October 14
My Voice Has a Share
We can wait a long time to feel qualified to speak. Other members seem confident and know more about the subject. What we have to offer may be a question, a concern, or one small piece of experience. We decide it is probably too obvious to mention. Then we leave wishing someone had brought it up.
Participation does not require us to arrive with the best answer. Our share may be the question that lets several other people admit they are confused too. It may be an observation no one else could make because they have not had our experience. We can speak modestly and remain open to correction. That is enough to join a conversation. There is a difference between declining to dominate and declining to exist in the room. A group seeking guidance benefits from what its members can honestly contribute, including uncertainty.
What have I kept to myself because I thought it was not impressive enough?
An honest question has a place here.
For the A.A. nerds: Twelve Concepts for World Service, Concept IV; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Tradition Two.