"The get-togethers after our meetings are good opportunities to share things that we didn't get to discuss during the meeting."
Basic Text, p. 98
Active addiction set us apart from society, isolating us. Fear was at the core of that alienation. We believed that if we let others get to know us, they would only find out how terribly flawed we were. Rejection would be only a short step away.
When we come to our first NA meeting, we are usually impressed by the familiarity and friendliness we see other recovering addicts share. We, too, can quickly become a part of this fellowship, if we allow ourselves to. One way to start is by tagging along to the local coffee shop after the meeting.
At these gatherings, we can let down the walls that separate us from others and discover things about ourselves and other NA members. One on one, we can sometimes disclose things that we may be reluctant to share at the group level. We learn to make small talk at many of these late-night gatherings and forge deep, strong friendships as well.
With our newfound friends in NA, we no longer have to live lives of isolation. We can become a part of the greater whole, the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous.
Just for Today: I will break free of isolation. I will strive to feel a part of the NA Fellowship.
I can't help but feel that today's message was written for Manon. If only she had felt "part of" then perhaps she would not have taken all those pills. "when at the end of the road we find that we can no longer function as human beings either with or without drugs, we all face the same dilemma... What is there left to do?"
Hey Don! what does our literature tell us 'RELAPSE IS NEVER AN ACCIDENT.it is a sign we have a reservation in our program..situation today may be somewhat different but still a reservation somewhere........tODAY'S MESSAGE HAS MORE MEANING THAN USUAL. lets be grateful for what we have and the'work" we have to do to maintain itAll in God's hands now.....................
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
Y'know Mike, it's kinda like a dog chasing his tail sometimes. I mean Mental illness can cause people to abuse drugs and become addicted. And drug abuse can cause severe mental illness. Which came first is hard to figure out sometimes. Does it matter? I dunno. Either way it totally sucks.
All in God's hands now.....................
