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Step Twelve

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics (drug addicts, etc.), and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Question 1:		I really do want to share this wonderful thing that has happened to me with other alcoholics and addicts, but I have only been sober for six months. How long should I wait before volunteering to be someone’s sponsor?
	Answers:	A.A.’s founder, Bill Wilson, recruited Dr. Bob, A.A. No. 2, when he had been sober for about six months. Of course Bill W started trying to work with other alcoholics as soon as he got out of the hospital after having had his spiritual awakening. It took him a little while to get his technique right! So the short answer is, the sooner you start working with others the better. Laura N If you have been sober for a day there is always someone with less clean time than you. If you have been to one meeting you know more than the guy or girl walking in the door for the first time. You can be of service right away. You cannot, however, take someone through the steps unless you have worked them yourself. Further, you can’t be sure you have worked them correctly unless you have worked them with a sponsor. So, a minimum requirement for sponsorship is having worked the steps yourself with a sponsor. Chris H

Question 2:		Look, I may be a little slow, but what, exactly, are these principles I’m supposed to practice in all my affairs?
	Answers:	This is a good question. Bring it up in any meeting and you can almost always get a debate going. As they present a program for life, the twelve steps incorporate many principles of good living. Early on in my sobriety an old timer gave me a card with “Twelve Principles” listed on it, one for each step. In my travels I have seen many similar cards, often with the same principles listed in different orders. I think this simply shows that each step expresses more than one principle. Despite the minor differences, these clear and simple lists help to keep me focused. Here is the list that first old timer gave me: Twelve Principles: 1. Honesty 2. Hope 3. Faith 4. Courage 5. Integrity 6. Willingness 7. Humility 8. Discipline 9. Forgiveness 10. Acceptance 11. Awareness 12. Service Chris H