kenl

December 4th Reflection for the Day

Most of us in Gamblers Anonymous are far more comfortable with the determination that we won’t make that first bet today, than we are with the “vow” that we’ll never gamble again. Saying “I intend never to gamble again” is quite different from saying “I’ll never gamble again.” The latter statement is far…[Read more]

December 3rd Reflection for the Day

Our ancient enemy, self-will, wears a mask confronting me with this sort of rationalization Why do I have to lean on God? Hasn’t He already given me the intelligence to think for myself? I have to pause when such thoughts creep into my mind, remembering that I’ve never really been able to bring about the res…[Read more]

December 2 Reflection for the Day
Once at a meeting held in a church, I saw a stained glass window on which was written, “God Is Love.” For some reason, my mind transposed the words into “Love is God.” either way is correct and true, I realized, looking about me and becoming even more conscious of the spirit of love and Power in the small meeting…[Read more]

DECEMBER 1st Reflection for the Day

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit,” – Aristotle. By repeating my gambling acts, I became progressively more likely to do them again and again. By repeatedly attending meetings, talking with my Higher Power, sharing my feelings, and keeping connected with Gamblers Anony…[Read more]

NOVEMBER 30th Reflection for the Day

If you’re a negative thinker and are not yet ready to do an about-face, here are some guidelines that can keep you miserable for just as long as you wish to remain so. First, don’t go to Gamblers Anonymous meetings. If you somehow find yourself at a meeting, keep you mouth (and your mind) shut and your han…[Read more]

NOVEMBER 29th Reflection for the Day

Contrary to what some people think, the slogan “Let Go and Let God” isn’t an expression of apathy, an attitude of defeatism, or an unwillingness to accept responsibility. Those who turn their backs on their problems are not “letting go and letting God,” but, instead, are abandoning their commitment to act on…[Read more]

NOVEMBER 28th Reflection for the Day

Our faith in God’s power – at work in us and in our lives – doesn’t relieve us of responsibility. Instead, our faith strengthens our efforts, makes us confident and assured, and enables us to act decisively and wisely. We’re no longer afraid to make decisions; we’re not afraid to take the steps that seem c…[Read more]

NOVEMBER 27th Reflection for the Day

The Gamblers Anonymous Program shows us how to transform the pipe-dreams of our pasts into a comfortable reality and true sense of purpose, together with a growing consciousness of the power of God in our lives. It’s all right to keep our heads in the clouds with Him, we’re taught, but our feet should rem…[Read more]

NOVEMBER 26th Reflection for the Day

During our first days in Gamblers Anonymous, we got rid of the trappings and environments of gambling. We had to get rid of these, for we knew they surely would have killed us. We got rid of the situations, but we couldn’t get rid of our addiction until we took further action. So we also had to learn to toss s…[Read more]

NOVEMBER 25 Reflection for the Day

“What you have may seem small; you desire so much more. See children thrusting their hands into a narrow necked jar, striving to pull out the sweets. If they fill the hand, they cannot pull it out and then they fall to tears. When they let go a few, they can draw out the rest. You, too, let your desire go; c…[Read more]

NOVEMBER 24th Reflection for the Day

Although we came to Gamblers Anonymous to deal with a specific problem, we soon became aware that we would find not only freedom from addiction, but freedom to live in the real world without fear and frustration. We learned that the solutions are within ourselves. With the help of my Higher Power, I can…[Read more]

NOVEMBER 23rd Reflection for the Day

Before I came to Gamblers Anonymous, I was like an actor who insisted on writing the script, producing, directing, and, in short, running the whole show. I had to do it my way, forever trying to arrange and re-arrange the lights, lines, sets, and, most of all, the other players’ performances. If only my a…[Read more]

Just wanted to wish our American members a Happy Thanksgiving and share these tips for surveying the holiday which can be hard for those in recovery.

Tips for Staying Sober & Preventing Holiday Blues
Even during a period of emotional highs and lows
Loneliness, anxiety, happiness and sadness are common feelings, sometimes experienced in…[Read more]

NOVEMBER 22nd Reflection for the Day

“We succeed in enterprises which demand the positive qualities we possess,” wrote de Tocqueville, “but we excel in those which can also make use of our defects.” We learn in Gamblers Anonymous that our defects do have value – to the extent that we use them as a starting point for change and a pathway t…[Read more]

NOVEMBER 21st Reflection for the Day

Adversity introduces man to himself, a poet once said. For me, the same is true even of imagined adversity. If I expect another person to react in a certain way in a given situation – and he or she fails to meet my expectation – well, then I hardly have the right to be disappointed or angry. Yet I occ…[Read more]

NOVEMBER 20th Reflection for the Day

I’ve come to measure success in a whole new way. My success today isn’t limited by social or economic benchmarks. Success is mine today, no matter what the undertaking, when I tap the power of God within me and allow myself to be an open channel for the expression of His good. The spirit of success works thr…[Read more]

NOVEMBER 19th Reflection for the Day

I no longer argue with people who believe that satisfaction of our natural desires is the primary purpose of life. It’s not our business in Gamblers Anonymous to knock material achievement. When we stop and think about it, no group of people ever made a worse mess of trying to live by that “la dolce vit…[Read more]

NOVEMBER 18th Reflection for the Day

“Nothing is enough to the man for whom enough is too little,” wrote the Greek philosopher Epicurus. Now that we’re free from gambling, and are building our self-respect and winning back the esteem of family and friends, we have to avoid becoming smug about our new-found success. For most of us success has a…[Read more]