I initially felt that it would be impossible to attend more than one or two meetings a week. It just wouldnt fit in with my busy schedule. I later learned that my priorities were [180] degrees reversed. It was the everything else that would have to fit into my meeting schedule.
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Some of us attended meetings infrequently when we first came to Narcotics Anonymous, then wondered why we couldnt stay clean. What we soon learned was that if we wanted to stay clean, we had to make meeting attendance our priority.
So we began again. Following our sponsors suggestion, we made a commitment to attend ninety meetings in ninety days. We identified ourselves as newcomers for our first thirty days so that others could get to know us. At our sponsors direction, we stopped talking long enough to learn to listen. We soon began to look forward to meetings. And we began to stay clean.
Today, we attend meetings for a variety of reasons. Sometimes we go to meetings to share our experience, strength, and hope with newer members. Sometimes we go to see our friends. And sometimes we go just because we need a hug. Occasionally we leave a meeting and realize that we havent really heard a word thats been saidbut we still feel better. The atmosphere of love and joy that fills our meetings has kept us clean another day. No matter how hectic our schedule, we make meeting attendance our priority.
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Just for today: In my heart, I know that meetings benefit me in all kinds of ways. Today, I want whats good for me. I will attend a meeting.
Regular meeting attendance is one of the most important tools in my recovery box. I don't go as frequently as I did when I first got clean, but I still go a couple of times a week.
Complaceny is the enemy and when we start missing meetings we move further away from not only continuing to hear the message but to also miss giving back what we were so freely given(sometimes just by being there.)...When I get complacent , I move around,different areas,different meetings but most always show up at my homegroup.
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
I really understand complacency these days. When i was in the grip of my disease, fear would motivate me. Now that I am less fearful, and trusting that my higher power is in charge, I find a contentment that can easily lead to laziness and lack of involvement. Man, what a long strange trip this is.
