“We are simply addicts of equal status, freely helping each other.”

– Life with Hope, second edition, page 89

I first attended an MA meeting at the urging of my therapist, and after a few years clean, I decided to enter the mental health field myself. Therapy was a lifesaver for me—it both got me into, and enhanced, my recovery—and I was excited to share that lifesaving gift with others!

Once I entered the field, Tradition Eight took on a new meaning for me. I was taught by my sponsor and others that my 12-Step work with newcomers should always be for fun and for free (a.k.a. “nonprofessional”), while at work I learned that not every client with a marijuana problem needs or wants a 12-Step answer.

Now Tradition Eight helps me remember that when I attend a meeting, I get to be just one recovering member among many. My recovery experiences can help me have empathy for my clients, but at MA, I get to take off my therapist “hat” and focus on just taking care of me. What a relief!

Final thought: What “hat” am I wearing when I attend a meeting? Am I trying to play the expert, or a member among members?