Daily
Reflections reading November 27th
The
Perils Of Limelight
In the beginning, the press could not understand our refusal of all personal publicity. They were genuinely baffled by our insistence upon anonymity. Then they got the point. Here was something rare in the world — a society which said it wished to publicize its principles and its work, but not its individual members. The press was delighted with this attitude. Ever since, these friends have reported A.A. with an enthusiasm which the most ardent members would find hard to match. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 182
It is essential for my personal survival and that of the Fellowship that I not use A.A. to put myself in the limelight. Anonymity is a way for me to work on my humility. Since pride is one of my most dangerous shortcomings, practicing humility is one of the best ways to overcome it. The Fellowship of A.A. gains worldwide recognition by its various methods of publicizing its principles and its work, not by its individual members advertising themselves. The attraction created by my changing attitudes and my altruism contributes much more to the welfare of A.A. than self-promotion.
© Alcoholics Anonymous World Services
My
thoughts on November 27th Reading
When dealing with the media tradition eleven ask that members maintain anonymity, not so much for their protection, but for the good of the fellowship as a whole, when discussing their personal recovery with the media
Members who are identified by their full names, such as the case of those who are already well known in the media, tradition eleven suggests they should not also identify the specific name of their 12-step recovery program, such as AA but just leave it a 12-step program
If members wish to discuss the benefits of membership in AA like in a school or hospital they then should identify themselves by first name only and the fellowship they are sharing about
Many recovering members have the attitude, when I was drinking everybody knew I was the town drunk, why should I hide my identity now that I am recovering, the answer is for the good of the fellowship, the example is given of a famous athlete or television personality a role model for youth who gets into recovery
Announces to the entire world that AA has saved his life what happens if that person relapses? The kids say “Well, so much for AA!” Through my years in AA I have seen what promotion has done to AA as a whole it has allowed outsiders at times to try and change our message
Changes that insiders now hear a different message than the original message, by trying to save the world we are not adhering to our primary purpose, one Alcoholic helping another alcoholic, for me this means if the person is dual addicted then he should have the right to share
All their experiences just like the rest of us can, I think at times we all seem to forget that we are responsible for being the attractions of recovery, changing our appearance, how we communicate dress, and conduct ourselves, in and out of the rooms
We are the carriers of the message not the mess, we represent changes in our attitudes, that’s part of carrying the message also, to let people see the difference this design for living has worked in our life, seeing the changes in our lives, physical, mental, and spiritual
They are attracted by our example not any promotion, AA needs no promotion, this is a program for people who want it, let’s not let others tell us what they think we are about, let’s just be ready when the suffering alcoholic is ready to open the door and show him what we are
How our experiences changed ourselves and help others to change themselves Anonymity is what makes people feel safe to speak what’s in their hearts and on their minds, the fact that it’s based on attraction to me means people can see the outward change of a recovering alcoholic, due to that inward change we make when following the steps and practicing them in our daily lives
God Bless you Al M
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