The AA 12 Traditions are the glue the binds all of us drunks together and helps us to get along. There are as many opinions as to what the traditions mean and how the can work in our lives and in our groups as there are drunks in aa. As soon as ego and thinking come into play, they get distorted and twisted, to again do our own bidding. The Traditions long frorm is set up to help further any misunderstanding that the simple short form may have uncovered.

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To those now in its fold, Alcoholics Anonymous has made the difference between misery and sobriety, and often the difference between life and death. A.A. can, of course, mean just as much to uncounted alcoholics not yet reached.

Therefore, no society of men and women ever had a more urgent need for continuous effectiveness and permanent unity. We alcoholics see that we must work together and hang together, else most of us will finally die alone.

The “12 Traditions” of Alcoholics Anonymous are, we A.A.’s believe, the best answers that our experience has yet given to those ever-urgent questions, “How can A.A. best function?” and, “How can A.A. best stay whole and so survive?”

On the next page, A.A.’s “12 Traditions” are seen in their so-called “short form,” the form in general use today. This is a condensed version of the original “long form” A.A. Traditions as first printed in 1946. Because the “long form” is more explicit and of possible historic value, it is also reproduced.

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… and acceptance is the answer to all of my problems. This is true, not only because the Big Book tells me so, but because I’ve actually, honestly, sincerely, willingly, tried it, in all of my affairs, and it does work. There are some necessary actions to take, and nothing happens over-night and in “my time” but it does happen if I do these things, and they aren’t always on my “list of things I most want to be doing” but would I rather be drinking and living the way I was living? That answer is an emphatic NO.

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Is Anger REALLY in control… this is one of the most bogus issues I’ve had to face. The fact that everyone seems to be able to get anger without impunity, consiquence, and because I’m an Alcoholic, hence, I will die, I cannot afford to get angry, that really sucks! It makes me angry.. lol! This is us, this is how we react, and unfortuntely this is how wee die. But there is a blessing in this design. Because, being angry, in and of itself, sucks. Think about it. It may temporarily feel good to blow off steam, but the results are never advantagous to any party involved. And there are so many other, healthier, funner, happier things that you can do to burn off the steam. Exercise, hiking, mountain biking, jogging, walking, tennis, surfing, sports, the list goes on ad infinitum.

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Alcoholics are Self Centered to the Extreme and definately the “Center of their own attention” more often than not, everything is or eventually ends up being about them in some way, shape of from. If they are doing a favor for someone, it’s because of what will eventually be in it for them. No alcoholic likes hearing this - I didn’t - but its the truth and delussional thinking is the cause of our troubles, we could never see the truth for exactly what it was.

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Fear lays at the heart of every AA, in that they lived, breathed and consumed fear throughout their lives in every aspect of the word. Not having fear is impossible for an alcoholic because they do not believe they can survive without being false, and their falsehood begins within themselves. They do not trust themselves and therefore, do not trust anyone esle, and where there is no trust, in themselves as well as anyone esle, there can be no peace, ever. They fear everything and everyone one, to diffreeing degrees. Knowing this and knowing that any alcoholic can and will recover if they are willing, honest and open minded enough to follow the steps outlined in the Big Book, to best of their ability, and continue to enlarge upon their spiritual lives through the continual completion of steps 10, 11, and 12.

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Accountability is probably the number one character defect of all alcoholics presently decided by myself, that causes many or all of the ‘harms to others’ that we can cause. We duck, and dodge, procrastinate and delude ourselves into a state of innocense so profound, we ultimately drown in it.

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Much as we would like, we cannot bring everyone with us on this journey called recovery. We are not being disloyal by allowing ourselves to move forward. We don’t have to wait for those we love to decide to change as well.

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Simple Guides to Help you Complete the 1st Action Step of the 12 Step Process. These forms outline an organized way for you to complete your personal inventory without difficulty or question. Everything is laid out in easy to understand format with explenation.<

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There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

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