"Meetings keep us in touch with where we've been, but more importantly with where we could go in our recovery."
Basic Text, p. 56
In many ways, addicts are different. When we came to Narcotics Anonymous we found others like ourselves, people who understood us and whom we could understand. No longer did we feel like aliens, strangers wherever we went. We were at home in NA meetings, among friends.
We don't stop being addicts after we've been clean awhile. We still need to identify with other addicts. We continue coming to NA meetings to keep in touch with who we are, where we've come from, and where we're going. Every meeting reminds us that we can never use drugs successfully. Every meeting reminds us that we'll never be cured, but that by practicing the principles of the program we can recover. And every meeting offers us the experience and example of other addicts in ongoing recovery.
At meetings, we see how different people work their program, and the results are apparent in their lives. If we want the lives we see others living, we can find out what they've done to get where they are. Narcotics Anonymous meetings offer us identification with where we've been and where we can go-identification we can't do without and can't get anywhere else. That keeps us coming back.
Just for Today: I will attend an NA meeting to remind myself of who I am, where I've come from, and where I can go in my recovery.
Yes when we talk about a 'new way of life" it is so true/For many years I stayed free from active addiction without working a program and my life was a mess.When I came back in the rooms, I learned how to live a life of "recovery" not just abstinence.Recovery and Relapse says it so well in the reading The progression of recovery is a continuos uphill journey,without effort we start the slide down the hill again ,but theprogression of the disease is ongoing ,even during abstinence! No wonder I was clean ,but still twisted,even with God in my life. God showed a knucklehead like me,that I wasn't paying attention and I needed earthly help also,Welcome toNarcotics Anonymous!!!
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
Still new here and all this talk of meetings ???? they have so many names when I looked to find one?? being new new and never have been to one should I be looking for a meeting that suggests that topic or do they change. Some say closed and addicts only do other people like to go just to go? I know this sounds kinda dumb but that is where I am in this new beginning. Help, what meeting should I be looking for?
Hi BrokenAngel...good to see you back.A closed meeting is for addicts only and probably better for you if you identify yourself as an addict.An open meetings is for addicts and non addicts/World service suggests that open meetings could give a clouded message when people share as all are not addicts.I would suggest get to whatever you can but think closed would give you a better perspective of you as an addict.This is my own stuff.Just google "Open or Closed NA meetings and it will tell you exactly what they are about.I am glad you are fervently pursuing going.Believe me,we all have been thru the feeling of 'what the heck is going on here"but we also have been to the point where we needed to surrender and find a new way to live.You can continue on NA.ORG site to click on literature and read all about the different Information pamphlets IP's#7 AM I AN ADDICT/IP#16 FOR THE NEWCOMER/IP#22WELCOME TO NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS and others.Stick around "we need you" let us know how its going
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
Hey Broken Angel. Your making way too a big deal out of this. Just pick a meeting and go. It's really that simple. You don't have to say anything to anyone if you don't want to. Of course it's better to introduce yourself and ask for help, but the important thing is to overcome the fear and just do it.
