Sept. 28, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023

“1. — Each member of Alcoholics Anonymous is but a small part of a great whole. AA must continue to live or most of us will surely die. Hence our common welfare comes first. But individual welfare follows close afterward.” — The First Tradition (long form), Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Appendices, “The Twelve Traditions,” p 565.

Today, understand and respect the first tradition of AA, that I am not first and foremost and that my own sobriety and recovery contribute to the effectiveness of the Program as a whole. The sobriety and acceptance for which I have worked are not solely mine but mirror AA’s effectiveness — be it in the eyes of a newcomer or the public and various professional organizations. Because of that responsibility, understand also that sobriety carries a responsibility. My responsibility to my sobriety, then, boils down to being in service as the first tradition states. If I can effectively serve, I may be contributing to my own recovery which, as the first tradition says, comes a close second. Today, my sobriety is not my own and is part of everyone else’s, and I am responsible to work for continued recovery. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — Chris M., 2023