Tradition Eight
Al‑Anon Twelfth Step work should remain forever non‑professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
Please share your experience, strength, and hope as it relates to Tradition 8. The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the person who gave them. Take what you liked and leave the rest. Member sharing on the Member Blog may be used in future Al‑Anon publications.
I was confused at first about what service centers are, and what the special workers would be doing. When I found out that the special workers are paid secretaries and other staff doing work that is too much to expect volunteers to do completely, I had to laugh at myself. I had been thinking of highly specialized addictions experts filling all the positions, because I was still unconsciously looking to Al-Anon for the guaranteed solution to my loved ones’ problems. Now I appreciate that all the ESH shared in meetings is from real lived personal experience, not from a professional’s… Read more »
I love this Tradition that reminds me that as an Al-Anon member I have to share my experience, strength and hope and not my professional knowledge. I would have easily done it, if I had not been guided by this Tradition. I was rather proud of my training and my knowledge as an educator, therefore I would have gladly corrected the mistakes in the minutes shared at any levels of service. I could have gone as far as correcting the way you expressed yourself when sharing or when serving our fellowship. I was somewhat an “intellectual snob” valuing myself by… Read more »
I had been given some professional help prior to coming to Al-Anon, but it never amounted to much as I was narrow-minded and not ready to learn. I also didn’t go because I felt I needed it, but because it was imposed. It is upon coming to Al-Anon that I understood that this program could do wonders for me, if I was willing to listen, learn, and keep an open mind on whatever was shared. With time, I became teachable and became receptive to what this program could bring to the table and could teach me. I heard parts of… Read more »
I like knowing that we are all equals when at an Al-Anon meeting. Even though there could be doctors or therapists or teachers at a meeting, no one has the upper hand so to speak. No one pulls you aside and tries to give you their “professional” opinion. I have always, in the past, suffered from feeling less than and never good enough. I would not want the professionals (in an Al-Anon meeting) to give me their expert advice. If we are all struggling and trying to recover from the same issues, then none of us are experts and we… Read more »
This Tradition puts the emphasis on recovery for our family and ourselves and our needs at various levels. The programs provides us with help and answers to some of our needs and problems through our three Legacies and many of its other tools: literature, sponsorship, slogans, etc. However, sometimes the help provided by the program is not enough for what we are facing and this is when we have to resort to professional help. Personally, for many years, I thought that the only source of help could come from professionals. It is when coming to the program, that I learned… Read more »
Tradition Eight had few things to teach me. I see this Tradition has having two sections that apply to the fellowship and also into my life. In my life, I came to realize that my professional training in education was used at places, where it should not have been. I remember when my son was young and I was acting as though he was in a class. I think he was about 8, when he told me: “Mom, I am not your student, I am your son.” He was right! I could help him with his school work, but I… Read more »