I Choose Anonymity

 I can be a real braggart. I suspect this is tied to low-self-esteem issues, and is the egos’s way of asserting itself. I must have recognized this at some point in my journey, because, written on the bottom of the page of this Daily Reflection is “STFU, Sandy”. 

Inner peace and ease of being is quiet. It invites, it has an allure; it, like the Dude in The Big Lebowski, abides. 

Our eleventh tradition tells us that our public principle is “attraction rather than promotion”. For me, this applies to my own public life. When it’s appropriate, like when someone asks about myself or shares a personal concern which would best be addressed by a 12-step fellowship, I’m happy to share how my life has been and continues to be changed. 

Newcomers to AA can be so overwhelmed by their new freedom, they loudly proclaim their sobriety. I know I did. Jaded friends and family, used to seeing broken promises and dreadful decisions, don’t hear the words; they’re waiting to see the “proof in the pudding”. That comes with sustained growth. 

The public face of personal sobriety wears no mask, and doesn’t need a bullhorn - it is loudest by it’s dignified behavior and selective sharing.