"Anyone may join us, regardless of age, race, sexual identity creed, religion, or lack of religion"
Basic Text p. 9
Addiction closed our minds to anything new or different. We didn't need anyone or anything, we thought. There was nothing of value to be found in anyone from a different neighborhood, a different racial or ethnic background, or a different social or economic class. We may have thought that if it was different, it was bad.
In recovery, we can't afford such attitudes. We came to NA because our very best thinking had gotten us nowhere. We must open our minds to experience that works, no matter where it comes from, if we hope to grow in our recovery.
Regardless of our personal backgrounds, we all have two things in common with one another in NA that we share with no one else: our disease, and our recovery. We depend on one another for our shared experience
and the broader that experience, the better. We need every bit of experience, every different angle on our program we can find to meet the many challenges of living clean.
Recovery often isn't easy. The strength we need to recover, we draw from our fellow NA members. Today, we are grateful for the diversity of our group's membership, for in that diversity we find our strength.
Just for Today: I know that the more diverse my groups experience is, the better able my group will be to offer me support in the different circumstances I find myself facing. Today, I welcome addicts from all backgrounds to my home group.
It's really easy for me to focus on differences rather than similarities when at a meeting. But we are all there for the same reason. To find recovery from addiction one day at a time. I can get a good message from anyone if I keep an open mind.
thats right Avid! Identifying with the disease and not comparing with the war stories helps keep it real for each one of us!!I remember 1st time I read pg 140 ,basic text 5th edition,story called 'I Qualify"puts a real perspective on those who may think"man I aint like that,may not be the right place for me here?Until they "learned their disease"!!!Peace my friend ,hope you are well.
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
