"Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities."
1. Why is it a good idea for me to place the common welfare of all AA members before individual welfare? What would happen to me if AA as a whole disappeared?
2. When I do not trust AA's current servants, who do I wish had the authority to straighten them out?
3) In my opinions of and remarks about other AAs, am I implying membership requirements other than a desire to stay sober?
4) Do I ever try to get a certain AA group to coform to my standards, not its own?
5) Have I a personal responsibility in helping an Aa group fulfill its primary purpose? What is my part?
6) Does my personal behavior reflect the Sixth Tradition - or belie it?
7. Do I do all I can do to support AA financially? When is the lst time I anonymously gave away a Grapevine subscription? (or other literature)
8. Do I complain about certain AAs' behavior - especially if they are paid to work for AA? Who made me so smart?
9. Do I fulfill all AA responsibilities in such a way as to please privately even my own conscience? Really?
10. Do my utterances always reflect the Tenth Tradition, or do I give AA critics ream ammunition?
11. Should I keep my AA membership a secret, or reveal it in private conversaton when that may help another alocholic (and therefore me)? Is my brand of AA so attractive that other drunks want it?
12. What is the real importance of me among more than a million AAs?
- Tradition Checklist from the AA Grapevine (1969 - 1971)
Originally intended primarily for individual use, many AA groups have since used them for wider discussions.
We are advised to practice these principles.
www.cyberrecovery.net/Tradition12.html
draonline.org/trad0.html
www.adultchildren.org/lit/Traditions.s
nawol.org/2008_trad12.htm
My favorite line in all the questions is the following one:
Is my brand of AA so attractive that other drunks want it?
Kewl question. Do people look at you and see recovery?