In Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), sharing your sobriety date with others is a common practice, but it is not strictly necessary. The principle behind sharing your sobriety date is to celebrate milestones in recovery and to provide hope and inspiration to others who may be struggling with alcohol addiction.
When individuals share their sobriety date, it serves as a testament to their commitment to sobriety and can be a source of encouragement for those who are new to the program or still struggling with alcohol use. It also helps create a sense of community and support within the AA fellowship.
However, the decision to share your sobriety date is entirely up to you. Some people may feel uncomfortable sharing personal information, and that is respected within the AA community. The main focus of AA is to provide a safe and supportive environment for people to work on their recovery and share their experiences, strength, and hope with others.
If you choose not to share your sobriety date, you can still benefit from attending AA meetings, listening to others' stories, and learning from the collective wisdom of the group. Anonymity is a vital principle in AA, and members are encouraged to respect each other's privacy and anonymity outside the meetings as well.
Remember that the primary purpose of AA is to help individuals stay sober and support one another in their journey of recovery, regardless of whether they share their sobriety date or not.