AA Thought for the Day

April 9, 2006

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Letting Go

We thought we could find an easier, softer way
But we could not.
With all the earnestness at our command,
we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start.
Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas
and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.

Reprinted from Alcoholics Anonymous, Page 38, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.


Thought to Ponder....

When I struggle, I sink. When I let go, I float.


Recovery Related Acronym

Coffee Pot

LET GO = Leave Everything To God, Okay?


A Member Shares...

My name is Tracy, and I'm an alcoholic.

I am going through another spell in my recovery where I can't let go. I've been sober for six years now and letting go of a problem that I don't see an outcome for, is still the hardest thing for me to do. I feel like I have a catcher's mitt and a ball. The ball is the problem, and if I throw it up to the heavens, God will catch it and throw it back down with the answer. I know, metaphorically, this is the way to do it. Throw it! When I am finally in enough pain I will do it this way. But sitting in the problem and sitting in the pain is something I can seem to do forever. I don't know why. Maybe it's just familiar to me (but miserable). Maybe I like it as I don't like myself and feel I need to manufacture my own misery, I just don't know. So I stand here with my ball, my mitt and my mask on, hanging on. I will not throw my ball up to God for the answer. I will, however, show my ball to everyone. And I mean each and every poor person who knows me and knows that I'm in recovery and bore them to tears with my ball. I show it off, don't them touch it, don't let them throw it up to God for me; I just make them listen to me, and make them feel as crummy as I do. Then I go to bed with it under my pillow, sleep terribly and begin my day with it again, hanging on for dear life. Don't touch my ball! Well, yesterday, I threw it and am now standing here gazing up into the sky, still wearing my mitt and my mask. I am poised and ready for God to throw the ball back with the answer written on it or something. I can't believe I threw it but know I did it because I prayed about it, told a friend, and read my meditation books. Without AA I would have an enormous hangover today, and with AA I have peace. Thank you!

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