Practicing recovery, unity, and service daily set her on a course to a fulfilling new life. 

 “Always look at the Three Legacies (recovery, unity, and service) to see how you are doing in your recovery. What are your weak spots? What are your strengths?” I learned this from an SA member six years ago when I began attending a mixed meeting. I have never forgotten it. 

I think of the Circle and Triangle symbol as a compass and a map, given to me by God, to show me where I’ve been in my recovery and where I need to go. I read somewhere that the circle represents the world of SA. The triangle is one of the strongest structures known to man, and is built on three vital sides that I need for my recovery to withstand the test of time. I can assess how I am progressing in recovery based on my commitment to practicing the Three Legacies with the Twelve Steps, the Twelve Traditions, and the Twelve Concepts. I need to practice all three. Why? The way AA and SA answer this question varies slightly, but when looked at more closely, they complement each other wonderfully! 

The AA Big Book says, “Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us” (AA 77). The problem is that self-centeredness destroys my ability to do this. “Selfishness–self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles” (AA 62). What the Three Legacies do is remove my self-centeredness and enable me to be fit for whatever service Higher Power calls me to do.

I have also heard that AA explains how the Legacies accomplish this: the Steps prevent me from committing suicide, the Traditions prevent me from committing homicide, and the Concepts prevent me from committing genocide. I relate very much to this explanation. However, it was what SA and an old-timer taught me about my real purpose and the three legacies that changed my whole outlook on life and recovery.

The White Book teaches me that “the root of our problem is conscious separation from the Source of our lives; the solution is conscious union with that Source” (SA 93). “From our very first attitude change, we isolate ourselves” (SA 53 ). “We can’t survive alone, cut off, disconnected” (SA 55). 

AA’s and SA’s explanation of the “root” problem complements each other. Put together, they communicate one message: self-centeredness separates me from God and others. Separation is the wound that I am dying from, but self-centeredness is the weapon inflicting the wound. 

What the SA old-timer taught me was that practicing the Three Legacies restores connection to God and others through service. My defects and my lust addiction caused four types of “misconnections.” The Legacies restore those connections. The Steps connect me to my Higher Power and heal the separation that occurred in my unhealthy one-on-one relationships. The Traditions establish a healthy connection to a group and keep me connected to my Higher Power. The Concepts connect me to a community and expand my dependence on God. 

I was cautioned that, in the long run, practicing one Legacy alone could not accomplish my purpose of being fitted to be of maximum service to God and others in all areas of life. Establishing each type of relationship comes primarily from practicing all three Legacies.  

I was sober for nine years before entering SA, and I was homicidal and suicidal. I stayed sober for those nine years through some form of surrender, but using a lot of isolation and avoidance. The pain of separation was unbearable. I would not wish that level of torture on my worst enemy.

Now, I practice the Steps, the Traditions, and the Concepts. I have a loving relationship with God and depend on him daily. I sponsor others and serve my homegroup, I serve in my intergroup, and I serve internationally. I am in relationships with my sponsors, my sponsees, my homegroup, and my community. I am on a new path of healing and connecting through service. By the power of God, I am never going back to that life of isolation and separation—so long as I have my compass with me, the Circle and Triangle, and I use it daily.