TOPICS – 6 / 25 / 2025
1.A TWO-WAY STREET
When I prayed, I used to omit a lot of things for which I needed to be forgiven. I thought that if I didn’t mention these things to God, He would never know about them. I did not know that if I had just forgiven myself for some of my past deeds, God would forgive me also. I was always taught to prepare for the journey through life, never realizing until I came to A.A. – when I honestly became willing to be taught forgiveness and forgiving – that life itself is the journey. The journey of life is a very happy one, as long as I am willing to accept change and responsibility.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 65
2.PRACTICE THESE PRINCIPLES IN ALL OUR AFFAIRS
To contribute to the stream of life. To do the right thing even when no one is looking. In other words, learning how to be a responsible, decent, adult human being. Now when I wake in the morning, I make it my practice to say, “How can I be of service today? How can I be truly helpful?” And the answer comes in everything I do, everywhere I am, with everyone I meet.
3.RELATIONSHIP WITH OURSELVES
In active addiction, we were separated not just from others but from ourselves. Disconnected from our thoughts, emotions and actions, we lose our sense of self. Through the journey of recovery, we develop healthy and compassionate relationships to ourselves. We learn to love and accept ourselves with acts of service, honest sharing, participation in a community, as well as practices of self-care and mindfulness.
4.WE CAN’T CHANGE OTHERS
“The big lesson I have learned is that we cannot change another human being—only ourselves. By living our own lives to the best of our ability, by loving deeply and not trying to mold another to our wishes, we can help not only ourselves but that other also.”
LOIS WILSON