We of AA are apt sometimes to brag of the virtues
of our fellowship.
Let us remember that none of these are earned virtues.
We have been forced into them, to begin with,
by the cruel lash of John Barleycorn.
We have adopted these attitudes, these practices,
this structure, not at first because we wished to,
but because we had to.
And then, as time confirmed the seeming rightness
of our basic principles,
we began to conform because it was right to do so.
Some of us, notably myself,
conformed even then with reluctance.
- Bill W., July 1955.

Thought to Ponder....

Paradox: We surrender to win;
we give away to keep;
we suffer to get well;
we die to live.

Recovery Related Acronym

A A = Awesome Alkies.