Characterized by personal anonymity—Tradition 11


Berlin, Germany, 2024

This month, a fellow reflects on their early experiences with Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and the unique appeal of its supportive, non-promotional approach. They describe the personal impact of A.A.’s 11th Tradition, which prioritizes attraction over promotion and talk about how how the genuine connection, humility, and sense of belonging in A.A. played a crucial role in their journey to sobriety.

Eleven—Our relations with the general public should be characterized by personal anonymity. We think A.A. ought to avoid sensational advertising. Our names and pictures as A.A. members ought not be broadcast, filmed, or publicly printed.

My first few A.A meetings were a blur. I was a shivering wreck. Like most newcomers, I had very little understanding of what was being said – and most pressingly how that would help me to stop drinking. What I did see was that people in those rooms seemed content, happy and most importantly, sober! That kept me in long enough to start to get sober and follow the simple instructions doled out to me.

One thing I remember clocking straight away with Tradition 11 “Our Public Relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion” on the scrolls in the rooms. Having worked in the PR industry a good few years, the 11th Tradition was something I could get my head around early on.  

Real life stories, testimonials and facts are far more believable than shiny advertising and paid promotions. Why? Because there is honesty, humility and reality we can trust.

I really thought my life was over. Really over. But what I did see in those early meetings was the light in fellows’ eyes. There was laughter and friendship in those rooms. The people in the chairs were looking comfortable in their own skin. I didn’t have the vocabulary for it at the time, but it was contentment, serenity and a simple peace that I had never known. I wanted that, I wanted what you had. There is the attraction.

That is what kept me in the rooms to begin. If I had felt in any way forced or that I was being flogged a programme (to get me richer, sexier, healthier) I would have lasted a few weeks at best. Instead there was a simple humility in the rooms. I could actually see A.A and the program at work.

One final point around anonymity. I never wanted to be just like everyone else – I wanted to be special and different. I wanted to stand out. Today I see that being “part-of” is what keeps me sober, safe and content. I don’t need to stand out, I don’t need to attach my name to a celebrity endorsed brand or one aligned to a particular political party. A.A is welcoming to all; protective, safe and most importantly strips away any of the things that blocked me from you, and my higher power.

– Terri

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