03/31/2022
Lynn Murphy Mark
Writing about the inner workings of 12 Step recovery meetings is a delicate business. Regardless of the type of addiction addressed, the word “Anonymous” appears in the name of each 12 Step group. There are traditions that govern the ability to speak (write) freely about what happens in a group meeting, let alone identifying who attended and what they said if they spoke to the group.
Writing about recovery is a little different. The same rules of anonymity apply, but writing about the phenomenon of recovery is acceptable. In my meeting, I can state that I am a grateful member of my 12 Step group, but I am not to do this for self-aggrandizement. That would be contrary to the humility that is a necessary part of freeing myself from my addiction.
There are hundreds of thousands of people working a 12 Step program in their daily lives. That is my guess. There are no statistics published about attendance at meetings, no big corporate juggernaut advertising the services, no celebrity divulging which group they attend. Instead, it is ordinary people who day in and day out work the Steps to the best of their ability. That is another key concept – it is a consistent, daily effort to free one’s self from a substance or a behavior, or both.
At the heart of any 12 Step program is the search for spiritual wellness and continued growth in matters of the soul. The Steps urge us to believe that “a power greater than ourselves” can work mightily in helping us to find the ability to live a clean and honest life. Spiritual wholeness is a goal that permits a life of service and humility and gratitude.
Yesterday I was in a meeting where we celebrated two 12 Step birthdays, marking the years of recovery of these courageous people. Between them, they had 85 years of sobriety. That is decades worth of daily application of the principles of 12 Step recovery. That is years of devoted attendance at meetings. That is a grand total of 62,050 days of living as simply and honestly as possible, and of sharing experience, strength, and hope with others.
The joy in the room was palpable. There were tears of celebration, and a round of applause for each person. I only speak for myself when I say that I was absolutely honored to be a part of such a happening. It was the best part of my day yesterday. I am grateful.