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3rd Tradition

Group Foundergjm
gjm
For years, whenever I reflected on Tradition Three ('The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking'), I thought it valuable only to newcomers. It was their guarantee that no one could bar them from A.A. Today I feel enduring gratitude for the spiritual development the Tradition has brought me. Charlotte, the atheist, showed me higher standards of ethics and honor; Clay, of another race, taught me patience; Winslow, who is gay, led me by example into true compassion; Young Megan says that seeing me at meetings, sober thirty years, keeps her coming back. Tradition Three insured that we would get what we need each other."

1990 AAWS, Inc.; Daily Reflections, pg. 33
Group Foundergjm
gjm
I'm not into the traditions that much, they seem pretty common sense to me but this one helped me out tremendously early on. " The only requirement for membership is a desire.
deleted_user
deleted_user
G I can TOTALLY relate...when I felt uncomfortable with the "G" topic and how everyone else was so "spiritual" I kept telling myself...." I belong here because THE ONLY requirement for being here is the desire to stop drinking"!!!!! It really does keep me coming back.
nickyj18022002
nickyj18022002
I read somewhere that before the traditions were written the people at central office looked into the membership rules for all of the groups. They concluded that if they put them all into general effect no one at all would qualify to be a member of AA.

It doesnt matter what my spiritual beliefs are (or are not), what other health problems i have, what other substances I use or have used, what medications, I take, what race, sexual orientation I am, whether i am a great person or everyone hates me - i am still welcome in AA as long as I have a desire to stop drinking. Even specialist groups ie womens meetings, mens meetings, gay meetings etc are required to be non restrictive meaning that they do not turn anyone away. So even if a man turns up at a womens meeting he cannot be told to leave.

i would probably be dead if this tradition was not in place as i have heard some people express some very strange ideas about who should or should not be in AA especially with regard to mental health problems.

Just as an aside, I prefer the long form of this tradition (and several others).