‘Tis better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought a fool…
[This one's for you Micky/David/Patrick/whatever]
Than to open one’s mouth and erase all doubt!
Falls under the Tenth Step;
“Our first objective will be the development of self-restraint. This carries a top priority rating. When we speak or act hastily or rashly, the ability to be fair-minded and tolerant evaporates on the spot. One unkind tirade or one willful snap judgment can ruin our relation with another person for a whole day, or maybe a whole year. Nothing pays off like restraint of tongue and pen.”
Only my fellow recovery bloggers will know …read more

There are two of them relating to sections of The Big Book: Alcoholics Anonymous (pointed to by Silkworth.net);
God remove the Selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear that has cropped up in my life right now. Help me to discuss this with someone immediately and make amends quickly if I have harmed anyone. Help me to cease fight anything and anyone. Show me where I may be helpful to someone else. Help me react sanely; not cocky or afraid. How can I best serve You – Your will, not mine be done. AMEN
(p. 84-5 BB)
“How can I best serve Thee—Thy will (not …read more

From the Tenth Step in the 12 and 12, page 93;
“We can try to stop making unreasonable demands upon those we love. We can show kindness where we had shown none. With those we dislike we can begin to practice justice and courtesy, perhaps going out of our way to understand and help them.
Whenever we fail any of these people, we can promptly admit it – to ourselves always, and to them also, when the admission would be helpful. Courtesy, kindness, justice, and love are the keynotes by which we may come into harmony with practically anybody. When in doubt …read more

Today’s Daily Reflection reminds us that there is good even in the worst of us and it can flower and grow. But it grows in the light, not in the dark.
“With the self-discipline and insight gained from practicing Step Ten, I begin to know the gratifications of sobriety – not as mere abstinence from alcohol, but as recovery in every department of my life.
I renew hope, regenerate faith, and regain the dignity of self-respect. I discover the word ‘and’ in the phrase ‘and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.’
Reassured that I am no longer always wrong, I learn to …read more

“We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness.”

We have a good friend who asks this question at meetings – “how do I know that AA is working?” The answer?
I’ve never had it so good!
There are times like right now that I must bring this to the forefront of my mind. I’m on the right track. God has me exactly where he wants me. How do I know? Because I’ve never had it so good!
I could spend hours …read more

Step Ten offers much of these precious qualities…
From page 88 in the 12&12;
“More experienced people, of course, in all times and places have practiced unsparing self-survey and criticism. For the wise have always known that no one can make much of his life until self-searching becomes a regular habit, until he is able to admit and accept what he finds, and until he patiently and persistently tries to correct what is wrong.”
Sure are a lot of failings available to us in that one paragraph.
Unsparing, patiently, and persistently instantly jump out.

Has it ever been asked of you why it seems you …read more

Step Ten: “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”
Which, when worked then lived, creates these;
The Tenth Step Promises from the AA History Lovers Group at Yahoo!

We continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. (84:2)
We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. (84:2)
We have entered the world of the Spirit. (84:2)
Love and tolerance of others is our code. (84:2)
We have ceased fighting anything or anyone even alcohol. (84:3)
For by this time sanity will have returned. (84:3)
We will seldom be interested …read more

From page 88 in the 12&12;
“Can we stay sober, keep in emotional balance, and live to good purpose under all conditions?”
I.E., when reality jumps up and says “hello” will we be grounded well enough in The Twelve Steps where we can call on our tools to help us go through whatever it is that life has to offer us, good or bad?
From today’s Daily Reflection;
“I have found that pain lets me know there is something wrong with my emotions, just as physical pain lets me know there is something wrong with my body. When I take appropriate action through the …read more

As a reminder;
The Tablemate was an early A.A. set of beginners lessons entitled ‘Alcoholics Anonymous: An Interpretation of the Twelve Steps,’ put out in the form of a little pamphlet. It was (and still is) the most successful set of A.A. beginners lessons ever devised.
And I’m drawing content from the Hindsfoot site, laboriously prepared by Glenn C. and others… We moved into Discussion No. 3: Inventory and Restitution Part I then Inventory and Restitution Part II, and now, Inventory and Restitution Part III.
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Step No. 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
In coming …read more

How To Listen to God
God will tell you all that you need to know.
He will not always tell you all that you want to know.
These are a few simple suggestions for people who are willing to make an experiment.
You can discover for yourself the most important and practical thing any human being can ever learn – how to be in touch with God.
All that is needed is the willingness to try it honestly. Every person who has done this consistently and sincerely has found that it really works.
Before you begin, look over these fundamental points. They are true and …read more