"In NA, our joys are multiplied by sharing good days; our sorrows are lessened by sharing the bad. For the first time in our lives, we don't have to experience anything alone."
IP No.16, "For the Newcomer"
When we practice using the steps and the other tools of our program to work through our hardships, we become able to take pleasure in the joys of living clean. But our joys pass all too quickly if we don't share them with others, while hardships borne alone may be long in passing. In the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous, we often multiply our joys and divide our burdens by sharing them with one another.
We addicts experience pleasures in recovery that, sometimes, only another addict can appreciate. Fellow members understand when we tell them of the pride we take today in fulfilling commitments, the warmth we feel in mending damaged relationships, the relief we experience in not having to use drugs to make it through the day. When we share these experiences with recovering addicts and they respond with similar stories, our joy is multiplied. The same principle applies to the challenges we encounter as recovering addicts. By sharing our challenges and allowing other NA members to share their strength with us, our load is lightened.
The fellowship we have in Narcotics Anonymous is precious. Sharing together, we enhance the joys and diminish the burdens of life in recovery.
Just for today: I will share my joys and my burdens with other recovering addicts. I will also share in theirs. I am grateful for the strong bonds of fellowship in Narcotics Anonymous.
It was fitting that this was the JFT yesterday because last night at the meeting this guy who has 16 days clean read a letter that he had written to the group. This guy was always really quiet when he came in and didn't talk to much, so maybe it was easier to share in the form of a letter. He had been through so much, his son recently died, his addiction got worse and his wife left him and then even his dog died and now he's trying to clean up and asking for help. It reminded me that when newcomers come in and sit in the corner quietly, most of them are there because they're in unbearable pain and misery, like I was when i first cleaned up. His letter was exactly what the JFT talked about, sharing the sorrow and lessening the burden. When I had 4 days clean I was so scared and in so much pain that posted on this board to a bunch of complete strangers, and I got strength and hope back. I don't think theres anywhere else you could do that except in the fellowship
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We are not human beings learning to become spiritual, we are spiritual beings learning to become human.
Damn thats heart wrenching to hear Keli. I hope he's able to hold on another day after all of that a lot of people would bury themselves trying to blot it all out.
I was at my regular meeting monday night and somehow found myself waiting at the exit and I commented to every guy who walk out the door. One guy was struggling with wanting to use who had several years clean who always appeared to * have it together* well he didn't , another guy newcomer had been using heroine for 40 years and another had been a long time drug user for 40 years also. Another guy just finished getting his court card all filled out and was free to do as he wanted yet he was enjoying recovery and was going to keep coming back and keep what he has and another guy sat quietly with sunglass's on and when asked to speak could only nod his head no.
I told every one of them to hang on and stay with us we needed them.
It's not easy for us to go threw life we all tried to do it alone and made it a mess at least now we have each other to lean on, its strengthened me to come here to keli I was helpless when I got here I had no where else to turn for help I had tried everything else but NA, last house on the block for me so glad i got here too.
And the only people who would listen to us would want to charge a fee