Tradition Eleven

The eleventh tradition of ETA says that our public relations is about attraction rather than promotion and that we ought to maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.  The advent of computers and the Internet has generated much discussion about maintaining personal anonymity at this new level.  Today's post is avoiding that part of the tradition.  I figure I'll let wiser and more experienced ETA members hammer that out.  I shall post about the first part of the eleventh tradition; attraction rather than promotion.  There is personal responsibility in that segment of the tradition for me.


When a new alcoholic/drug addict comes to his first ETA meeting, he is usually a tad insecure.  I remember this from my own experience: walking up to a group of people and asking if the ETA meeting is held here.  Why not shout out that I'm an alcoholic/drug addict being coerced to attend ETA by the judicial system?  I doubt that would have been much more scary.  I was announcing for the first time in my life, to a bunch of strangers no less, that I had a problem with boozing and using and everybody knows that a substance abuser is a loser and a totally yucky person!


Remembering how awful I felt those first few weeks of being clean and sober is what guides my approach to a newcomer.  I owe him kindness, consideration and a warm welcome.  I do my best to make him feel more comfortable.  My stunning good looks have the effect of attracting many persons to the rooms of ETA, but that is not enough; my approach and attitude are important, too.  Knowing that most ETA members have the same warped sense of humor, this is usually what I use to put the newcomer at ease.  


People are attracted to laughter and lightheartedness.  Who wants to belong in a group of stiff, formal, depressing, sad or sobbing whiners?  Not me.  There will be plenty of opportunities for deep, dark discussion and heavy topics while learning to live clean and sober and working the steps.  While bringing up all the tragic happenings in our past is essential for long, contented sobriety, I see no point in rushing to get there.  Not only that, but I don't need to lead most ETA members through the process; just those I sponsor.


Laughing at an other's stories because we can relate to their thoughts and actions opens the door to self acceptance.  Learning to laugh at ourselves opens the door to self forgiveness.  I don't know about you, but I doubt I'd enjoy living clean and sober (not to mention staying clean and sober in the first place!) if I didn't know, accept and forgive myself.  Someone loved me enough to teach me how to do these things, thus I remain attracted to the ETA program and fellowship.  In turn, I teach others how to do these things, too.


There are few things in life that I take with total seriousness.  In most things I can find a bit of humor or a little something that tickles me.  Laughter is a gift and I pass that gift on, as I do with any gift of sobriety.  For me, laughter is essential.  I mean that.  Seriously.


Have a good and sober day.