Member: Joy P
Location: Australia
Date: 28 Feb 1999
Time: 14:34:17

Comments

Since I handed my life over to the God of my understanding, life is a whole lot better for me. I now find that things which used to bother me do not any more, I also find that my thinking is a lot more rational and clear.

If a problem crops up I know it will resolve itselve the right way, not the way I would want it to, but the way it is supposed to.


Member: Ana A.
Location: Portugal
Date: 28 Feb 1999
Time: 15:22:32

Comments

I love the traditions - they protect the Association of Alcoholics Anonymous from me, an alcoholic and that gives me the assurance that the fellowship will never end as the result of a "self will run riot". An oldtimer in AA once told me that she used to apply the traditions to her life and that it helped her a lot. Since then I began to do that "exercise" and it works very well and has helped me to deal with many aspects in my daily life but also it has helped me to understand them better.I like the expression "a loving God " in this Tradition! Thank you for being there in this cyber meeting!


Member: Kendra M
Location: San Francisco, U.S.A.
Date: 28 Feb 1999
Time: 15:55:42

Comments

The traditions are too often overlooked in the greater scheme of things. I'm gratefull to hear from othera what they mean and how they work them in there life. I often forget to let go of things and turn them over to my higher power- instead I often turn them over to people- who are human and make mistakes- like me-


Member: BONNIE   E.
Location: WASHINGTON STATE
Date: 28 Feb 1999
Time: 16:11:30

Comments

SOMETIMES IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST TURNING THINGS OVER TO OUR HIGHER POWER, WE HAVE TO TAKE THE STEPS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR LIFE.THATS WHERE CHOICES COME IN AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T WANT TO FACE THE ELEPHANT IN OUR LIVING ROOM. BUT THE BOTTM LINE IS TRUTH. ITS WHEN WE HIDE OUR HEAD IN THE SAND AND THINK IT WILL GO AWAY, THAT IS WHEN THE HIGHER POWER COMES IN WITH TRUST AND WISDOM. BELIEVING IS ONE THING DOING IS ANOTHER.


Member: jack c wanderers 3
Location: Friendship Wi
Date: 28 Feb 1999
Time: 16:31:45

Comments

Hello to Australia and portugal. Hello to all my fellow members of this miraculous way of life given to us by the ultimate authority of the universe, a loving GOD. I'm jack c. from wanderers three, and I'm an alcoholic, and lucky to be saved by the ultimate power, we call our Higher power, GOD Almighty.We are sure grateful that our boss is not a CEO, President, Comptroller, foreman, politician, warden, police- chief or parole officer, etc.,worldly authorities whoabuse their authority. Fortunately, in step 2 and 3, we met embraced and received the love and guidance and care of the one and only ultimate authority, A LOVING GOD !


Member: JB
Location:
Date: 28 Feb 1999
Time: 17:36:27

Comments

I really had a hard time with this tradition when I first came to a.a. First words like ultimate authority used to make me stop dead in my tracks, and trusted servants, that was the next hitch. What a turn around in my thinkiing since then. Step two a power greater than myself really came to be the thing that opened my eyes. First of all I could not concieve of a loving God because I could not love myself. When I took me out of the equation and could see that if I were setting the definition of God he would have to be very limited. When I took my concept out of the picture he was able to become very large,very powerful,and able to restore me to sanity.To be a tsusted servant the I ,me, my has to come out of it again, as long as I am self servering I can't begin to serve others. It is one of those paradoxs you can't keep it unless you give it away.


Member: Doug W.
Location: Lake Forest, Il.
Date: 28 Feb 1999
Time: 19:01:22

Comments

I was recently asked to contribute to the archieves of our area in the form of an interview. (My pride tells me I'm not that old.) One of the questions this young man asked involved how the groups and the program have changed since I came in and he said that it was stated that AA would some day implode with contraversy. AA and the groups haven't changed...groups come and they go. Tipically when they go, somebody losy sight of the traditions involved in the whole deal. Thank God for them and thank God for those that keep them mindful.


Member: richard m.
Location: sarasota,florida
Date: 28 Feb 1999
Time: 20:59:59

Comments

hello my name is richard , i am an alcoholic........easyst way to find out...if some body has really made it to the good part.......do they practise the traditions??????


Member: John F.
Location: Marienville,Pa.
Date: 28 Feb 1999
Time: 21:45:36

Comments

hi everyone, my name is John and I'm an alcoholic.For me it brings me a great sence of relief knowing today that the only one I have to answer too is my H.P.All my life I had to answer to others, today if I'm ok with something andI feel my God is ok with it then I don't have to worry of what others think.That's good enough for me.Thanks for letting me share.


Member: Lewis B.
Location: Saline Co. Mo.
Date: 28 Feb 1999
Time: 22:20:44

Comments

Hi. My name is Lewis and I'm an alcoholic. I't a good thing that we use God as our ultimate authority. We use a group conscious meeting from time to time to get the air cleared over some controversary. Sometime those meetings get kind of loud and people let their hair down. But the air does get cleared and folks go home with a new understanding about the subject. I have read enough history of the AA movement to understand these traditions were beat out over hot coals of experience. They are not just someones idea that sounds good or looks good on paper. It's good to be able to share with people from other parts of the world. Hope to meet you again. Thanks.


Member: Larry M.
Location: Virginia Beach
Date: 01 Mar 1999
Time: 00:45:52

Comments

The longer I'm in AA, the more I realize how important the Traditions were to my early sobriety and continuing recovery. When I first came to AA, if there had been rules posted, or if someone had started giving me orders, or even if there'd been an application form to fill out, I would have been out the door in a matter of minutes.

As someone already pointed out, the Traditions protect the Fellowship from the Membership. I was a rebellious alky when I came in here and am still rebellious in many ways. I would not be comfortable in a hierarchical organization with "Leaders" empowered to enforce rules. The only leaders I follow are those who lead by example. I have been blessed with some wonderful sponsors who never told me what to do (they knew damn well I wouldn't do anything I was told to do), but merely made suggestions. They walked the walk, so I was willing to follow.

I am fortunate to be involved in service work. It is a humbling experience in the best sense of the word "humble". I am privileged to be given responsibily for serving and try to earn the trust of the group that has given me opportunity to serve.

One last note: I got sober in Brooklyn. It's the only place I've ever heard it said that when we give out a service commitment (chairperson, coffeemaker, GSO/Intergroup rep, secretary, treasurer, etc.), we don't give it to the person who can do the best job, we give it to the person who most needs the job to stay sober. I like that philosophy - it worked for me when I needed a job to stay sober - and wonder if anyone else has ever heard it put that way.


Member: Maggie K.
Location: BC Canada
Date: 01 Mar 1999
Time: 02:15:04

Comments

I'm Maggie and I'm an alcoholic. I never haeard that before about the traditions beinga protection for the fellowship from the membership.The ultimate authority is a loving God as we understand Him, and so it just followes that it should work within the traditions.I use the traditions within my family and boards that I sit on and find it works outside of the program as well.Thank=you for letting me share


Member: Bonnie C - 5/30/80
Location: Seattle
Date: 01 Mar 1999
Time: 03:38:07

Comments

Hi extended family, bonnie/alcoholic here, (((ROOM-HUG))) so happy to be here with my brothers and sisters tonight. I love the steps and traditions of this program for it has given me a how to guideline for my life. when i first got here, i was so confused, i let everything in the media, advertizement, movies, neighbors, friends, my bank account etc etc be my yardstick for my achievements in life, never having a principle, conviction or boundary that was my very own, it was always me judging my insides by your outsides, then trying to live up to what i thought you wanted me to be. what an impossible job! who could measure up when the rules kept changing? this program's steps and traditions made a once complicated life much simpler. breaking my old habits was the hard part but the steps and the way they are laid out take care of that. and the traditions, very straight forward, thank God some crazy drunk isn't in charge of AA, especially if my insanity is any clue to what that person might be like, I shudder to think! I've been at many business meetings, sometimes it seems we all want to be in charge at one time or another. I did my time as MS AA, thought the meeting would fold if i wasnt there to set up the chairs, make coffee, wash ashtrays, greet the newcomer, chair the meeting, go to the prisons, be the GSR etc etc, so i thought I'll show them, I stopped going for 2 wks, guess what, coffee got made, ashtrays washed, the newcomers came and stayed, meetings got chaired, others went to the prisons, they elected a new GSR and I got miserable, so with a new level of humility (seeing things as they really are and my importance in them, when my selfcenteredness is in charge) plus an understanding and appreciation of the power of God and this fellowship, I came back, thank God you were all here to welcome me back, plus this program had become a job by then and it was nice to just step back and give someone else a turn at service. (by the way, I still do service but with different motives) if you dont have a step and tradition meeting where you go to meetings, start one, I did up here, how can you participate in a business meeting if you dont know the guidelines? plus I'm a natural *know it all* and I like to be armed with the facts, I truly love this program, Dear God please bless all who venture here, love and hugs, bon -- bonzoc@webtv.net


Member: Kevin H.
Location: Philadelphia,Pa.
Date: 01 Mar 1999
Time: 11:08:48

Comments

Hi everyone! Kevin,alcoholic here. I love to see this tradition at work!!! Certainly we need to be unified, which is why dependence on the First Tradition is very important! I'd like to share a few experiences of my Home Group (It's In The Book Group-Phila, Pa.)that I believe exemplify the Second Tradition. We're a Big Book study group,and our initial format was using Joe and Charlie tapes as a guide to studying the Book. After completing the tape study, several members who were involved with starting the meeting decided to change the format, and begin studying the Preface, Forwards,Drs.Opinion,and the first 164 pages, going paragraph by paragraph-members raising thier hand at any time either sharing experience, or asking questiions. After completing the Book using this format, those same initial members decided to go back to the tape format,but some in attendance were disapp- ointed. It was decided that at the next Business Meeting we would take a Group Conscience vote. Many of the original members, myself included, were sure the format would go back to the tape study. Something Powerful happened at that business meeting that, I later realized was God expressing Himself through the Group Conscience, after hearing the voice of the group,my decision, as well as the decisions of all the others, were changed and we have been studying the Big Book that way for three years! Another experience with the same Group,we used to read "How It Works" in manuscript form, one member in attendance didn't care for this and at the business meeting proposed a change,it was initially voted to keep that form, and several months later was proposed once again to change. After hearing the Voice of the Group Conscience, many who initially voted to keep it, voted in favor of reading "How It Works" as it's written in the Big Book! What a wonderful experience to be a part of the Traditions at work!!!THANK GOD! Hello to all who attended NERAASA '99! It was great! God Bless us ALL!


Member: Garrett  P.
Location: Prague
Date: 01 Mar 1999
Time: 11:48:05

Comments

Garrett P. Prague, CZ Hi , My name is Garrett and I am an ALCOHOLIC and DRUG ADDICT. I am so greatful to have a meeting to come to today. I am from Nashville, TN where we actually DO have Traditions meetings. I am travelling on business and have not found a live meeting to go to here in Prague. I do so much need to hear about the power greater than my self that I choose to call God. I am so happy to be able not only to let go and let God, but to understand that God has for me outcomes that are far superior to what my DAMAGED mind will concoct. Letting go , letting go, letting go is such a gift to have. I enjoy the freedom that the program gives me to live one day and moment at a time. Thanks for contact with the program and this meeting today.


Member: Evie  V
Location: Florida Keys
Date: 01 Mar 1999
Time: 15:30:54

Comments

When I first read the steps in the detox I finally sucummed to after years of drinking (you know the closet mother drinker), week-ends and after kids in bed , it was like a lighting bolt! I could admit powerlessnes finally and the idea of turning it over to God was a solution. However as I read on, Big Book, 12& 12 etc., got a sponser made good new sober friends, I came to see that I had to do my part too. It is up to us with prayer to do the right thing even if it doesn't feel right at the time. More is revealed as we go on. I love all the steps and firmally believe that we are never through with them. We live by them in all facets of our life.


Member: Geri W
Location: Va
Date: 01 Mar 1999
Time: 20:56:24

Comments

Geri, a very grateful alcoholic here. You know, Bill and the boys were right! Can you imagine leaving their message with a bunch of drunks who thought they were in charge? Now, occassionally, one of us gets to thinking we know best and then whamo- the group jumps in and clears it up for us. And this goes on all over the Earth in thousands of meetings. When I go to new towns and new meetings, the comfort of finding the program working just like it does in my home group is so wonderful. It takes some of us a long time to understand and embrace the ultimate authority, but when we do - the glorious life begins. Thank God for Bill W and the first 100. Hugs


Member: Corinne B.
Location: CA
Date: 03 Mar 1999
Time: 16:45:44

Comments

Hello 12&12 Folks! I'm Corinne, Alcoholic here, there & everywhere!

Geri, please E-Mail me at kokomoro@yahoo.com - I just love your posts and was born in Va. and want to connect with you on a more personal level.

I recently read one of the stories "The Vicious Cycle" in the BB and it really was powerful to hear this man speak about the concept of "God as we understand Him" being in the book because of his own troublesome experience along these lines. And so, out of that experience, I can see where that also helped with Trad.#2.

I am too newly returning to share much else, but am sure glad to see such focused sharing here and thank you all for saving me a seat!


Member: grandpa milt
Location: Amarillo,Texas
Date: 03 Mar 1999
Time: 17:30:42

Comments

I'm Grandpa Milt and I'm a drunk. When I dragged myself into my first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous I didn't need a 12X12 meeting. I needed a 2X4 meeting. So I got the crustiest, meanest sponsor I could find. By the grace of God and the fellowship of this program and some regular butt kicking from my sponsor I've been sober a few twenty-four hours. I'm here because God wants me here. Keep an attitude of gratitude and keep coming back. It works if you work it.


Member: Sara J.
Location: Michigan
Date: 03 Mar 1999
Time: 18:09:12

Comments

I know now when I do make the decision to turn my will over to God things go better for me, its when I don't that things turn to crap. I get all messed up w/ that stinkin' thinkin'! But I always now that If I pick up my self-will again, I can ALWAYS, ALWAYS, turn it back over to God--the choice is mine. You figure out which choice is better.


Member: Mike N
Location: Lansing,MI
Date: 03 Mar 1999
Time: 23:29:40

Comments

I'm Mike and and I'm an alcoholic. This is a interesting tradition,glad there were no leaders when I came around other then the ultimate authority.Don't think,don't drink and don't compare yourself to others.We have the power we need to stay sober if we work the STEPS.


Member: Mike N
Location: Lansing,MI
Date: 03 Mar 1999
Time: 23:29:49

Comments

I'm Mike and and I'm an alcoholic. This is a interesting tradition,glad there were no leaders when I came around other then the ultimate authority.Don't think,don't drink and don't compare yourself to others.We have the power we need to stay sober if we work the STEPS.


Member: Dale S.
Location: California
Date: 04 Mar 1999
Time: 14:03:13

Comments

This tradition helped me to realize something about myself. For me there is only one authority. He expresses Himself through the membership of AA. If I listen to my head about what God's will is for me I am doomed. It is the main object of my mind to deceive me. I have a book written by 158 +- alcoholics. In that book I can find God's will for me. This tradition is important for the survival of AA. If we had a governing person AA would fail. Our leaders are just servants. Just as I am God's servant in my greatest moments.


Member: darryl v
Location: australia
Date: 04 Mar 1999
Time: 21:29:51

Comments

hi my name is darryl i am an alcoholic from melbourne australia and in the process of starting up a treatment centre in australia if anyone has any assistance they could give me please do so my email address is viney@email.com please email me and god bless you darryl.


Member: J-86
Location: Alaska
Date: 05 Mar 1999
Time: 11:35:11

Comments

I cannot imagine a bunch of recovering alcoholics having rules & regulations in A.A.! I know this tradition keeps me grounded. There are some who have a control problem & A.A. teaches us that service work is a blessing .To give freely of myself & expect nothing in return. This is something 2 yrs. ago i would,nt have done. These people trusted me. A.A. has taught me how to be responsible. I cannot make decisions on where our $ go all by myself. I have to take it to our group. God will take care of us all. No matter what happens in our group, all i need to do is do the footwork & leave the results to Him.


Member: J-86
Location: Alaska
Date: 05 Mar 1999
Time: 11:35:34

Comments

I cannot imagine a bunch of recovering alcoholics having rules & regulations in A.A.! I know this tradition keeps me grounded. There are some who have a control problem & A.A. teaches us that service work is a blessing .To give freely of myself & expect nothing in return. This is something 2 yrs. ago i would,nt have done. These people trusted me. A.A. has taught me how to be responsible. I cannot make decisions on where our $ go all by myself. I have to take it to our group. God will take care of us all. No matter what happens in our group, all i need to do is do the footwork & leave the results to Him.


Member: KA
Location: Wi
Date: 05 Mar 1999
Time: 22:30:28

Comments

The key here is to accept the idea of a _loving_ God, not one who is detached or punishing. This I have found difficult due to worldwide human social/political chaos. I preferred the concept of a God who made both Hitler and Ghandi consciously. Now I have begun to consider that the God is -loving- and had good intentions, but is not perfect, and errors heppened. Out with the phrase (Human) error, or (only human. In this way the concept of a _loving_ God is bearable, and not too sentimental. Thanks to all this hard mental "labor" due to reawakening my teenage rebellion phase previously blocked by alcohol and other substances now Freed from that bondage DUE TO AA. Ever Grateful


Member: Jim B.
Location: Bethel,ME.
Date: 06 Mar 1999
Time: 10:35:53

Comments

I am Jim, I am an alcoholic. I walked out of a meeting in 1993, my first serious go around with AA, because someone was telling me that a higher power could be a pencil. Not so much that as what a higher power could be. I have a guilt conscience. It rectifies me when I am awry by the simple fact that when I don't tell the truth, I can't live a lie. Sure, sometimes I excuse myself but that doesn't mean I lie. An excuse is some thing short of a lie as it helps with another aspect of life while excusing from one. There is a time and place for everything, however. For example, when I am sick, I excuse myself. When I am at a party and there is beer being dished out and I feel uncomfortable, I excuse myself. I don't like to make an excuse just for nothing. However, responsibility for myself usually, in the end, drives me towards what I must do, like going to meeting. So, as I believe that a higher power is within us in the form of a guilt conscience, I can only get away with so much before I am pulled back towards the center, which is truth and responsibility. I learn these every day, one day at a time. I like the down to earth approach to a higher power rather than always with step 12. Step 1, for me, is the ultimate in a guilt conscience at work. I just sick and tired of being in the wrong there comes a time when I just have to admit that I am a drunk, and everything else is taken care of. That is responsibility. That, I believe. Thank you. Took me two tries to get to this but I feel better for it. Peace.


Member: Roy S.
Location:
Date: 06 Mar 1999
Time: 11:44:53

Comments

I have come to understand that I need my higher power more than I thought in my time in A.A. I used to try and just grin and bear it, but now that I turn it over to him, things can pass much easier. While there may be the need for authority and leaders in various aspects of our lives, the ultimate one we are responsible to is the one that counts most. If you are O.K. with him, then it will work out. Thanks for letting me share.


Member: Ellie N.
Location: El Dorado County, Ca
Date: 06 Mar 1999
Time: 18:24:27

Comments

Hi, I'm ellie, alcoholic. I love the traditions and heard early on that the traditions could be used at a personal level too. ANd I do that when I remember. I am so grateful that our authority is a Loving God; I've been in so many groups, places and situations that authorities seem to crawl out from all over wanting to take over everybody and everything. And it's such a relief to find in AA that we are all guided by that loving God. What a miracle to be a part of. Thanks for letting me share.


Member: duh
Location:
Date: 06 Mar 1999
Time: 18:47:16

Comments

Control problem, that is a nice way of explaining what happened to a nice place, where people who did not click were told to leave.


Member: Tom A. 7/25/60
Location: Carlisle, AR
Date: 06 Mar 1999
Time: 20:19:47

Comments

Good Evening!

Tom A. a grateful sober alcoholic today, who is thankful for the 12 Traditions of AA. Unity is one of AA Legacies and for me the Traditions suggest how to experience this in daily sobriety. The 2nd Tradition too looks for a loving God as he or she may express themselves in our group conscience and I have found that both ladies and gentlemen I have met in AA have a way of doing that, there is much love in AA.

I also have come to experience that ultimate authority in my life, when I take on the role of trusted servant, that is, to the best of my ability one-day-at-a-time.

I thank everyone who has ventured here this week. your willingness to share your experience, strength, and hope will give me that insurance against taking that First Drink!

For me, "There is nothintg so bad that a drink won't make it worse."

Enjoy Your Sobriety Today!

God Bless - Tom A. ate@gte.net


Member: Perry H
Location: Deer Valley, Utah
Date: 07 Mar 1999
Time: 08:14:02

Comments

Hello: My name is Perry, an I am ana alcoholic. I share from the beautiful mountains of Utah.

This is great! There are people sharing from all over the world on the Traditions! This meeting is awesome... I couldn't get to one until tommorrow, so I attent this cyber meeting each morning at 6:30 am. The same time my home group meets back in good ole Stroudsburg , Penna.

This tradition made me realize that God can talk to me through my "Conscience"..Oh, that nagging conscience...Conscience Contact"!!!

This tradition also parallels step 2. I came to believe in a higher power.. Now I listen to my Conscience!

This tradition also tells me to keep my hands off of the controls.... Not to try to run anyones life or change my loved ones attitudes. Now that is hard to do.

I had to poll my kids and find out what they wanted to do on this vacation, not what I want to do.(group conscience)

At work, I ask all the employees for their feedback, instead of trying to get things done my way! (Undone)

These traditions have helped me in my family life, work life, AA life and finally in my Service life.

I love AA. I miss Stroudsburg, PA.


Member: Mary M
Location: Louisville
Date: 07 Mar 1999
Time: 09:13:07

Comments

I have participated on committee in my area such as host committees organizing conventions and found that this Tradition works. We are only trusted servants and a Loving God is our only ultimate authority. Alcoholics tend to want things done their way--I know this is true for me and the Second Tradition reminds me that I am not in charge today especially of any matters affecting AA as a whole.