always just for today. Everything happens in the moment, at the same time we can be living in the past or living in the future in our thinking. Thinking about life back then, in the malady of alcoholism, and thinking about the possibilities in the future. In the present moment, we can feel, we can live and deal with reality as we find the truth of now...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "THE ONLY REQUIREMENT. . . “At one time. . .every A.A. group had many membership rules. Everybody was scared witless that something or somebody would capsize the boat. . .The total list was a mile long. If all those rules had been in effect everywhere, nobody could have possibly joined A.A. at all [12&12]
-/-
August 29 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon Bank Holiday Monday, less meetings of fellowship today as some venues for meetings are closed. Good news, any meeting close to home is likely to be full of people I know, a chance to say hello and catch up just for today…

And lots of people are coming back from holidays as August comes to an end. Some mad as hatters, some so chilled out they are horizontal. Some angry and resentful, mostly serene as the meetings start, preamble sharing and a prayer to truth, love and wisdom for today…

August 2008 ~ 2010

"Since there are no rules in A.A."

Truth, love and wisdom learned, key to living openly, honestly and willing to face the consequences of who I am today. Sober life has taught me to accept the consequences of not only my attitudes and behaviour but those of others too. No secrets to keep me or you deluded or stuck, one day at a time...

Anonymity in fellowship offers confidentiality. Anonymity to find the truth of who I am and can be a day at a time. Truth is my spiritual compass, truth the foundation of spiritual living... The horrible truth of addiction back then locked me in secrecy, truth today liberates, not just me, but everyone who knows me today...
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "I choose anonymity... We are sure that humility, expressed by anonymity, is the greatest safeguard that Alcoholics Anonymous can ever have. [12 & 12]

Since there are no rules in A.A., I place myself where I want to be, and so I choose anonymity. I want my God to use me, humbly, as one of His tools in this program. Sacrifice is the art of giving of myself freely, allowing humility to replace my ego. With sobriety, I suppress that urge to cry out to the world, “I am a member of A.A.” and I experience inner joy and peace. I let people see the changes in me and hope they will ask what happened to me. I place the principles of spirituality ahead of judging, fault-finding, and criticism. I want love and caring in my group, so I can grow."

-/-

August 28 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon Speaking for myself! In fellowship I may speak for myself, never speak for you. Experience strength and hope is particular to each of us. And we are non-professional in a fellowship based on love not science. We may be learning the art of life together, each with our own particular outlook. Each and everyone a teacher in what works or does not work today. Can do, change me, cannot do change you, the wisdom to cherish always...

A kind word, a handshake and "how are you doing?" We never know what the response may be. We may try help and not be worried if we are not welcome. Fear and isolation are so frequent, and then we make a difference as another shares their story to us today. Simply listening to good news or bad news open the door, offers inclusion on a dark night when loneliness grips and bites deep in the soul...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Light of heart... when we wake up each knowing we are never alone, that we can share our good news and our hard news and be supported and challenged helpfully, a heavy heart is lightened. Conscious contact with good conscience, a broader view, our life choices become more open and realistic today

How am I feeling, why and what to do... I feel good, because I am not alone, and I can share openly, honestly and be willing to change. I can cover my needs today, be free of wants, know desires are good and be open to all possibilities. Good choices, possibilities, options, a No is as good as Yes.
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "Lightening the burden... Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very thing which makes life seem so worth while to us now. . . . the dark past is . . . the key to life and happiness for others. [big book]
Since I have been sober, I have been healed of many pains: deceiving my partner, deserting my best friend, and spoiling my mother’s hopes for my life. In each case someone in the program told me of a similar problem, and I was able to share what happened to me. When my story was told, both of us got up with lighter hearts."
-/-
August 27 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon Three meetings in two days: One felt good and I connected, the second a disagreeable chap wanted the window open which let in noise and still good for me, the third full of friends and courage to change. Conclusion, some need medication for their ailments of the mind and others need none…

As many can attest, sobriety offers powerful healing, emotional and physical. Living in the moment where feelings fit reality the spiritual connection to now. Fellowship helps us be sober, then mental health is improved in time and sanity returns on a daily basis. AA is not a cure for other mental health conditions which emerge as self-medication with alcohol ceases. Great harm can ensue when non-professionals discount and shun professional help and advise against it...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Centre my thoughts, or in other words grounding myself? How do we close down at the end of one day and start afresh? Every day we are open to every influence, good and bad and we have choices. I start most mornings asking myself how I am feeling why and what can I do. If I know my mood, know why I feel good, bad or indifferent, I have choices to actions to improve my outlook.

Usually my reflex on waking, step one, powerless over people places and things, at the same time I have choices. And step two, beware the madness of doing the same thing over and over and expecting something different to happen. Step three, can do, cannot do and wisdom to know the difference. Let go my self-will and let in help and support from those around me... truth, love and wisdom of others will help my perspective today

Pray and meditate, to improve my attitude and behaviour! I am an atheist, agnostic and believer in the god of my understanding. God is truth, love and wisdom in the ever present moment of now. Where do I learn the truth? Most often, truth learned from others and not from my opinions or beliefs. How do I learn to love? From everyone I encounter and from everything I have learned on my life journey. Where does wisdom manifest? From the experience learned from others and my life journey. Prayer and meditation is about faith in what we come to understand about life as it is. Prayer: the serenity prayer for acceptance of reality, prayers as they fit to good conscience. Meditation: listening to the answers each day and understanding what works. Meditation is the silence I need to hear the inner voice, informed by all my senses and others I encounter. God lives in the moment of now...

AA Daily Reflections ~ "CENTERING OUR THOUGHTS When World War II broke out, our A.A. dependence on a Higher Power had its first major test. A.A.’s entered the services and were scattered all over the world. Would they be able to take the discipline, stand up under fire, and endure . . . ? As Bill Sees It, p.200

I will centre my thoughts on a Higher Power. I will surrender all to this power within me. I will become a soldier for this power, feeling the might of the spiritual army as it exists in my life today. I will allow a wave of spiritual union to connect me through my gratitude, obedience and discipline to this Higher Power. Let me allow this power to lead me through the orders of the day. May the steps I take today strengthen my words and deeds, may I know that the message I carry is mine to share, given freely by this power greater than myself."
-/-

August 26 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous

DonInLondon After eights meeting, issues of later sobriety. Brilliant chair, one similarity: a desire to be sober. And diversity: we are from all walks of life, with an abundance of wisdom. We are trusted servants and no leaders telling us what to do. We can be who we choose to be, just for today…

August 2008 ~ 2010




Moments of clarity: in recovery always today. Living in reality with a sober head, we need less coping strategies, less coping tactics. The more honest our living, the more honest our outlook, needs met wants forgotten, our expectations no longer resentments under construction, clarity only a moment away? Always...

Giving it away for me means sharing experience strength and hope and receiving experience strength and hope from fellow "recoverers". Modest and realistic in our aspirations to be sober today. As spiritual is now, reality is now and everything works in the now, denial and acceptance are now, the odds are good today!

God & Higher Powers... I cannot define God or higher powers. Recently I mentioned I can be an agnostic, atheist and believer all in one. Life experiences offer us evidence of what works for us in our living today. And for me, truth, love and wisdom seem to be the bedrock of living as well as we can. I am full of opinions and self-knowledge based on life experiences and influences around me. Truth, love and wisdom from others helps me make better decisions, improves my outlook and behaviour.
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "Giving it away... Though they knew they must help other alcoholics if they would remain sober, that motive became secondary. It was transcended by the happiness they found in giving themselves to others. [big book]

Those words, for me, refer to transference of power, through which God, as I understand Him, enters my life. Through prayer and meditation, I open channels, and then I establish and improve my conscious contact with God. Through action I then receive the power I need to maintain my sobriety each day. By maintaining my spiritual condition, by giving away what has been freely given to me, I am granted a daily reprieve."
-/-

August 25 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon A desire to stop drinking is the only requirement, no rules laws and regulations. Anarchic democracy without leaders and everyone is a trusted servant. Always sharing experience strength and hope and everyone can let off steam. We are learning to live life, open honest and willing in unity service and recovery. We learn our part in the big picture and life on life's terms. Freedom to choose always...

Life balance can be at odds with modern virtues, to become top at a single element of life. Driven by: ambition and self-will, adulation for being famous as: an athlete, a pop star, a celebrity, a business person, a politician, a guru, a drunk. One skill: in pursuit of perfection. Burnt out and worn out too soon, the road of recovery, extraordinary ordinary, learning to love, be loved and truly useful one day at a time...

August 2008 ~ 2010

An emphatic NO is better than a half-hearted yes. Learning how to say NO: is one of the most difficult lessons for some of us in recovery. Learning not to get pulled into some situations with people and places means we can make better choices about what we like doing and must do to be "ourselves" each and every day...

Inclusion, choices and love today: these are possible today, not guaranteed and not certain. No longer isolated in a malady, now more open to being a part of life around me. When I reach out to help or ask for help, I may need do this as often as I can, as I include then others include me in what is happening today...
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 25 Step 8 Daily Reflections Video Reading: The gift of bonding... Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. [big book]

Many times in my alcoholic state, I drank to establish a bond between myself and others, but I succeeded only in establishing the bondage of alcoholic loneliness. Through the A.A. way of life, I have received the gift of bonding – with those who were there before me, with those who are there now, and with those yet to come. For this gracious gift from God, I am forever grateful."
-/-
August 24 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon Back in the final days of drinking I can forget how bad it got... Then I hear a harrowing share detailing the physical and emotional horror. I sat there feeling the shock of truth. My story no less shocking mirrored what I heard. We humans have amazing capacities to recover when we find a path.

In recent months many newcomers to the fellowship. Some very wary of the people, the places, what they hear and what they see. In early days I wanted to fit in and be a good student. I did people please, and I did get caught in the web of some with little or no integrity. And then realised that fellowship is like all walks of life, people are people, some good and some bad, plenty of wisdom to learn and plenty of chaff a day at a time...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Spiritual experience, all day every day... some suggest it is the ability to cope with now, some suggest it is letting go our opinion and personal view "thinking kept me drinking," some suggest less denials and more truth, less of a personal judgment and standing in others shoes. Could it be simply living in the moment?


"All inclusive today" In fellowship, in life and more in tune with "truth, love and wisdom shared with me." To be included, loved and develop choices in life as life happens. There is always a balance in what we can and cannot do today, accepting the truth is my connection to spiritual today...

-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 24 Step 8 Daily Reflections Video Reading: A riddle that works... It may be possible to find explanations of spiritual experiences such as ours, but I have often tried to explain my own and have succeeded only in giving the story of it. I know the feeling it gave me and the results it has brought, but I realize I may never fully understand its deeper why and how. [As Bill sees it..]

I had a profound spiritual experience during an open A.A. meeting, which led me to blurt out. “I’m an alcoholic!” I have not had a drink since that day. I can tell you the words I heard just prior to my admission, and how those words affected me, but as to why it happened, I do not know. I believe a power greater than myself chose me to recover, yet I do not know why. I try not to worry or wonder about what I do not yet know; instead, I trust that if I continue to work the Steps, practice the A.A. principles in my life, and share my story, I will be guided lovingly toward a deep and mature spirituality in which more will be revealed to me. For the time being, it is a gift for me to trust God, work the Steps and help others."
-/-
August 23 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon How am I feeling? Yesterday, a brief encounter with a friend lifts me up inside, and a gift given. Learning how to love is deep, practical and without any conditions. Being loved without conditions is a wonder to experience. The truth, as we give, we receive and never quite as we may have learned in the past. New days, new beginnings and cherish always...

Step eight, working on the wreckage of the past. A list of amends and willing to make them and I was thorough and rigorous. And still some amends become clearer as the years have passed and I am more human, making progress and not perfect. At my worst, it was the best I could be, at their worst it was the best they could be. Forgiveness and acceptance deepens with every encounter in the present day...

August 2008 ~ 2010

My family... Relieved beyond imagination I found recovery, no longer confounded by silence, broken promises and old behaviour from back then. As I am learning who I am today, they too see the changes in me. A son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend ... more real, open honest and willing to be a part of all living today...

How am I feeling today... Upon waking, how am I feeling? Open to share, honest in my outlook and willing to be a part of the big picture today? Or do I feel closed down, not able to share my truth and unwilling to be part of the big picture today? Most likely I am making progress and never perfect, just for today...
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 23 Step 8: Bringing the message home... Can we bring the same spirit of love and tolerance into our sometimes deranged family lives that we bring to our A.A. group? [12&12]

My family members suffer from the effects of my disease. Loving and accepting them as they are - just as I love and accept A.A. members - fosters a return of love, tolerance and harmony to my life. Using common courtesy and respecting other's personal boundaries are necessary practices for all areas of my life."
-/-
August 22 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon Emotional stability suggests balance in our outlook. Our feelings fit with reality, what we experience right now. If our current situation is stable, our emotions are likely to be stable and we are in the moment of now. When we face extremes, then our feelings are likely to move toward extremes. We find balance in how we react and respond. Feelings inform our thinking, our response then can be more considered than a split second reaction...

Self-Reliance and Interdependence, is always a balance and something we learn every day. When we make decisions which are about us, we may not feel the need to consult day to day. When decisions impact on others we need include them in the decision making. Agreement and acceptance offers empathy and equality. We need not tread on the toes of our fellows today...

August 2008 ~ 2010

We are a part of life, community society, as we gain perspective and see the big picture we are open to all possibilities and not limited to one view or outlook. Life experience and being inter-dependent our world is enriched as we listen and live new experience, strength and hope today. Open to truth and love today...

I need slow down... to now! One step ahead? We need be, to asses risk, be open to future possibilities. All good. And "still myself" to know how I am feeling today, why and what to do. "Still ourselves" to know how we are feeling today, why and what we can do. Together, live now with an eye on the future...
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 22 Step 8: Seeking emotional stability... When we developed still more, we discovered the best possible source of emotional stability to be God himself. We found that dependence upon His perfect justice, forgiveness, and love was healthy, and that it would work where nothing else would. If we really depended upon God, we couldn't very well play God to our fellows nor would we feel the urge wholly to rely on human protection and care. [12 & 12]

All my life I depended on people for my emotional needs and security, but today I cannot live that way anymore. By the grace of God, I have admitted my powerlessness over people, places and things. I had been a real "people addict"; wherever I went there had to be someone who would pay some kind of attention to me. It was the kind of attitude that could only get worse, because the more I depended on others and demanded attention, the less I received. I have given up believing that any human power can relieve me of that empty feeling. Although I remain a fragile human being who needs to work A.A.'s Steps to keep this particular principle before my personality, it is only a loving God who can give me inner peace and emotional stability."
-/-
August 21 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ Atheist, agnostic or believer in God, by design we are built to live in the moment. Whether it is nature, evolution, a grand design we have instincts. And we have emotions. If our emotions or feelings fit the present moment, most often we are in reality? Today we may travel somewhere and wonder how we got there, or we may enjoy the journey or be on autopilot. Twelve steps keep me more grounded in the journey and reality and in the moment today...

London still in shock after riots, less people out and about at night enjoying the sights and sounds and the feel of the city is different. I am grateful for where I live, hope life returns to normal, that extraordinary ordinary heartbeat. And very grateful I have fellowship to keep me safe, more willing, open and honest. Service comes in many forms, unity and recovery inside and outside fellowship. Part of the bigger society today...

August 2008 ~ 2010

12 steps to live well take action and learn from experience. We simply try to be ourselves and share the message of experience strength and hope. In fellowship we lean on the many, never just one. As we may tumble we need the many hands of AA to help guide us to safe ground, today and every day...

In fellowship we help as we may. We are all equal in our rights and responsibilities. We may suggest, never instruct, we may shudder at another’s path, it is not our own. Always: freedom of choice, the path of spiritual and emotional well-being. Always rocks and hard places as well as joy, maybe all today …
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 21: We just try... My stability came out of my trying to give, not out of demanding that I receive. [The best of Bill]

As long as I try, with all my heart and soul, to pass along to others what has been passed along to me, and do not demand anything in return, life is good to me. Before entering this program of Alcoholics Anonymous I was never able to give without demanding something in return. Little did I know that, once I began to give freely of myself, I would begin to receive, without ever expecting or demanding anything at all. What I receive today is the gift of “stability”, as Bill did: stability in my A.A. program; within myself; but most of all, in my relationship with my Higher Power, whom I choose to call God. [Ghandi: "God is Truth" Truth in the moment of now, God is Love & God works Through people.. what we come to believe is our personal understanding and not something imposed by anyone upon another human on their path of life today, faith in truth, love and wisdom may be where we start with a higher power than our own outlook]"
-/-
August 20 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ A life story in step four becomes our reference book. In step five we share our assets and liabilities. Step six, contingent on the day we ask, less drawn into our liabilities and step seven improving our courage faith and confidence today. Step eight making the list of amends and being willing to make them. Preparation for step nine follows. Step work, timely and particular to each of us. Sober, good and usually difficult, life works better today...

Our way back to extraordinary ordinary living is truly a gift in recovery learning as we go with gentle stoicism. Hope each day slows down or speeds up to be in the moment of now, where feelings fit our current situation, no burden from the past, enough faith to continue our journey's today...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Toward emotional freedom... Feelings first then we think about them. Our mood and emotions, felt then thought through, sometimes limits the actions we take, sometimes extends our actions. We make risk assessments all day long, consciously and some without thought. What was I thinking about when..?

How am I feeling, why and what can I do is assertive. How are we feeling, why and what can we do is empathy. To be able to feel, express and be assertive in the moment helps us find empathy, of how we feel, the why and express what we can do together. Empathy part of our emotional progress today...
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 20: Toward emotional freedom... Since defective relations with other human beings have nearly always been the immediate cause of our woes, including our alcoholism, no field of investigation could yield more satisfying and valuable rewards than this one. [12&12]

Willingness is a peculiar thing for me in that, over a period of time, it seems to come, first with awareness, but then with a feeling of discomfort, making me want to take some action. As I reflected on taking the Eighth Step, my willingness to make amends to others came as a desire for forgiveness, of others and myself. I felt forgiveness toward others after I became aware of my part in the difficulties of relationships. I wanted to feel the peace and serenity described in the Promises. From working the first seven Steps, I became aware of whom I had harmed and that I had been my own worst enemy. In order to restore my relationships with my fellow human beings, I knew I would have to change. I wanted to learn to live in harmony with myself and others so that I could also live in emotional freedom. The beginning of the end to my isolation - from my fellows and from God - came when I wrote my Eighth Step list."
-/-
August 19 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ Actions fit the situation? It took time to experience feelings in the moment. Back in the day, I often walked away from situations confused, and only then wondered how I felt. Today feelings are not blocked by overwhelming fear. Good, bad, happy or sad feelings happen, no need to second guess or pretend. "Now, is what it is," feelings fit the reality of now and I can be myself as life unfolds...

After Eight meeting tonight: Chair was funny fantastic. Steps stop us from suicide, Traditions stop us from homicide. And life is real in recovery, good bad sad joyful. So many friends there. Hugs all round. I belong in fellowship :)

August 2008 ~ 2010

Agnostic, atheist and believer all in one... Back then and even now, when I feel the need to think, isolated and alone, the agnostic and atheist prevails in self-will. When I share and ask for help, I receive truth, love and wisdom. For me, the believer prevails in conscious contact with you today…

Ego vs. Esteem... Back then, self will run riot, ego raw, and no room for faith. Now, as I see "Truth and Wisdom" shared, I am open and learning. Ghandi, “god is truth, love and wisdom of others." Interdependent in the reality of now, equal to listen and to share, learn and grow today...
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "Step 8 Daily Reflections August 19: A frame of reference... Referring to our list [inventory] again. Putting out of our minds the wrongs others had done, we resolutely looked for our own mistakes. Where had we been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking and frightened? [big book]

There is a wonderful freedom in not needing constant approval from colleagues at work or from the people I love. I wish I had known about this Step before, because once I developed a frame of reference, I felt able to do the next right thing, knowing that the action fit the situation and that it was the correct thing to do"
-/-
August 17 | Step Eight Reading



From my life story in step four, I was able to see harm done to me and everyone. Awful and calamitous times, and undermined by alcohol, emotional and spiritual damage was done. In step eight making the list of amends and being willing meant I could see my part in matters, deal with the reality and prepare to progress to step nine…

A recent meeting, I shared about how the steps help me live in the moment. I do not control my feelings. Feelings are the foundation of my thinking patterns. If I feel right, most likely my thinking which follows is right sized. If old feelings are evoked by a situation, old thinking is likely to cloud the situation. Sometimes bad if feelings make me feel and think in the old insane ways, "here we go again!" Today in the moment feelings can fit with reality, letting go and letting in the new...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Self-harm done: spiritual and emotional. Open, honest and willing, and making progress, and not perfect. Life is full of denial, white lies and dark lies, yet truth is where we share our spiritual core today. When denial creeps in as it may, or lies, the self-harm for me wounds me deeper than ever imagined back then. Truth endures more today...

Just for today... I have choices, first to be sober, sober first and then the rest of life can happen. I see real life more fully, more able to react and respond to each and every experience with strength and hope, courage to see the big picture and consider my impact and see life as you see it too. All in the moment of now...
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "Step 8 Daily Reflections August 17: Righting the harm... In many instances we shall find that though the harm done others has not been great, the emotional harm we have done ourselves has. [12&12]

Have you ever thought that the harm you did a business associate, or perhaps a family member, was so slight that it really didn’t deserve an apology because they probably wouldn’t remember it anyway? If that person, and the wrong done to him, keeps coming to mind, time and again, causing an uneasy or perhaps guilty feeling, then I put that person’s name at the top of my “amends list,” and become willing to make a sincere apology, knowing I will feel calm and relaxed about that person once this very important part of my recovery is accomplished."
-/-
August 16 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ Step five chair last night, all about sharing our life story with another human being and our higher power. It is part of clearing the wreckage of the past, making room for new beginnings. Romance and finance are big in our lives. Romance and heart break a part of living, to love, and be loved. Finance, needs met, wants forgotten. These elements of life, always confounding and better approached with a sober head and open heart today...

How am I feeling? Okay in myself. Why? Today I have freedom to choose. What am I going to do? Live in the moment, my intention is to deal with every encounter fairly, be open to change, and say no emphatically to anything which is not good for me. An emphatic no is better than a half-hearted yes...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Yes I had dropped out. In isolation back then and powerless over anything, and trying to fix the emptiness, no real choices, broken. To now, involved and included with choices each day, equal and now the same size and rights as all humans. Inclusion: with rights and responsibilities. To love, be loved and useful always just for today

Amends and living... "Life is difficult" M Scott Peck. As we learn from experience in recovery, what strength and hope may be in our lives, "difficult" becomes a fact and not an obstacle; it becomes the nature of living in the moment. We are part of this universe, joyful or sad we are connected, forgive, live and cherish always...
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 16 "I had dropped out..." We might next ask ourselves what we mean when we say that we have “harmed” other people. What kinds of “harm” do people do one another, anyway? To define the word “harm” in a practical way, we might call it the result of instincts in collision, which cause physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual damage to people. [12&12]

I had been to Eighth Step meetings, always thinking, “I really haven’t harmed many people, mostly myself.” But the time came when I wrote my list out and it was not as short as I thought it would be. I either liked you, disliked you, or needed something from you – it was that simple. People hadn’t done what I wanted them to do and intimate relationships were out of hand because of my partners unreasonable demands. Were these “sins of omission”? Because of my drinking, I had “dropped out” – never sending cards, returning calls, being there for other people, or taking part in their lives. What a grace it has been to look at these relationships, to make my inventories in quiet, alone with the God of my understanding, and to go forth daily, with a willingness to be honest and forthright in my relationships."
-/-
August 15 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



~ DonInLondon

How am I feeling? Good in myself, but... discombobulated by last night. Why? One or two were in judgmental mode in my fellowship meeting, and held opinions about their worthiness to be alcoholics with dire experiences. What can I do? I can say I am an alcoholic in recovery. A rock bottom is a rock bottom and anyone who finds sobriety, emotionally and spiritually is okay with me...

A desire to stop drinking is the only requirement. When I hear people judge others as "non alcoholics" I do shudder inside. We are non professional, and there are no rules, laws or regulations in AA fellowship. It is hard enough to step into a meeting to find out what we are. The burden of proof is always with the individual and if we say we are in, we are in AA fellowship...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Step 8, Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all... Harm we did, not harm they did, willingness for me became more obvious in the amends I felt unable to make, and then become willing. Each amends as potent as any other as we learn to cherish always in the moment of now...

Amends we make just for today... Sometimes we may feel the amends is done, in my experience our living amend is constant in the way we change our attitude and behaviour as encounter old and new situations, as we have made the list of people harmed and become willing, our daily endeavours show us and others the way...
-/-

AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 15: Didn't we hurt anybody? Some of us, though, tripped over a very different snag. We clung to the claim that when drinking we never hurt anybody but ourselves. [12&12]

This Step seemed so simple. I identified several people whom I had harmed, but they were no longer available. Still, I was uneasy about the Step and avoided conversations dealing with it. In time I learned to investigate those Steps and areas of my life which made me uncomfortable. My search revealed my parents, who had been deeply hurt by my isolation from them; my employer, who worried about my absences, my memory lapses, my temper; and the friends I had shunned, without explanation. As I faced the reality of the harm I had done, Step Eight took on a new meaning. I am no longer uncomfortable and I feel clean and light."
-/-
August 14 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon Amends take time. An amend to self, accepting I need make every amend I can to those I have harmed emotionally, and any other where restitution is key. It is my 55th birthday today, and few years older than I would have been had I carried on drinking. Yesterday, being part of fellowship and sharing, and today chatting with family by phone. Amends take many forms, learning to love, be loved back and useful in the moment of now...

August 2008 ~ 2010

Repairing the damage... we did not know it was self will run riot, self-obsession, or obsession about people, places and things. And there was denial too, as we self-harmed, we were open to harm done by others as well as love from others. As we live the steps, right people and right places become part of our lives today

Amends as we may just for today... as we live and practice the steps, the right people, places and things remain in our lives, as do the new right people, places and things. Amends can be inclusion or letting go. No more hanging on to grudges or righteous resentments, forgiveness is always key today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Step 8 Daily Reflections August 14: Repairing the damage ~ We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we haven’t the will to do this, we ask until it comes. Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol. [AA big book]

Making a list of people I had harmed was not a particularly difficult thing to do. They had showed up in my Fourth Step inventory: people towards whom I had resentments, real or imagined, and whom I had hurt by acts of retaliation. For my recovery to be thorough, I believed it was not important for those who had legitimately harmed me to make amends to me. What is important in my relationship with God is that I stand before Him, knowing I have done what I can to repair the damage I have done."
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August 13 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



~ DonInLondon The sin of omission: Tell, don’t tell. Anonymity helped me find the truth of who I am in fellowship. Sacrosanct, anonymity works in the rooms, an umbrella of confidentiality. In living my life, secrets will keep me stuck, and leave me open to every character defect. Open, honest and willing I have nothing to hide. With courage, faith and confidence, the right people are in my life today…

Down the generations we learn from history, sometimes good and sometimes bad. A child learns from parents how to live. "The virtues and the sins." As we learn in recovery, it is what we do today which makes the difference. So important to know we learn the difference if we are able, open honest and willing with 12 principles. Practice to make progress: from ignorance to denial and then acceptance. Forgive always...

Wonderful lunch time meeting: I forgave my Dad everything long ago, and was reminded how blighted his life had been. War, orphan, badly treated, he never found peace until his last days in 1991. I had a long way to go before I found recovery... helped by so many, gratitude and cherish always

August 2008 ~ 2010

A clean sweep, from our fearless moral inventory in step 4, in step 8 & 9, we find those we need make amends to, immediately, when we can and to those we cannot. Step 8 sometimes is a clean sweep, in my experience more is revealed as time goes by, and my wisdom to make amends is tempered with growing wisdom today...

A clean sweep not just for today, it is every day with step 10! Living in the now, in recovery we learn the difference between natural feelings, and welcome reactions and the need to consider our response to events and experiences. Self will run riot? It can be, and hopefully less so in the moment, less harm done to you or me, acceptance is today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Step 8 Daily Reflections August 13: A clean sweep... and third, having thus cleared away the debris of the past, we consider how, with our newfound knowledge of ourselves, we may develop the best possible relations with every human being we know. [12&12]

As I faced the Eighth Step, everything that was required for successful completion of the previous seven Steps came together: courage, honesty, sincerity, willingness and thoroughness. I could not muster the strength required for this task at the beginning, which is why this Step reads “Became willing. . .”I needed to develop the courage to begin, the honesty to see where I was wrong, a sincere desire to set things right, thoroughness in making a list, and willingness to take the risks required for true humility. With the help of my Higher Power in developing these virtues, I completed this Step and continued to move forward in my quest for spiritual growth."
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August 12 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ A wonderful experience last night, after eight meeting. How to love, be loved and useful. Seeing friends, being with people who understand what its like on our first day, thirty and forty years later, life is in the moment and just for today... I feel happy and humble...

Morning meditations. I am alive and breathing, check my situation as a type 1 diabetic, blood sugar levels and insulin requirements. Daily meditations starts with, step one, two and three, "freedom to choose, sane enough right now, let go and let good happen, and serenity prayer, can do cannot do. At bedtime, gratitude for and anything disturbing me? Usually me and my attitudes...

August 12 2008 ~ 2010

Look back don't stare, as we move on to the maintenance steps, 10 11 12. Step 8 our list of amends and willingness to make them. As we look at harm done by us, we need reflect the steps are not for judging harm done to us. The gift, understanding our part in all matters, our side of the street clean, what others do is their business...

Making amends not just for today. The living amend to self is recovery and spiritual progress as each of us understands, a personal view. Our thorough and fearless inventory, and time illuminates more to do and less to do, more open, honest and willing. When I falter, I share and listen for experience strength and hope today...

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AA Daily Reflections August 12 ~ Look backward... First, we take a look backward and try to discover where we have been at fault; next we make a vigorous attempt to repair the damage we have done [12&12]

As a traveller on a fresh and exciting A.A. journey of recovery, I experienced a newfound peace of mind and the horizon appeared clear and bright, rather than obscure and dim. Reviewing my life to discover where I had been at fault seemed to be such an arduous and dangerous task. It was painful to pause and look backward. I was afraid I might stumble! Couldn't I put the past out of my mind and just live in my new golden present? I realized that those in the past whom I had harmed stood between me and my desire to continue my movement toward serenity. I had to ask for courage to face those persons from my life who still lived in my conscience, to recognize and deal with the guilt that their presence produced in me. I had to look at the damage I had done, and become willing to make amends. Only then could my journey of the spirit resume."
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DonInLondon Step Eight Video Reading



A wonderful experience tonight, after eight meeting. How to love, be loved and useful. Seeing friends, being with people who understand what its like on our first day, thirty and forty years later, life is in the moment and just for today... I feel happy and humble...

Expression of feelings... open, honest and willing to let out the pain of the past? That was then and this is now. If we are to express our feelings genuinely and authentically in the day, we need find acceptance of back then, or we drag the past into the present and risk the "same old same old" in the future, progress daily

August 11 2008 ~ 2010

Expression of feelings... open, honest and willing to let out the pain of the past? That was then and this is now. If we are to express our feelings genuinely and authentically in the day, we need find acceptance of back then, or we drag the past into the present and risk the "same old same old" in the future, progress daily

Let go anger one day at a time... Less fixing and more living in the moment, occasions happen where old feelings rise up in daily experiences. Letting go is recognising the impact of today’s events, accepting we need change our responses rather than reacting in the same old ways. If I don't see it, you do, tell me today...

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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Step eight "removing the ground glass...”: The moral inventory is a cool examination of the damages that occurred to us during life and a sincere effort to look at them in a true perspective. This has the effect of taking the ground glass out of us, the emotional substance that still cuts and inhibits. [as Bill sees it...]

My Eighth Step list used to drag me into a whirlpool of resentment. After four years of sobriety, I was blocked by denial connected with an on-going abusive relationship. The argument between fear and pride eased as the words of the Step moved from my head to my heart. For the first time in years I opened my box of paints and poured out an honest rage, an explosion of reds and blacks and yellows. As I looked at the drawing, tears of joy and relief flowed down my cheeks. In my disease, I had given up my art, a self-inflicted punishment far greater than any imposed from outside. In my recovery, I learned that the pain of my defects is the very substance God uses to cleanse my character and to set me free."
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August 10 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ The high ground of arrogance, something I cannot afford. Shouting down and putting down. A politicians thin veneer wears off as a torrent of anger spews in every sentence. I was never like that? In our own heads we will have felt that way. Sober and level headed, we are less prone to outbursts and even feeling that way. When we leave people to rot, rotten things happen...

It's all your fault! Blame, blame and more blame. They did it, if you hadn't, then I had to. Politicians last night on the riots. Beligerent denial, in the grip of righteousness. Establish law and order, and they too feel anger and resentment. The conservative cries out, then gets angry, talks down, feels he gets away with it, accusing another as mealy mouthed. A violent verbal assault, an example of not getting his own way... denial of reality

August 10 2008 ~ 2010

At my worst I was doing my best, at their worst they are doing their best! I need find forgiveness for my worst efforts in living, especially when in the iron grip of an "ism" or addiction I had lost my choices in living. I need forgive everyone everything, accept the consequences of actions even when exclusion may happen today...

Amends made one day at a time, our daily amend is recovery our gift to self and everyone we meet today. Recovery is freedom to be honest open and willing to change. We will make mistakes and sometimes pay a high price, as we admit, learn and gain wisdom, our shared experiences enrich us and everyone today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "August 10 AA Daily Reflections : Redoubling our efforts ~ To a degree, he has already done this when taking moral inventory, but now the time has come when he ought to
redouble his efforts to see how many people he had hurt, and in what ways. [12&12]

As I continue to grow in sobriety, I become more aware of myself as a person of worth. In the process, I am better able to see others as persons, and with this comes the realization that these were people whom I had hurt in my drinking days. I didn't just lie, I lied about Tom. I didn't just cheat, I cheated Joe. What were seemingly impersonal acts, were really personal affronts, because it was people - people of worth - whom I had harmed. I need to do something about the people I have hurt so that I may enjoy a peaceful sobriety."
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August 9 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous

DonInLondon ~ On a positive note, Thank God I am sober



Riots in London. A breakdown in law and order. Anger and resentment, loss of reason and insanity rules. Why? The answers will come in time. Most of us know the answers, and many just cannot accept them. If we do not invest in people, people will likely divest those privileged in a broken society. Weak leadership, process driven, reliant on "the establishment," out of touch and out of sight need a kick up the arse...

I can recall working hard and putting every effort into my work. Driven beyond reason to sustain the unsustainable. Job cuts, sell off and no guarantees of a future. I did what I always did, found another job to start. It looked bigger and better, and turned out to be more of the same. A breakdown, loss of purpose and no identity, I sought oblivion and wanted to end it all. Drink helped me on my way to hell back then...

August 9 2010 ~ Before I go to bed at night, I forgive everyone and everything who has ever harmed me... Much easier after step 9 in our programme and after a while of practicing the steps. But if the resentment still lingers, I say "fuck em" and then pray for them and eventually forgiveness finds its way. Progress not perfect today...

August 9 2010 ~ This matter of honesty everyday... Upon waking, my daily practice, is ask myself how am I feeling, then think why, then what may I do. If I try deny my feelings, I start my day dishonestly. What I do is reflect and meditate, see the big picture, remind myself of steps 1 to 3, serenity prayer. I can do this anytime of day...
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August 8 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ A lovely meeting last night, had a great impact on me. I love people and trying to help by sharing. We never know our impact on others or where they are just now in their lives. If drink and drugs are part of another’s story, I never criticise anyone sharing about other addictions because it could have been me! Life is precious and precarious one day at a time...

Step eight, listing amends and being willing. I did not realise my part in all matters until I really understood simply being in the wrong place, wrong time and not willing to let go. Justifiable outrage from the past is now over. Today I can be firm, state my case if needs be, at the same time I need not take inventory of others. I have steps to take to keep to my side of the street and not dig potholes in yours...

August 8 ~ Step Eight... making a list of people we have harmed and being willing to make amends. Alcoholism: self-harm and no way to stop on our own. We could not stop and no one could stop us. Our amends to self is recovery, our willingness to make amends starts with a list, step nine the amends comes later... a list each day is step ten...

August 8 ~ Experience and wisdom... just for today, every day we start afresh, how we are feeling and why, a morning meditation, step one acceptance, step two sanity, step three letting go and letting in the worlds wisdom. At days end, step ten and gratitude, I know more of who I am just for today
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Step Eight "made a list..." August 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed. [12&12]

When I approached the Eighth Step, I wondered how I could list all the things that I have done to other people since there were so many people, and some of them weren’t alive anymore. Some of the hurts I inflicted weren’t bad, but they really bothered me. The main thing to see in this Step was to become willing to do whatever I had to do to make these amends to the best of my ability at that particular time. Where there is a will, there’s a way, so if I want to feel better, I need to unload the guilt feeling I have. A peaceful mind has no room for feeling of guilt. With the help of my Higher Power, if I am honest with myself, I can cleanse my mind of these feelings."
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August 7 Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous

DonInLondon ~ “It’s all about me!” I never thought it was. Ignorance: followed by denial and drink. Driven to consume back then in the day. Now is different, humility to learn, share experience strength and hope, and listen always to the wisdom of my fellows…

And of course we need determine the difference when listening. No one is perfect, and there are no perfect solutions, simply progress, what may seem wisdom can be opinion and dogma, doctrine and expressions of the selective truth…

The psychic change in steps 6 & 7 ... from extremes of fear, brave facing and brittle ego we found in step six, to a balance in faith, courage and confidence in step seven. It was suggested to me "I let go and let God." As God works through people, not just me, I ask for help in fellowship or elsewhere. My faith is not blind it's all around me today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "A "design for living": August 7 We in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, “a design for living” that really works. [AA big book]

I try each day to raise my heart and hands in thanks to God for showing me a “design for living” that really works through our beautiful Fellowship. But what, exactly, is this “design for living” that “really works”? For me, it is the practice of the Twelve Steps to the best of my ability, the continued awareness of a God who loves me unconditionally, and the hope that, in each new day, there is a purpose for my being. I am truly, truly blessed in the Fellowship."
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August 6 Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



I don't know when I became aware of my drinking being a problem, for many years it was never a problem to me. Drink served me or so I thought. My best friend always in hand. Then came denial, workaholic, relationships and driven to perfection. A breakdown, boken, blaming the world, denial and acceptance years apart. Now I realise acceptance is a daily practice living life on life's terms...

DonInLondon ~ I don't know when I became aware of my drinking being a problem, for many years it was never a problem to me. Drink served me or so I thought. My best friend always in hand. Then came denial, workaholic, relationships and driven to perfection. A breakdown, boken, blaming the world, denial and acceptance years apart. Now I realise acceptance is a daily practice living life on life's terms...

We hear tragedy every day in the media. And almost every day in recovery we hear heart rending stories. We are allowed to share how similar our experience may be. Sometimes we don't know if we have helped or hindered, and then out of the blue, we find out we have made a difference. And we can feel peace, just for today unity, service and recovery and every day as life permits...

August 6 In the driving seat? No longer driven by a hundred forms of fear, anger and resentment, ego and brave facing, what next? Now we live on a two way street, we can drive with courage, faith and confidence. We learn our boundaries, know our choices and take account of everyone, lest we forget the wisdom and remember today...

August 6 Sanity returns just for today... always there will be vexatious people, places and things, as we apply and live the 12 step programme, we change our attitude and behaviour and how we feel when conflicts occur. In a moment insanity can flare up, with courage faith and confidence, our sanity can be restored any time of day...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Driven... Aug 6 : Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. [AA big book]
My selfishness was the driving force behind my drinking. I drank to celebrate success and I drank to drown my sorrows. Humility is the answer. I learn to turn my will and my life over to the care of God. My sponsor tells me that service keeps me sober. Today I ask myself: Have I sought knowledge of God's will for me? Have I done service for my A. A. group?"
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August 4 & 5 Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ DonInLondon ~ I was out travelling yesterday to see family. Being there and being a part of life and family is one of the amends which keeps on developing stronger and more deep understanding of life today. To be: included and a part of, to be welcomed rather than feared, to be sober offers enlightened and hope just for today? Sober today is one day, where emotional and spiritual wellbeing may flourish. Tomorrow is always another day in sobriety...

Step eight, making the list of amends and being willing to make them. Over the years I have learned my part in living. More than ever it is my responsibility to live well to the principles of the twelve steps. My daily amends to self, put sober first, be open honest and willing to change so I may find truth, love and wisdom today and with hope, every day which follows…
August 5 ~ Always Already Listening... That inner voice in my head, "here we go again," "I know what you are going to say," "nagging doubts," "you always say that," "same old same old," It will always be the "same old, same old" if that is what we look for. We can change and influence what we listen to inside and outside as we make choices today...

August 5 ~ Can I hear what you say to me? Feedback is often thought to be a gentle art. We are our hardest critics or our most ardent admirers, somewhere in between is balance and truth. Listening to feedback from others we find out more of who we are. Listening is a skill we develop when we know we need to, certainly today and everyday...
AA Daily Reflections ~ August 5 Listening deeply: 5 How persistently we claim the right to decide all by ourselves just what we shall think and just how we shall act. [12&12]

If I accept and act upon the advice of those who have made the program work for themselves, I have a chance to outgrow the limits of the past. Some problems will shrink to nothingness, while others may require patient, well-thought-out action. Listening deeply when others share can develop intuition in handling problems which arise unexpectedly. It is usually best for me to avoid impetuous action. Attending a meeting or calling a fellow A.A. member will usually reduce tension enough to bring relief to a desperate sufferer like me. Sharing problems at meetings with other alcoholics to whom I can relate, or privately with my sponsor, can change aspects of the positions in which I find myself. Character defects are identified and I begin to see how they work against me. When I put my faith in the spiritual power of the program, when I trust others to teach me what I need to do to have a better life, I find that I can trust myself to do what is necessary.
August 4 ~ Seeds of faith...our personal faith in next right actions. In recovery we put sober first, so our lives work today with clarity, we feel life as it is, we think about what we do, we live to good conscience...
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August 4 ~ "Neither Saint nor Prophet" M Scott Peck , no pedestals in recovery, newcomers bring wisdom of life, old timers bring wisdom of life, medium timers bring wisdom of life, we are all learning the wisdom of recovery, all equal to living life a day at a time. A higher power? A collective wisdom in fellowship just for today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Seeds of faith... Faith, to be sure, is necessary, but faith alone can avail nothing. We can have faith, yet keep God [good conscience, truth, love and wisdom of others] out of our lives.[12&12]

As a child I constantly questioned the existence of God. To a "scientific thinker" like me, no answer could withstand a thorough dissection, until a very patient woman finally said to me, "You must have faith." With that simple statement, the seeds of my recovery were sown! Today, as I practice my recovery -- cutting back the weeds of alcoholism -- slowly I am letting those early seeds of faith to grow and bloom. Each day of recovery, of ardent gardening, brings the Higher Power of my understanding more fully into my life. My God [a personal understanding - for example my understanding is god is truth, love and works through people] has always been with me through faith, but it is my responsibility to have the willingness to accept His presence. I ask God [for me, truth of now, good conscience, wisdom learned, to work to the greater good and not my self-interest] to grant me the willingness to do His will [the common good and not just mine]."
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August 3 Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ “Anything for a quiet life?” “Children should be seen and not heard.” Fear and a brave face kept me silent on many an occasion to avoid dark consequences. The noise in my head was deafening back then. When I speak out now I find serenity and the inner “silence is golden” today…

Can do, can’t do today… Can share experience strength and hope. Cannot judge what is right for you or impose my beliefs on you. The wisdom of what works is in the action and with freedom to choose in the moment of now.

To be of service... human beings are all equal in their rights and responsibilities to each other. We behave in ways consistent with our beliefs we improve our courage faith and confidence, we need not complain about others, simply be even handed, “Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit."

One day life plan... underpinned by recovery, each day is all we have to experience truth, cope, be happy, be sad, be angry, be resentful, have fun, love be loved and useful. The less we deny our feelings, the more we understand them, the more we are able to form the right actions, be ourselves and others be themselves today...
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "AA Daily Reflections . . .to be of service: Aug 3: Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God [good conscience] and the people about us. [AA big book]

It is clear that God's plan for me is expressed through love. God loved me enough to take me from alleys and jails so that I could be made a useful participant in His world. My response is to love all of His children through service and by example. I ask God to help me imitate His love for me through my love for others."
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August 2 Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ A step 3 chair last night, let go and let good. I say “good” because I need let go knowing all the answers today. Powerlessness over alcohol, people places and things has given me the greatest freedom, to make real choices, just for today…

And making a list of all those I have harmed and being willing to make amends liberates me from the bondage to my past. Holding on to righteous anger and resentments kept me in the insanity of judging the world and history. My part in it… always a revelation as I see it today…

Sharing how we truly feel with our partners and family and community, and dare I say it... work, helps us with not only our spiritual progress, but theirs too. Who would wish to hamper another’s spiritual progress today?

In our AA "daily reflections" , August focus is step eight, making the list of people we have harmed and willing to make amends. Can be difficult, our part, not theirs. Steps for cleaning up our side of the street, not digging up theirs…
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Daily Reflections We become willing 2 Aug: At the moment we are trying to put our lives in order. But this is not an end in itself. [Big Book]

How easily I can become misdirected in approaching the Eighth Step! I wish to be free, somehow transformed by my Sixth and Seventh Step work. Now, more than ever, I am vulnerable to my own self-interest and hidden agenda. I am careful to remember that self-satisfaction, which sometimes comes through the spoken forgiveness of those I have harmed, is not my true objective. I become willing to make amends, knowing that through this process I am mended and made fit to move forward, to know and desire God’s will for me."
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August 1 Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous



DonInLondon ~ A newcomers chair always reminds me of how recovery started for me, from despair to repair one day at a time. I could not wait to pass the milestones in recovery, now I might prefer they slow down. So much to do one day at a time…

Living in the moment is the spiritual connection to truth. How we see our day with fewer filters determines our ability to make best choices and have freedom today. There will be doubt, sometimes fear and we may hide and brave face. With 12 steps, courage and faith will help our esteem facing our challenges today...


A better perspective, how am I feeling today, knowing what it is like to be me and not what I thought you wanted me to be. Today I feel good, the past is gone and has given me wisdom. I have shared plans and thoughts, accepted feedback, adapted and in this one day I can be happy or sad as life is... serenity today
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AA Daily Reflections ~ "Living it: 1 Aug ~ The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it. [AA Big Book]

When new in the program, I couldn’t comprehend living the spiritual aspect of the program, but now that I’m sober, I can’t comprehend living without it. Spirituality was what I had been seeking. God, as I understand Him, has given me answers to the whys that kept me drinking for twenty years. By living a spiritual life, by asking God for help, I have learned to love, care for and feel compassion for all my fellow men, and to feel joy in a world where, before, I felt only fear."
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