Tradition 8: Giving It Away
Dateline: 05/27/98There is a saying in the 12 step groups, "In order to keep it, you must give it away," with the key word being "give."
Tradition 8: Twelfth Step works should always be nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.The 12th Step says, "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs."
The 8th Tradition insures that anytime a newcomer reaches out for help, he will receive it, free of charge. Members freely share their own experience, strength, and hope with the newcomer and by doing so, help themselves by reinforcing their own recovery in the process.
It's how the 12 step programs work. Giving it away in order to keep it.
There are other factors involved in this tradition, as visitors to the Mining Co. Alcoholism site pointed out on the bulletin board:
Nonprofessional
"Matters of money can spell trouble for the fellowship."A Gift
"This very important Tradition is the very rock on which the freely-given program is built."Special Workers
"Somebody has to answer the phone while the rest of us get on with our regained lives."Counselors
"Some people like to call AA "Therapy" but it is not therapy in the strict sense of the word."
