Growing Up

Thoughtfood for Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Growing Up

The man with the grown-up brain and the childish emotions

-- vanity, self-interest, false pride,

jealousy, longing for social approval,

to name a few -- becomes a prime candidate for alcohol.

. . . that is a definition of alcoholism;

a state of being in which the emotions

have failed to grow to the stature of the intellect.
- Experience, Strength and Hope, p. 423

From the Big Book:

"The only relief is abstinence. This immediately precipitates us into a seething cauldron of debate.  Much has been written pro and con, but among physicians, the general opinion seems to be that most chronic alcoholics are doomed.  What is the solution?  Perhaps I can best answer that by relating one of my experiences."

c. 1939, AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, The Doctor's Opinion, 3rd Ed., pp. xxviii-xxix.

Prayer for the day:

"I pray that today I may do the next thing, the unselfish thing, the loving thing.  I pray that I may be content with doing small things as long as they are right."

c. 1975, Hazelden Foundation, Twenty-Four Hours A Day, Nov. 24.

Quote for the day:

"You grow up the day you have your first real laugh - at yourself."

__Ethel Barrymore

My share:

Acknowledging mistakes in judgment I have made in the past that have brought me to this place in my life is only the first step in understanding what to do now to improve my tomorrow. I know that sobriety does not guarantee success in life, but it is a step in the right direction.  Be Good To You, Dave