Each month we focus on a Step, Tradition, and Concept, and provide a quote from Bill W.
Step 5
Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
“Provided you hold back nothing, your sense of relief will mount from minute to minute. The dammed-up emotions of years break out of their confinement, and miraculously vanish as soon as they are exposed.”
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 62
Tradition 5
Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
“The unique ability of each A.A. to identify himself with, and bring recovery to, the newcomer in no way depends upon his learning, eloquence, or on any special individual skills. The only thing that matters is that he is an alcoholic who was found a key to sobriety.”
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 150
Concept 5
Throughout our structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard and personal grievances receive careful consideration.
“In Alcoholics Anonymous individual freedom is of enormous importance. For instance, any alcoholic is a member of A.A. the moment he says so; we cannot take away his right to belong. Neither can we force our members to believe anything or pay anything. Ours is indeed a large charter of minority privileges and liberties.”
Twelve Concepts for World Service p. 16
All quotes from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts for World Service are reprinted with permission from A.A. World Services, Inc.
