Hello, my name is Bonnie, and I am an alcoholic.

This Tradition is difficult for some to understand. "After all," they say, "a drug is a drug is a drug." But I am a simple alcoholic, and I have discovered there's a difference between alkies and users. I don't know exactly how all that other stuff works at all. Also, whenever we stray too far from our Primary Purpose, the group can get into troubles of our own making. Strangely, some other AA activities promote and strengthen the group, although they may seem outside the Fifth Tradition ... such as casual gatherings, conventions, alkathons, picnics, workshops, coffee after meetings, newsletters, etc. But all those things help carry the message of recovery from alcoholism. AA is such a paradox. We each do our one thing to carry the message, and sometimes we trade our tasks. Yet, no one way or person is the whole. We are nothing without each other working together, carrying the message in a multitude of daily, everyday ways. Carrying the message does not mean that we are also banker, mother, father, counselor, jailer, job provider, etc., to the newcomer or even to the established fellow AA'er. Nor can we cure other addictions ... that is why I don't identify myself as an addict/Alanon/recovering Catholic. AA does not do research, educate, nor set out to save the world, although AA does cooperate with professionals. Frequently, we do provide a support that is all encompassing as a side benefit. We become a family of odd fellows of sorts with a common bond and purpose. But AA cannot be expected to be a cure-all from child rearing to marriage counseling to job hunting. We only carry the message that AA works for us. But in our doing so, we become that message. Thank goodness, AA didn't try to fix all of me at once, just my drinking ... and the rest has followed.