The 12th Tradition of AA states: “Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions ever reminding us to place principles above personalities.”
Principles above personalities. What a freeing concept. What a unifying practice. This tradition allows me the freedom to walk the road of life with integrity, following my values, my moral compass, my principles. I can appreciate others without needing their approval or their love. It doesn’t matter what they think of me if I am walking my truth with awareness and veracity.
I didn’t always see the world this way. I was steered down the wrong road early in life by my favorite movie where the hero tells an untruth that I completely believed. I have forgiven myself for this misunderstanding, after all what Kid doesn’t trust a Wizard?
In the Wizard of Oz, the Wizard tells the Tinman “it’s not how much you love but how much you are loved by others.”
I grew up in an alcoholic home. Sturdy, unconditional Love was pretty scarce. I became terrified of being lonely and of failing. I counted friends and accomplishments as if they were the things that made me worthy of breath, of life of being loved.
This Year has been filled with loneliness and failure. I have had Covid 19 and I have felt the extreme loneliness of physical isolation. I have lost 7 jobs, 3 productions, and life has been full of loss, disappointment and fear. From this feeling of drowning on dry land, I held tight to the raft of the 12th tradition. Principles over Personalities.
The Yellow Brick Road has to be dismantled. OZ must be re-told. The Tin Man gets a heart not because he is loved, but because he loves. He reaches satisfaction not out of popularity but out of trust. Dorothy doesn’t have to choose between a grey world where she is invisible and a colorful world that is dangerous and uncertain. Dorothy is powerful. She is her own witch. She does not need a wizard. Or an air balloon. Or a pair of bright red pumps. She provides her own inherent magic. She will be the one to say: “Look Baby. You got plenty of courage, brains, heart. See? You are already Enough.”
My WORD is good. I show up for others, I am basically GOOD. I live a life of creative service. I am worthy of love and loveable. I can go of status and stop counting friends. Principles above personalities. I am enough.
Meditation: How are you worthy of love? How are you ENOUGH?