Knowing What We Are

Through our commitment to anonymity we can put aside what we are and begin to know who we are. ~ Family Groups, Al-Anon. Courage to Change—One Day at a Time in Al‑Anon II (Kindle Locations 290-292). Al-Anon Family Groups. Kindle Edition.

I was my parents' daughter,
my sisters' sister. My grandfathers
were known in a wide swath
of my denomination, so I claimed them
when it might help. I was honored in school
and basked in it, proud the small-town paper
considered it news. The pattern continued
in two colleges and a university.
"Look at me...no, not AT me. not at the girth."
Honorable professions continued to provide a platform.
Because I despised me, you had to know the admirable.
Finally, at sixty I found Overeaters Anonymous
and through our commitment to anonymity
I can put aside what I am and begin to know who I am.
But six years later as I prepared to speak
before O.A. members from seven states
my sponsor said not to say I had writings published
or the prestigious title I was called at work.
I managed to do it, still not understanding
how unimportant credentials were.
But finally I'm learning through our commitment
to anonymity I can put aside what I am
and begin to know who I am.