The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
My first meeting was held behind a church in separate building I walked down a hall and found the meeting room fairly easily. Outside of the room were a few folks making coffee and talking. Inside the room there were people sitting here and there; some talking together, some sitting alone. I took a seat by the door.
It seemed like ages on that first day, before the meeting actually got started, in reality it was about 10 minutes. There were about 30 people who were seated in a circle of chairs. One person sat in the middle of the circle. Later I learned that she was the meeting chairperson for that particular day.
The meeting began with the chairperson reading the AA Preamble, then leading a group prayer, the Serenity in which people recited. Afterwards different members of the meeting read brief AA literature, "How it Works," the "Twelve Traditions" and "The Promises." I listened to each of them very closely having never heard them before. The chairperson asked if there was any newcomers, or first timers, attending the meeting who would like to introduce themselves by their first name. A few raised their hands, I was not one of them, as this was an obvious option and not mandatory for me to do.
This particular meeting that I attended was a Step Meeting. This of course meant very little to me since at that time I had no experience with these "steps" but I continued to sit and listen. Thus far, no one had imposed himself on me so there was no reason to leave and I was curious about this "AA" thing. The chairperson announced which step they would be discussing. To be totally honest with you, I was more transfixed on being in awe of the meeting itself and the fact that these people all sat there seemingly unashamed, that I, to this day, haven't a clue which step they discussed. After the step chapter was read from the book, "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions," the chairperson then asked if anyone had any experience, strength and hope relating to the step, which
It seemed like ages on that first day, before the meeting actually got started, in reality it was about 10 minutes. There were about 30 people who were seated in a circle of chairs. One person sat in the middle of the circle. Later I learned that she was the meeting chairperson for that particular day.
The meeting began with the chairperson reading the AA Preamble, then leading a group prayer, the Serenity in which people recited. Afterwards different members of the meeting read brief AA literature, "How it Works," the "Twelve Traditions" and "The Promises." I listened to each of them very closely having never heard them before. The chairperson asked if there was any newcomers, or first timers, attending the meeting who would like to introduce themselves by their first name. A few raised their hands, I was not one of them, as this was an obvious option and not mandatory for me to do.
This particular meeting that I attended was a Step Meeting. This of course meant very little to me since at that time I had no experience with these "steps" but I continued to sit and listen. Thus far, no one had imposed himself on me so there was no reason to leave and I was curious about this "AA" thing. The chairperson announced which step they would be discussing. To be totally honest with you, I was more transfixed on being in awe of the meeting itself and the fact that these people all sat there seemingly unashamed, that I, to this day, haven't a clue which step they discussed. After the step chapter was read from the book, "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions," the chairperson then asked if anyone had any experience, strength and hope relating to the step, which