Tradition 8 – Episode 83
Do you find yourself looking for the “experts” in your meetings? Do you sometimes feel like you have nothing to offer? How do we help one another in Al-Anon? Today, we’re going to talk about Tradition 8, which states “Al-Anon Twelfth Step work should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.” Spencer and Ruth talk about Tradition 8, guided by these thought questions. How does the reading match with my experience in Al-Anon? Why do we have this tradition? What are the advantages of a “fellowship of equals”? What are the disadvantages? Do I look to certain members as “experts”? How can this be a problem for me? How can this be a problem for them? Do I sometimes feel reluctant to share because I’m not an “expert”? Am I sometimes reluctant to share my problems because I feel I have to be “perfect” in my program? How can I share with others without trying to fix them? Am I sometimes “Mr or Ms Alanon”? How/when am I judgemental? How/when do I take others’ inventories? What about paid employees (“special workers”)? Final thoughts?