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My journey of self-discovery

AS I have travelled on my journey through the Rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous, I have been given many amazing gifts by this wonderful Programme.

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AS I have travelled on my journey through the Rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous, I have been given many amazing gifts by this wonderful Programme. One of these is the honour of being secretary of a meeting, a position I feel very grateful to hold. As such, I love Tradition Four because it both reminds me that I have no right to dictate how other secretaries and chairs ought to run their meetings, and that I need to be always alert for matters arising in my own meeting which might affect others. Am I following the overall Programme and passing on the message appropriately whilst also not over-stepping my bounds? This question in turn reminds me to keep close contact with my sponsor and other alcoholics – which is certainly not a bad thing, and something I sometimes need to be reminded of. The Steps teach me how to cope with life, myself and my alcoholism. The Traditions teach me how to do service, pass on the message and keep true to the spirit of AA. 

This Tradition also keeps me aware of the importance and relevance of other positions I hold, and those of others. I certainly do not always know whether something raised in my meeting or any other meeting I attend affects AA as a whole and so, again, this encourages me to both learn more about the overall structure of the Programme and also speak to other alcoholics who hold service positions in the Rooms to ensure I am always doing the best I can. This can often mean me swallowing my pride, putting aside my ego and learning how to do what is right rather than what I want – which again is certainly no bad thing. As a result, although the Traditions are usually thought of as being for the good of AA as a whole while the Steps are more for personal growth, this Tradition nevertheless helps me a lot on a personal level. 
I do have to admit that I have often just seen the Traditions as important and useful but in a sort of distant, impersonal way - in much the same ways as the ins and outs of laws in other countries are. I don’t need to learn the finer technicalities of judicial systems in other countries, but I understand and appreciate why they’re there.

But the Traditions, although for all of us as a whole, are not just great impersonal laws handed down from above. Again, I have had to put my preconceptions aside and actually be willing and receptive to new ideas, be willing to learn new things and be open-minded. These Traditions do constantly help and guide me on a personal level as well as being a valuable structure for the Programme as a whole and for that I am also extremely grateful. In working on this Tradition, I have learned even more about my own thoughts and attitudes, and thus progressed further on my journey of self-discovery. And for this, and for all the other miracles the Programme has worked for me, I am as always, so grateful to everybody on this amazing journey with me. Thank you for keeping me sober.

ROBBIE H, Northampton