I'm an alcoholic named Dan. Or Dan L.
I've earned, or I should say, paid in full, many times over, in sordid and painful ways, for the privilege of entering an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting room and practicing the Third Tradition. I started embracing sobriety well after the Internet boom of the early 90's. Part of my recovery toolbox has included places that end in .org, .net and .com from the start. The Internet, The Great Anonymizer...
At first, Tradition Eleven loomed large on my mind. But to my surprise, any concerns I may have had disappeared as I got into 'online recovery', joining a few forums, getting close to friends unseen. I went through a period where I was less worried about adding my picture to group photos and such. After all... The Internet is only a two dimensional world, I rationalized to myself.
Just for today, I can scavenge the deep recess I call my soul, And feel satisfied that I observe, to the best of my ability, The tenets of Tradition Eleven.
A part of me will always crave having sobered up along Dr. Bob. In the meantime, however, I can honor him, and his contemporaries, who laid down so much of the foundation I use today, by being a sober alcoholic of my time. I'm grateful for the opportunity to share here.
The purpose of Willing To Be Anonymous is to be a resource of information for those trying to be anonymous as it relates to Tradition 11 (at the level of press) in the cyber Twelve Step community. If you are Willing to be Anonymous (W2BA) by not posting pictures of yourself and/or keeping your last name private at the public level, please add the W2BA badge to your blog.
Have you already broken your anonymity on a public blog? It is OK. This is about what we are doing as we move forward. We are not saints, just willing to grow along spiritual lines.
This blog does not speak for any Twelve Step group. It is simply inspired by discussions about Tradition 11 and is meant to encourage people to explore the writings of those who have come before us. "search and research, again and again, always with the open mind." page 27 Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
