alcoholics anonymous
December 2008 
Defects
Posted on May 23rd, 2008
by 
Zink
Zink
Thoughtfood for Friday, May 23, 2008
Defects
Sometimes I've failed to share my defects with the right people;
at other times, I've confessed their defects, rather than my own;
and at still other times, my confession of defects has been more
in the nature of loud complaints about my circumstances and my problems.
Nevertheless, I think I've usually been able to make a fairly thorough and searching job
of finding and admitting my personal defects. . .
Long ago I was lucky enough to see that I'd have to keep up my self-analysis
or else blow my top completely. - Bill W.,
June 1958 © 1988 The AA Grapevine, Inc., The Language Of The Heart, p. 239
From the Big Book:
"...only a matter of exercising my will power and keeping guard. In this frame of mind, I went about my business and for a time all was well. I had no trouble refusing drinks, and began to wonder if I had not been making too hard work of a simple matter. One day I went to Washington (D.C.)...I had been out of town before during this particular dry spell, so there was nothing new about that. Physically, I felt fine. Neither did I have any pressing problems or worries. My business came off well. I was pleased and knew my partners would be too. It was the end of a perfect day, not a cloud on the horizon. I went to my hotel and leisurely dressed for dinner. As I crossed the threshold of the dining room, the thought came to mind that it would be nice to have a couple of cocktails with dinner. That was all. Nothing more. I ordered a cocktail and my meal."
c. 1939 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, More About Alcoholism, pp. 40-41.
Prayer for the day:
"I pray that I may seek no credit for the results of what I do.
I pray that I may leave the outcome of my actions to God."
c. 1975, Hazelden Foundation, Twenty-Four Hours A Day, May 23.
Quote for the day:
MAKE CHANGE A POSITIVE PART OF YOUR LIFE
You must avoid breaking when things don't go your way.
You'll always be secure to the degree that you accept change.
True security comes from being able to bend your insecurities.
Recognize and accept that change will inevitably take place.
You'll become secure, not by standing still, but by growing,
moving, and staying energized.
Be secure in the knowledge that you can deal with anything
that happens to you.
Have the courage to bet on your ideas.
Take some calculated risks and act on your dreams.
There is no permanent security on this earth, there is only
opportunity. __ The Daily Guru
My share:
If I am not constantly on guard, I know I would be (and have been) like the man above who, with no thought or concern for the consequences, simply ordered a cocktail with dinner. I would be off and running toward insanity, incarceration, and/or death and there might well be no turning back. I'd rather maintain constant vigilance. Be Good To You, Dave.
Sometimes I've failed to share my defects with the right people;
at other times, I've confessed their defects, rather than my own;
and at still other times, my confession of defects has been more
in the nature of loud complaints about my circumstances and my problems.
Nevertheless, I think I've usually been able to make a fairly thorough and searching job
of finding and admitting my personal defects. . .
Long ago I was lucky enough to see that I'd have to keep up my self-analysis
or else blow my top completely. - Bill W.,
June 1958 © 1988 The AA Grapevine, Inc., The Language Of The Heart, p. 239
From the Big Book:
"...only a matter of exercising my will power and keeping guard. In this frame of mind, I went about my business and for a time all was well. I had no trouble refusing drinks, and began to wonder if I had not been making too hard work of a simple matter. One day I went to Washington (D.C.)...I had been out of town before during this particular dry spell, so there was nothing new about that. Physically, I felt fine. Neither did I have any pressing problems or worries. My business came off well. I was pleased and knew my partners would be too. It was the end of a perfect day, not a cloud on the horizon. I went to my hotel and leisurely dressed for dinner. As I crossed the threshold of the dining room, the thought came to mind that it would be nice to have a couple of cocktails with dinner. That was all. Nothing more. I ordered a cocktail and my meal."
c. 1939 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, More About Alcoholism, pp. 40-41.
Prayer for the day:
"I pray that I may seek no credit for the results of what I do.
I pray that I may leave the outcome of my actions to God."
c. 1975, Hazelden Foundation, Twenty-Four Hours A Day, May 23.
Quote for the day:
MAKE CHANGE A POSITIVE PART OF YOUR LIFE
You must avoid breaking when things don't go your way.
You'll always be secure to the degree that you accept change.
True security comes from being able to bend your insecurities.
Recognize and accept that change will inevitably take place.
You'll become secure, not by standing still, but by growing,
moving, and staying energized.
Be secure in the knowledge that you can deal with anything
that happens to you.
Have the courage to bet on your ideas.
Take some calculated risks and act on your dreams.
There is no permanent security on this earth, there is only
opportunity. __ The Daily Guru
My share:
If I am not constantly on guard, I know I would be (and have been) like the man above who, with no thought or concern for the consequences, simply ordered a cocktail with dinner. I would be off and running toward insanity, incarceration, and/or death and there might well be no turning back. I'd rather maintain constant vigilance. Be Good To You, Dave.
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