Self Delete.

[Willy Wonka]

[Murphys_Unlawful]

1. Not me, but I probably should be in one.

[Cobalt Violet]

2. Not me.

I couldn't stand all that holding hands and god stuff. It just pissed me off and didn't work at all. It's not for everyone.

[Phillycat]

3. Congratulations!!

Good for you!!

But, um...there's the whole 2nd "A", which stands for anonymity. Being ashamed doesn't enter into it. There are other reasons to stay anonymous. Let me give you an example. Let's say you were talking to another addict and trying to help him get to a meeting. Somehow into the conversation comes the information that you are a liberal democrat, and this guy is a conservative. It might be that you turn him off to NA (or whatever program you are in) by sharing your political viewpoints. This goes for anything, even music opinions or whatever. That's why, when we're "wearing that hat", we are alcoholics or addicts ONLY. The rest of our identity gets left at the door.

That said, I am a proud friend of Bill W. :)

[Willy Wonka]

5. Yeah. I read a story recently

about a alcoholic flight attendant wanting a drink, but diverted herself to a paging device at the airport, asking for friends of Bill W. and about 15 passengers (2 of which were boarding missed their flights) went to help her.

Pretty cool story, huh?

That was from the Chicken Soup for Recovering Souls.

[Phillycat]

6. It is a cool story.

But I'm not sure you get my point. :) I'm not trying to shame you, but you posting this on the internet is breaking your anonymity, and that is against the 12th Tradition and the general principles of the program. I understand that when you first get clean/sober, you want to shout it from the rooftops, but you shouldn't. It's a huge accomplishment and hopefully the people in your life are happy for you.

Let me be a little more specific. Let's say there's a DUer here with a drug problem who is thinking about going to an NA meeting. Let's say you and this DUer have a lot of animosity between you, and just the fact that you are a member of that group turns him off to the idea of attending the meeting. You have gone directly against the main precept of the program, which is that our PURPOSE is to help the addict/alcoholic who still suffers. You have hindered that process. In a very innocent way! Of course you wouldn't do it on purpose. But that is exactly why they made that Tradition through bitter experience.

[Willy Wonka]

7. No problem.

I follow the spirit of the 12th tradition to the letter. I co-chair a meeting Wed nights...

I have no animosity to anyone. I'm Willy Wonka, and I love everyone

(Disclaimer, Willy Wonka isn't my real name anyway)

[Phillycat]

10. I am awfully sorry, but I still don't think you don't understand.

You are NOT following the 12th Tradition of the program, which states "Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities", if you are identifying yourself in this showy way as a member on a public message board.

You may not know how another person feels about you. That is WHY the anonymity tradition was developed. Do you know anything about the Oxford group? This was an early, pre-AA 12 step group that went through a LOT of growing pains. Their mistakes were what allowed AA to develop the Traditions, which are vital to keeping AA and all 12-step groups running the way they should. Anyway, the Oxford group allowed high-profile celebrities to attach their names to the cause, thinking it would attract more people. What they found was that it deterred people who DIDN'T like that celebrity from entering the program. That is why the 12th Tradition was developed.

Of course your real name isn't Willy Wonka, but on DU, you are Willy Wonka and you have a personality that goes with that name. We get to know each other on here, posting day after day after day. And you are breaking anonymity posting this thread.

Look, I am happy for you. 60 days is a huge accomplishment. I'm not trying to bring you down. But this was stuff I didn't know when I had 60 days. I'm just trying to help you out.

[candy]

4. I have 23 years---it can be done and it DOES get easier. n/t

[HEAVYHEART]

8. That is great and quite an accomplishment

Happy 60th Willy Wonka!!! :)

[Bertha Venation]

9. Long ago, I tried OA.

For years since, I believed it didn't work because the premise was wrong for beating compulsive overeating. Everything else (I think) that people use 12-step programs for, people can live without. Alcohol? Drugs? Gambling? Don't need them to live. Food you do need to live.

Whether it really wouldn't work for me, or I just used this as an excuse, I don't know. But I think it might be time to try again. I had to quit the weight loss program I was in. It was too expensive. I need some help & support.

:shrug:

Willy, congratulations on 60 days! :yourock: