ALANON TRADITION 11 - Al-Anon Family Group

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

ALANON TRADITION 11

DavidG · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi, my name is David, a proud member of Alanon.

I think we can come to meetings and do all of the promotion that we like. Alanon is a lifesaver and its okay to sing its praises. Whenever I share I realise stuff about myself- I am in a safe environment- to try things out, and sometimes to test the issues.

In the outside world I believe we should be anonymous, but not invisible. In the middle of my years in Alanon there seemed to be far more "don'ts" than "do's".

I know now that I can talk about my own experience inside of Alanon to members of other groups. Sometimes we can talk amongst ourselves about issues and concerns inside of Alanon. It is important that Alanon is healthy and that we can discuss policy.

But all of this is 'in committee'. These are internal matters, and not for people outside. If there are changes or resolutions the wider Alanon movement makes this public. It would appear in our regular literature.

The MIP forums do not represent the official 12 step groups, or so it appears. But they do appear to adhere strongly to the same principles. Beside that any member of any 12 step group is obliged the follow the guidelines.

Being on an online forum must stretch the guidelines a bit. I do try to stay anonymous. I would assume that is anyone out there had any concerns they would be tactful. And they would tackle the issues from the ground up.

This is what we expect from a healthy family. smile

It is a lovely bright spring morning here in New Zealand. Besides the yard work and pruning and lawns it is great to be able to do this brain work. To be in touch with the love and peace of the programme is a real treasure.

aww Thanks Betty,

DavidG.

david62 · ~*Service Worker*~

Thanks Hotrod,

Tradition 11 was a tough one for me to follow in the beginning and still be sometimes today. Specifically the "attraction rather than promotion part"!

I get it. I am supposed to live my life according to these wonderful principals of this God given program. If I am doing this I may be "attractive" to someone else to the point they may want to know how I got this way. I can gently tell them that I have a program called Al-Anon I attend and they are more than welcome to go with me sometime if they are interested in learning more.

But so often in the beginning I wanted to shout it from the roof tops! I tried really hard to get some of my family members who I thought could certainly use the program to come to meetings. I would spout "Al-Anese" language at them! smile I was kind of annoying in my exuberance I am afraid.

It is amazing to me how when I backed off, years later, some of those very people chose to go to meetings without my prodding.

Once again, I need to keep the focus on me. Doing what is best for me and trying my best to work my program. The rest I need to leave to God.

Thanks,

David

The material presented here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method to exchange information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal level.