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“The temptations of riches could sometimes be worse than the pains of poverty.”

“Seeing my defects is not enough to make them improve or go away -- the solution seems to be following awareness with action.”

“How does one tune in to the Higher Power? The answer I have learned from AA is to recharge my spiritual battery every day -- ‘you can’t pull today’s load with yesterday’s horse.’”

“I found I had to exert every ounce of will and action to cut off these faulty emotional dependencies upon people, upon AA, indeed, upon any set of circumstances whatever. Then only could I be free to love.”

“As I continue to struggle, I think of the words of an old-timer in my area. No matter what the topic, he always finishes sharing with the words, ‘and I haven’t had a drink today.’ Remembering his words never fails to bring to my mind the words ‘experience, strength, and hope.’”

“Each day I turn my ongoing spiritual experience into a sane and happy usefulness among my fellow travelers.”

“We should question no one's transformation -- whether it be sudden or gradual. Nor should we demand anyone's special type for ourselves, because our own experience suggests that we are apt to receive whatever may be the most useful for our needs.”

“If I am truly going to grow along spiritual lines, I’m going to have to walk with the truest spirit of human compassion for others that I can muster in all of my affairs.”

“Sobriety for me was the complete life change that occurred after I fully invested myself in the AA program.”

Schaumburg, Ill., March 2006, “Living Large,”, AA Grapevine

“Change happens in sobriety and, big or small, I try to see where God wants me to fit in each day.”

“I don't know a whole lot about this sobriety thing. But what I do know is that I am deeply grateful. Grateful to Bill W. and Doctor Bob for beginning this thing and laying it all down for me in twelve, easy-to-follow Steps; grateful to the God of my understanding; grateful for my fellows with whom I share this journey; and grateful for my sponsor and my friends.”

“For the most part, situations requiring utter honesty are clear-cut, and readily recognizable. We simply have to face up to them, our fear and pride regardless. Failing to do this, we shall be sure to suffer those ever-mounting conflicts which can only be resolved by plain honesty.”

“Putting my ego aside to ask others for help still doesn’t come naturally, so I’ve made it a part of my Tenth Step inventory, asking, ‘Have I failed to ask for help when I needed it today?’”

“Nowhere in the AA literature does it say that this is a selfish program. It does, however, talk about becoming selfless.”