Page 4 - AA NEWS JUNE 2020

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Big Book; There Is a Solution, page 25 "There is a solution. Almost none of us like the self-searching, the leveling of our pride, the confession of shortcomings which the process requires for its successful consummation. But we saw that it really worked in others, and we had come to believe in the hopelessness and futility of life as we had been living it. When, therefore, we were approached by those in whom the problem had been solved, there was nothing left for us but to pick up the simple kit of spiritual tools at our feet. We have found much of heaven and we have been rocketed into a fourth dimension of existence of which we had not even dreamed."
Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.
Came to Believe, page 27
"In the late stages of our drinking, the will to resist has fled. Yet when we admit complete defeat and when we become entirely ready to try A.A. principles, our obsession leaves us and we enter a new dimension - freedom under God as we understand Him." Bill W., Letter, 1966
Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.
A Member's Eye View of A.A., P-41, page 10
"I am personally convinced that the basic search of every human being from the cradle to the grave, is to find at least one other human being before whom he can stand completely naked, stripped of all pretense or defense, and trust that person not to hurt him, because that other person has stripped himself naked, too. This lifelong search can begin to end with the first A.A. encounter."
Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.
Big Book; "He Sold Himself Short", pages 266 - 267
"This latest part of my life has had a purpose, not in great things accomplished but in daily living. Courage to face each day has replaced the fears and uncertainties of earlier years. Acceptance of things as they are has replaced the old impatient champing at the bit to conquer the world. I have stopped tilting at windmills and, instead, have tried to accomplish the little daily tasks, unimportant in themselves, but tasks that are an integral part of living fully. Where derision, contempt, and pity were once shown me, I now enjoy the respect of many people. Where once I had casual acquaintances, all of whom were fair-weather friends, I now have a host of friends who accept me for what I am. And over my A.A. years I have made many real, honest, sincere friendships that I shall always cherish."
Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.
A Member's Eye View of A.A., P-41, page 13
"There is yet a fourth factor in A.A. which I feel can be found nowhere else, and that is the recovered alcoholic's omnipresent, bottomless, enthusiastic willingness to talk about alcoholism - its ins and its outs, its whys and its wherefores, its becauses and begats. Without the newcomer's ever becoming fully aware of it, his fascination with alcohol, his thirst, his desire, yea, even his need for a drink is literally talked to death. It has always seemed exquisitely fitting to me that people who once used their mouths to get sick now use them to get well."
Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.
Big Book; Into Action, pages 83 - 84
"If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us - sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them."
Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.
Experience, Strength and Hope, "His Conscience", page 165
"Right from the start of my attending A.A. meetings, I heard various speakers give all credit to a Power greater than themselves. One morning as I was walking to work, from seemingly nowhere at all, there came a thought that there was a possibility that I might never drink again. I have had no desire to drink since that time. It was certainly nothing that I myself could have done that brought this newfound peace. There was only one answer. This Power greater than myself had, as to so many others, restored me to sanity."
Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.
Big Book page 132
"But we aren't a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn't want it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life." Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.
Big Book page 86
"We relax and take it easy. We don't struggle."