My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me. --Henry Ford To be a friend involves risk. Friends confront each other when it's needed, but they do it out of love and with compassion. All of us need a friend who will tell us when we are acting out of line, when we are "not able to see the forest for the trees." Friends are there for us in the struggles – rooting us on, maybe teasing us a bit, helping us get past the difficulties and eventually helping us find the gift embedded in them. Friends risk upsetting us, if it means we may become better people. We need to be grateful for these people. Theirs is not always an easy job. Many of us have big egos; we don't want to be told that we are wrong. However, friends keep seeing the best in us, even when we aren't acting our best. Theirs will be the faces we see when we look back at our lives, especially at the times of crisis and challenge. Prayer for the Day Higher Power, help me be a friend, and help me b...

Too Busy for  a  Friend..... One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the  other students in the room on two sheets of  paper, leaving a space  between each name. Then she told them to think of  the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class  period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers. That Saturday, the teacher wrote  down the name of each student on a  separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about  that individual. On Monday  she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class  was  smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I  didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments. No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never kne...

Each day is a new start. Each moment is a beginning. We do not have to wait until Monday to get back on the program or clean a closet or tackle a difficult report. We do not have to wait until tomorrow morning, either. Now is the moment to stop, to make a phone call, to begin whatever project we have been putting off. There is no way we can change what we did five minutes ago, nor can we predict what will happen half an hour from now. We can only deal with now. By doing what needs to be done right now, we make the most of each present moment. As long as we are alive, we are always free to begin again. Instead of following an old, worn out habit, make a fresh start this moment on the rest of your life. Give me grace, Lord, to begin again. You are reading from the book: Food for Thought by Elisabeth L. Food for Thought by Elisabeth L. © 1980, 1992 by Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No portion of this publication may be reproduced...

Reflection for the Day If I am troubled, worried, exasperated or frustrated, do I tend to rationalize the situation and lay the blame on someone else? When I am in such a state, is my conversation punctuated with, "He did." "She said." "They did."? Or can I honestly admit that perhaps I'm at fault. My peace of mind depends on overcoming my negative attitudes and tendency toward rationalization.  Will I try, day by day, to be rigorously honest with myself? Today I Pray May I catch myself as I talk in the third person, "He did..." or "They promised..." or "She said she would..." and listen for the blaming that has become such a pattern for me and preserves delusion. May I do a turnabout and face myself instead. Today I Will Remember Honesty is the only policy. You are reading from the book: A Day at a Time (Softcover) by Anonymous

Daily, we determine our priorities. Priorities are not merely something we establish once a year, once a month, or even once a week. Our priorities are visible in the myriad decisions we make and actions we take each day. Being closely in touch with our inner selves and our Higher Power helps assure that our priorities reflect our genuine needs and desires. When we are securely centered, we will not be unduly influenced by other people but will know what is truly important to us and necessary for our health and well being. We set our priorities when we do our grocery shopping and plan our meals. We set them when we choose between playing tennis or reading a book or going to see a friend. We set them when we decide how to respond to a negative comment from a co-worker. Our daily priorities reflect who we are and determine what we are becoming. Let's set them with care. Today, may I put first things first. You are reading from the book: Inner Harvest by Elisabeth L. This book...

When all is said and done, willingness is everything. --Frank D. Most of us know very well that spiriual recovery doesn't happen, nor is there any positive growth, unless we are first of all willing. Sometimes we get confused over the difference between willing and wanting. We don't have to want, let alone enjoy, doing what needs to be done. Not wanting to do something is altogether different from not being willing to do it. As one recovering woman said, "Everything I ever let go of had claw marks all over it." The bottom line is that she did let go no matter how badly she wanted to hang on; she was willing. Think of the people in the  spiritual  program we most admire, those whose progress seems so speedy compared to ours. They may very well not enjoy going out to meetings. They may find it uncomfortable to meet with their sponsors or to say kind words when they really want to complain. They may wish they didn't have to make amends to certain people. But druther...

Jerry E. - AA Speaker - "Every Moment A Gift!" - YouTube ▶ 1:06:45 https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=n-XUoN739l4 Jan 6, 2014 - Uploaded by Odomtology 12-Step Recovery Media Every tape is carefully selected to ensure its quality and that it is entertaining to listen to. You can trust ... Debra P. - Family Recovery Speaker - "Full Reliance" NEW ... ▶ 1:00:07 https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=1jRTqaLYv-A May 7, 2014 - Uploaded by Odomtology 12-Step Recovery Media Odomtology 12-Step Recovery Media. SubscribeSubscribedUnsubscribe .... Jerry E. - AA Speaker - "Every ... Jerry E. - AA Speakers - "Battling Alcoholic Illness" - YouTube ▶ 33:19 https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=0Jmz09qrpHs Dec 18, 2012 - Uploaded by Odomtology 12-Step Recovery Media Odomtology 12-Step Recovery Media. SubscribeSubscribedUnsubscribe .... Jerry E. - AA Speaker - "Every ... Julie M. - AA Speaker - (This talk will b...