It’s funny that the very thing, which is right up front, is something I rarely think about: Alcoholics Anonymous. Anonymity. It slips right past me without notice. Yet, it’s so important and plays a big part in our sobriety.
Anonymity, as the 12th Tradition states, is the spiritual foundation of this program. It protects us from us. Or me. It keeps me from big shotism, as Bill was fond of saying. It keeps me from owning what we learn and do. Claiming that everything I say or do comes from me. After all, everything I know, I learned from someone else. Yet there’s this ego within, which wants everyone to notice me. Hmmm.
Anonymity, at least at the beginning of our sojourn, is very important. It’s safety and protection from the prying eyes of outsiders. Very often, as I was reminded today, it saves our livelihoods. A woman today talked about the fact that she was a school teacher and if it was known that she was an alcoholic, she probably would have lost her job. She would have been disgraced.
But, as time goes on, most of us lose the fear of reprisals. After all, alcoholism has become and accepted illness in the public eye for a long time now. Especially for us, after we have gone through the 4th and 5th steps and, of course, 8 and 9. But time and age play a big part, at least for me, in protecting my reputation. It’s long past.
However, there is a hurdle I have found in the program, which has caused myself and others I know problems. That’s the anonymity we practice with each other. There have been several occassions, when I went to the hospital and realized I only knew the person, who was in there, by their first and not their last name. People have passed away and I never knew who they were until someone told me later on.
The last place we need anonymity, except to not break it on the outside to others, is the meetings. But, in other matters, such as a need to know to support our friends, we need to be more open. I’ve often asked others at meetings, “What’s your last name?”. I will gladly tell others mine. Well, with some reservations. My last name is somewhat of a political hotcake up where I live. But still I will give it out freely to any who want to know.
Anyway, I was thinking about anonymity today. It’s importance to me as the spiritual foundation and humility. It’s importance as a shield to anyone seeking safe harbor. But it’s unimportance on a personal need to know level among us.