"The fact that we, each and every group, focus on carrying the message provides consistency; addicts can count on us."
Basic Text pg. 64-65
Tales of our antics in active addiction may be funny. Stories of our old bizarre reactions to life when using may be interesting. But they tend to carry the mess more than the message. Philosophical arguments on the nature of God are fascinating. Discussions of current controversies have their place - however, it's not at an NA meeting.
Those times when we grow disgusted with meetings and find ourselves complaining that "they don't know how to share" or "it was another whining session" are probably indications that we need to take a good, hard look at how we share.
What we share about how we got into recovery and how we stayed here through practicing the Twelve Steps is the real message of recovery. That's what we are all looking for when we go to a meeting. Our primary purpose is to carry the message to the still-suffering addict, and what we share at meetings can either contribute significantly to this effort or detract greatly. The choice, and the responsibility, is ours.
Just for today: I will share my recovery at an NA meeting.
[Click here to start writing your quick reply.]Question: How do you get there? Answer: One day at a time. If you have a sponsor you can call, sometimes all you need is the first step. All the other antics, you are correct about, KISS Keep it simple silly should be the mantra, but then if that were the case then the meetings would not have any color. You got to have a balance of both BS and step work. After all you are only human, not just a 12 stepping machine. This is not a religion, this is a journey. I just got out of Rehab in Houston, and see things from a totally different light. Clean, sober and alive. About the only thing in my life that needs fixin is my relationships and my heart, but that is a diatribe for another day.