A Day At A Time - - April 26 2026

Reflection For The Day

When I first came to The Program, I was stunned by the constant sound of laughter. I realized today that cheerfulness and merriment make for usefulness. Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into laughter over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past. But why shouldn’t e laugh? We have recovered, and have helped others to recover. What greater cause could there be for rejoicing than this? Have I begun to regain my sense of humor?

Today I Pray

May God restore my sense of humor. May I appreciate the honest laughter that is the background music of our mutual rejoicing in our sobriety. May I laugh a lot, not the defensive ego-laugh which mocks another weakness, not the wry laugh of the self-put-down, but the healthy laugh that keeps situations in perspective. May I never regard this kind of laughter as irreverent. I have learned, instead, that it is irreverent to take myself too seriously.

Today I Will Remember

A sense of humor is a sigh of health.

EASY DOES IT #essentialsofrec #Humor Rule62

 HUMOR

Rule 62: Don’t take yourself too seriously.

~ Anonymous ~

Once we get the God problem figured out, it’s easier to lighten up on ourselves. When we play God, we’re serious about ourselves because, after all, we’re God and God is serious. Besides carrying the world around on our backs is heavy stuff, and it’s hard to laugh when we’re so weighted down.

Once we work our Steps, we see things from a clearer point of view. We get a sense of humor back. The slogan “Easy Does It” speaks to us.

We watch the old-timers and how they handle situations. There is usually little fuss or hassle. They don’t frown or look worried. Those who have been on the Program for a long time know that things come and go; God’s will will be done. Life has a lot more to do with acceptance than with being serious.

Let me learn to accept that God’s in charge. Then I can stop taking myself so seriously.

©1990 by Anonymous. All rights reserved. Published by Hazelden.

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Humor

HUMOR


“Humor may be defined as the kindly contemplation of the incongruities of life and the artistic impression thereof . . . The essence of humor is human kindliness.”
— Stephen Leacock

Humor for me is a key to balance. In the joke I am able to release some tension or frustration and cope with my disease of alcoholism. When I drank, I did not have a genuine sense of humor — rather it was sarcasm, cruel “put-downs” or insane expressions of my manic personality. My fun was created at the expense of others. It was a form of violence. It kept people away from me and created a loneliness in my life.

Today I seek to use humor as an expression of acceptance, tolerance, understanding and forgiveness. Humor is an aspect of my spiritual program. In humor I experience God.

Give me the gift of humor that reflects the dignity and hope for us all.

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ONE DAY AT A TIME #essentialsofrecovery

HUMOR

Don’t take yourself too damned seriously.

Rule #62, AA’s Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ~

In the years of my existence, before I got into recovery, I would run from one self-important crisis to another. Everything was so important, so heavy! What laughter there was ended up directed derisively at others. I treated my life with self-importance and pomposity.

It took sitting in the rooms, day after day and night after night, listening to how recovering people were able to laugh at themselves. Oh, they were deadly serious when it came to working the Steps and the traditions. After all, if not for them, they’d be dead or crazy. But as they would share things where they had shown the heavy-does-it attitude, they would see the folly of their ways and start a good belly laugh that would cascade through the room and have us all wiping our eyes.

As I work my program, I realize that there are some things that need more prayer and meditation than others. Then there are those things in my life that, under the light of my recovery, are just plain flat-out silly. My Higher Power gives me the ability to cry and grieve where appropriate. My Higher Power also has taught me that laughter, indeed, is often the best medicine.

One day at a time ….

I learn that healthy laughter is just as important to my recovery as are the healthy tears.

~ Mark Y ~

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The Eye Opener #essentialsofrecovery

In our drinking days, there was no humor in the world except that doubtful brand we heard around the bars. It is certainly true that we took our insignificant affairs and our ridiculous selves mostly seriously.

In AA, when we became mentally sober, we not only acquired a sense of humor, but we were even able to laugh at ourselves. We can now accept the criticism of others with a greater degree of patient good humor, we have learned that the best way to confound our critic is to laugh off his attack with good-humored tolerance.

Copyright Hazelden Foundation 

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Just For Today #essentialsofrecovery

A Sense Of Humor

“We find that when we lose self-obsession, we are able to understand what it means to be happy, joyous, and free.” 

Basic Text, p.103

The laughter in our meetings often surprises the newcomer. As a group, we appreciate the healing that healthy laughter brings. Even if we are deeply troubled, the joy that often fills the meeting rooms allows us, for a time, to have some fun with our recovery. Through humor, we can be temporarily relieved of our obsession with self.

Life on life’s terms is often anything but funny. But if we can keep a sense of humor about us, things that might overwhelm us can be made bearable. How often have we allowed ourselves to be upset by incidents that, taken with a bit of humor, are not all that intolerable? When we become annoyed with people and events, a search for the humor in the situation can put things in a brighter perspective. An ability to find humor in a difficult situation is a gift to develop.

Just for today: I will look to find the humor in adversity. When I make mistakes, I will find a way to laugh at the humor of my imperfections.

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Just For Today #essentialsofrec #humour

 A Sense Of Humor

“We find that when we lose self-obsession, we are able to understand what it means to be happy, joyous, and free.”

Basic Text, p.103

The laughter in our meetings often surprises the newcomer. As a group, we appreciate the healing that healthy laughter brings. Even if we are deeply troubled, the joy that often fills the meeting rooms allows us, for a time, to have some fun with our recovery. Through humor, we can be temporarily relieved of our obsession with self.

Life on life’s terms is often anything but funny. But if we can keep a sense of humor about us, things that might overwhelm us can be made bearable. How often have we allowed ourselves to be upset by incidents that, taken with a bit of humor, are not all that intolerable? When we become annoyed with people and events, a search for the humor in the situation can put things in a brighter perspective. An ability to find humor in a difficult situation is a gift to develop.

Just for today: I will look to find the humor in adversity. When I make mistakes, I will find a way to laugh at the humor of my imperfections.

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FR. LEO'S DAILY MEDITATION #essentialsofrec #FrLeo #Humor

HUMOR

“Humor is an affirmation of dignity, a declaration of one’s superiority to all that befalls one.”

~ Romain Gary 

Today I laugh at myself. I need to laugh at myself to stay sane. I choose not to take myself too seriously.

When I tell jokes about the alcoholic, I am not belittling the person; rather, I am making fun of the disease that nearly killed me. For me to live with the disease, I need to be able to laugh at it. In this way, I stop alcoholism from having power in my life.

In addition, I catch something of the symptoms of the disease in my jokes: the grandiosity, arrogance, manipulation, insanity, ego, selfishness, and exaggeration. Joking allows me to face reality with a smile. Today I use humor in a loving and mindful way.

God, thank You for the healing gift of humor.

© 2008 Leo Booth

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The Eye Opener #essentialsofrec #Humour

  3
December


I feel good today and I ought to. I slept like a baby last night, had a fine breakfast that I relished, the wife and kids kissed me as I left the house, I arrived at the office whistling and didn’t give a damn whether the boss was in a good humor or not. The work, too, seemed so much easier to do and the gang in the office seemed so much friendlier. It’s payday, too, and I drew a whole week’s pay and I haven’t borrowed a cent from a soul in the office. The whole envelope can go home unopened.

AA gave me all this. To me, an alcoholic, this is heaven.
Copyright Hazelden Foundation

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ONE DAY AT A TIME #essentialsofrec #Humour

 11
November

HUMOR

Don’t take yourself too damned seriously.

Rule #62, AA’s Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ~

In the years of my existence, before I got into recovery, I would run from one self-important crisis to another. Everything was so important, so heavy! What laughter there was ended up directed derisively at others. I treated my life with self-importance and pomposity.

It took sitting in the rooms, day after day and night after night, listening to how recovering people were able to laugh at themselves. Oh, they were deadly serious when it came to working the Steps and the traditions. After all, if not for them, they’d be dead or crazy. But as they would share things where they had shown the heavy-does-it attitude, they would see the folly of their ways and start a good belly laugh that would cascade through the room and have us all wiping our eyes.

As I work my program, I realize that there are some things that need more prayer and meditation than others. Then there are those things in my life that, under the light of my recovery, are just plain flat-out silly. My Higher Power gives me the ability to cry and grieve where appropriate. My Higher Power also has taught me that laughter, indeed, is often the best medicine.

One day at a time ….

I learn that healthy laughter is just as important to my recovery as are the healthy tears.

~ Mark Y ~

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#essentialsofrec #Recovery #Inspiration #Quotes

 4
October

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. ~ Maya Angelou

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Walk In Dry Places #essentialsofrec #Attitude #Humor

18
September

 
The role of humor
Attitudes

There’s a lot of humor among recovery groups, which probably came out of the bizarre drinking stories told by speakers. It’s also a reflection of our real personalities.

The right kind of humor helps us achieve balance and not take ourselves too seriously. Meetings can be terribly suffocating when they have neither lightness or gaiety.

There is also a wrong kind of humor that should be avoided. It’s very easy to let joking and good-natured ribbing take the place of the honest discussions all of us need. It’s too easy in AA for a member to become known and liked as a charming jokester, even though he or she may be quietly feeling lots of inner pain. People are often surprised when such a person runs into trouble, because they had accepted the humorous surface personality without knowing the real person. In such a case, humor can send the wrong message.

Most of the time, however, humor helps keep us on the right track. Let’s keep it in our picture, but also in the proper focus.

I’ll not be afraid to laugh at myself or about myself today. Perhaps my right-spirited laughter also reflects the laughter of God.

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Humor

15
September

NONSENSE


“We find it hard to believe that other people’s thoughts are as silly as our own, but they probably are.”

– James Harvey Robinson

Today I am able to laugh at myself. I even “think” funny things. I sit at airports and look at the faces, postures and mannerisms of the people passing by and I smile, giggle and laugh in my handkerchief. Then I think about what a funny man I am — so ridiculously proud, so pompous about the silliest things, so preoccupied about my own importance — and it is funny.

Yes, today I am able to laugh at myself. I know that people are funny because I know I am. At meetings I hear people laughing about the day’s insanities and I can always identify. Even my relationships are humorous. I try so hard to make a good impression while at the same time offering the effect of detachment — trying to be “cool”.

God must have a sense of humor because He made you and me!

Thank You for the gift of humor — it allows true humility to develop.

******************************

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Fr. Martin Humor in recovery #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Humor #FrMartin

16
 July

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The Eye Opener #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Humour

 3
July

In our drinking days, there was no humor in the world except that doubtful brand we heard around the bars. It is certainly true that we took our insignificant affairs and our ridiculous selves mostly seriously.

In AA, when we became mentally sober, we not only acquired a sense of humor, but we were even able to laugh at ourselves. We can now accept the criticism of others with a greater degree of patient good humor, we have learned that the best way to confound our critic is to laugh off his attack with good-humored tolerance.

Copyright Hazelden Foundation

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #frLeo #Humor

30
June  HUMOR


“The one serious conviction that a man should have is that nothing is to be taken seriously.”            –Nicholas Murray Butler

For years I used to take myself too seriously. I thought that everything depended upon my thoughts, actions and decisions. Life was a series of agendas that had to be met; life was too serious to be joked about. I knew that I was not God, but I took responsibility for the whole universe. I had opinions on everything and everybody and I was, of course, always right.

As the years passed it grew painful being so responsible — my control produced stress, tension and loneliness. Then a friend said to me, “Let go and let God.” I began to detach and laugh at my insane behavior. I laughed more as I began to accept my humanness. I discovered spirituality in the joke. God must have a sense of humor — after all, He made me. Help me to laugh at myself in my search for the Kingdom.

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Just For Today #essentialsofrec #Laughter #Humour #Recovery

19
June

A Sense Of Humor

“We find that when we lose self-obsession, we are able to understand what it means to be happy, joyous, and free.” 

Basic Text, p.103

The laughter in our meetings often surprises the newcomer. As a group, we appreciate the healing that healthy laughter brings. Even if we are deeply troubled, the joy that often fills the meeting rooms allows us, for a time, to have some fun with our recovery. Through humor, we can be temporarily relieved of our obsession with self.

Life on life’s terms is often anything but funny. But if we can keep a sense of humor about us, things that might overwhelm us can be made bearable. How often have we allowed ourselves to be upset by incidents that, taken with a bit of humor, are not all that intolerable? When we become annoyed with people and events, a search for the humor in the situation can put things in a brighter perspective. An ability to find humor in a difficult situation is a gift to develop.

Just for today: I will look to find the humor in adversity. When I make mistakes, I will find a way to laugh at the humor of my imperfections.

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Keep It Simple #essentialsofrec #Laughter #Recovery

15
 June

He who laughs, last.

—Mary Pettibone Poole

It feels good to laugh again! Our disease took away our sense of humor. Recovery gives it back. That’s why there’s so much laughter at our meetings. By seeing the funny side of things, we ease up.

A person in treatment was talking about the Higher Power he had come to believe in. The counselor asked, “Does God have a sense of humor?” The group had fun talking about this idea for a while. The next day, the counselor came to work and found a note on her door. It read: “Of course God has a sense of humor. He made you, didn’t He? Laughter helps us heal.

Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me ease up today. Let me see the funny side of things.

Action for the Day: I’ll let myself laugh today.

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18
March 

HUMOR


“Humor may be defined as the kindly contemplation of the incongruities of life and the artistic impression thereof . . . The essence of humor is human kindliness.”

— Stephen Leacock

Humor for me is a key to balance. In the joke I am able to release some tension or frustration and cope with my disease of alcoholism. When I drank, I did not have a genuine sense of humor — rather it was sarcasm, cruel “put-downs” or insane expressions of my manic personality. My fun was created at the expense of others. It was a form of violence. It kept people away from me and created a loneliness in my life.

Today I seek to use humor as an expression of acceptance, tolerance, understanding and forgiveness. Humor is an aspect of my spiritual program. In humor I experience God.

Give me the gift of humor that reflects the dignity and hope for us all.

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One Day At A Time #essentialsofrecovery.com #Laughter #Happiness #Recovery #OA

  4
February

~ Laughter ~


Laughter can be more satisfying than honor; more precious than money; more heart-cleansing than prayer.
–Harriet Rochlin

For as long as I can remember I've always been a serious person. I can’t remember ever doing something just for fun or to have a laugh. There always had to be a purpose for what I did in my life, or else it was of no value. As for being able to laugh at myself, that wasn't even in my frame of reference. I was so super-sensitive that I’d get upset if someone made fun of me, as it would always make me feel “less than” or stupid.

So when I came into the doors of my first Twelve Step meeting, I was amazed that, even though all the people I met had problems around food, they were still able to look at their mistakes and realize that that didn’t make them a bad person. But even more heartwarming was the fact that I heard laughter in those rooms. Before, I’d always thought that when someone laughed at what I said, they were laughing at me, and that would reinforce my feelings of inadequacy.

The lessons I'm learning here are not easy ones and there are still times when my old behaviors of being overly sensitive creep in, but I know that recovery is a process, and as I grow in the program, it will get better.

One day at a time …

As I practice the program and work the steps, I am becoming more able to laugh at myself and not always look at the dark side of life. What a gift it has been to start enjoying life!

~ Sharon ~

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