Tradition 5 – Episode 73
Have you wondered what Al-Anon is about? Why do we keep coming when we feel better? What does Al-Anon tell us about our alcoholic friends and relatives? These questions and more are addressed by Tradition 5. “Each Al-Anon Family Group has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps of AA ourselves, by encouraging and understanding our alcoholic relatives, and by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics.” Ruth shares her experience with being welcomed into the fellowship of Al-Anon, and about how she came to understand what it means to "encourage" her alcoholic loved one. Then Spencer shares his musings on this tradition, roughly following this outline. What does it mean to “understand and encourage our alcoholic relatives”? How can we gain understanding of alcoholism? How does this help us? How can I “encourage” my alcoholic relative(s)? In what ways did Al-Anon welcome me? How do I welcome others? How do I give comfort to others? Why is it important for me to work the 12 steps?