AA *My Checklist, Not Yours

Character defects like gossip can sneak into our lives when we're not making a constant effort to work the Twelve Steps of recovery. This reading from AA's "Daily Reflections" (pg. 297) reminds us that the only inventory we need to take is our own. We can leave the judgement of others to Greater Power.

Transcript

Daily Reflections My Checklist,

Not Yours Gossip barbed with our anger,

A polite form of murder by character assassination,

Has its satisfactions for us too.

Here we are not trying to help those we criticize,

We are trying to proclaim our own righteousness.

From Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,

Page 67.

Sometimes I don't realize that I gossiped about someone until the end of the day,

When I take an inventory of the day's activities,

And then my gossiping appears like a blemish in my beautiful day.

How could I have said something like that?

Gossip shows its ugly head during a coffee break or lunch with business associates,

Or I may gossip during the evening when I'm tired from the day's activities and feel justified in bolstering my ego at the expense of someone else.

Character defects like gossip sneak into my life when I'm not making a constant effort to work the twelve steps of recovery.

I need to remind myself that my uniqueness is the blessing of my being,

And that applies equally to everyone who crosses my path in life's journey.

Today,

The only inventory I need to take is my own.

I'll leave judgment of others to the final judge.

Divine Providence