Short Version One--Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.
Long Version One--Each member of Alcoholics Anonymous is but a small part of a great whole. A.A. must continue to live or most of us will surely die. Hence our common welfare comes first. But individual welfare follows close afterward.
Our common welfare to me is defined as the well-being, health and general happiness of the community.Our 12 steps promise that as individuals we will have these and much more if we work our programs.Through working this program we rid ourselves of self and take on a selfless attitude.This is the how and why of the first tradition.As we lose self and gain selflessness we become an integral part of the whole of AA.
We deal with alcohol cunning, baffling and powerful.Divide and conquer.That is what alcohol wants to do to the unity of AA.We all need each other if there is dissention in a group the group will likely fall, alcohol will win.As the group goes the individuals go.
I recall my first AA meeting and the feeling of the fellowship it reminded me of the first time I was able to use in the manner in which I wanted to use.I felt as I belonged, I was a part of something.However with using that feeling diminished until it became isolation.In this program it continues to grow and that to me is the spirit of the first tradition.As long as there is group unity first, I have a place to go and the fellowship lives on.When as in using we put ourselves before the group we and the group are destined to fail.If the program of Alcoholics Anonymous fails surely most of us will relapse.
DavidG said
May 20, 2012
Hi Dan,
I am not an AA member... but since i can see your share
am I right in guessing that this takes the form of an open
meeting?
My first contact with AA was at the age of 15. A man, who
was then a young family man came to my school. it was for
boys only- so there must have been 12 or 15 of us.
This was a big eye opener for me... to hear a local male
open up and talk about his life- about this drinking...
...I will relish and remember this experience until the
day i die...
...these comments are most likely not 'on topic'. I first
studied the Steps and Traditions inside of an open AA
and Alanon Steps meeting...
...it had to be like this because at that time our community
was fairly remote- and it was not a good idea to have people
sitting in seperate rooms on their own!
There were times I took my turn to chair a one person meeting...
but over time the group built up... and it is still going....
Unity inside of the 12 step family is important...
it isn't always easy, of course. But with courage, patience
and everlasting goodwill we will always make it.
I picked up my AA Big Book and read the early Trad 1.
From the pen and lips of Bill W. himself, I am sure...
I suppose the joiner is this, the Alanon 4th concept...
that someone high up there might read from time to
time... "Participation is the key to harmony."
On that note I think you for you time... and hopefully
Tradition One AA
Short Version One--Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.
Long Version One--Each member of Alcoholics Anonymous is but a small part of a great whole. A.A. must continue to live or most of us will surely die. Hence our common welfare comes first. But individual welfare follows close afterward.
Our common welfare to me is defined as the well-being, health and general happiness of the community. Our 12 steps promise that as individuals we will have these and much more if we work our programs. Through working this program we rid ourselves of self and take on a selfless attitude. This is the how and why of the first tradition. As we lose self and gain selflessness we become an integral part of the whole of AA.
We deal with alcohol cunning, baffling and powerful. Divide and conquer. That is what alcohol wants to do to the unity of AA. We all need each other if there is dissention in a group the group will likely fall, alcohol will win. As the group goes the individuals go.
I recall my first AA meeting and the feeling of the fellowship it reminded me of the first time I was able to use in the manner in which I wanted to use. I felt as I belonged, I was a part of something. However with using that feeling diminished until it became isolation. In this program it continues to grow and that to me is the spirit of the first tradition. As long as there is group unity first, I have a place to go and the fellowship lives on. When as in using we put ourselves before the group we and the group are destined to fail. If the program of Alcoholics Anonymous fails surely most of us will relapse.
Hi Dan,
I am not an AA member... but since i can see your share
am I right in guessing that this takes the form of an open
meeting?
My first contact with AA was at the age of 15. A man, who
was then a young family man came to my school. it was for
boys only- so there must have been 12 or 15 of us.
This was a big eye opener for me... to hear a local male
open up and talk about his life- about this drinking...
...I will relish and remember this experience until the
day i die...
...these comments are most likely not 'on topic'. I first
studied the Steps and Traditions inside of an open AA
and Alanon Steps meeting...
...it had to be like this because at that time our community
was fairly remote- and it was not a good idea to have people
sitting in seperate rooms on their own!
There were times I took my turn to chair a one person meeting...
but over time the group built up... and it is still going....
Unity inside of the 12 step family is important...
it isn't always easy, of course. But with courage, patience
and everlasting goodwill we will always make it.
I picked up my AA Big Book and read the early Trad 1.
From the pen and lips of Bill W. himself, I am sure...
I suppose the joiner is this, the Alanon 4th concept...
that someone high up there might read from time to
time... "Participation is the key to harmony."
On that note I think you for you time... and hopefully
for the chance to share.
DavidG.