Harold S. – Traditions – AA Traditions Five and Six – 2021

About This Speaker Tape

Harold traces the line between the spiritual aim of AA and the wreckage of a worldly life. He maps out the danger of the 'big three'—power, glory, and prestige—which he chased through a series of legal disasters, a piece-of-crap car held together by bumper stickers, and a devastating paternity suit that left him crushed on his couch. He dismantles the delusion that a net worth determines human value, arguing that Tradition 5's singleness of purpose is the only way to avoid the 'out-of-bound romance' with ego.

From the Department of Corrections to the maximum security prisons where he now serves, Harold makes his case for the 'three legacy group' model, insisting that the only way to keep sobriety is to give it away to the alcoholic who still suffers, regardless of whether they are in a rural treatment center or behind a prison fence.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Harold introduces himself and his sobriety date of April 7, 1987.
• 4:20 Discussion of Tradition 5 and the 'singleness of purpose' in carrying the message.
• 10:15 Laughter: Story about a sponsor with two months sobriety telling him to just say his name and that he's an alcoholic.
• 16:40 Harold discusses the 'delusion of impossibility' and the belief that his life had no value due to his criminal record.
• 22:10 Detailed account of the paternity suit and the emotional wreckage of losing his parental rights.
• 27:30 Discussion of Tradition 6 and the dangers of money, property, and authority.
• 32:15 Harold shares his experience speaking in maximum security prisons since the mid-90s.
• 38:00 Story about meth addicts flooding the AA meeting in prison and the decision to help them start an NA meeting.