Making New Friends

Chad B · Member

Making New Friends

nezyb · Senior Member

Hi Chad,
Maybe look a bit out of your area for NA activiites. Where we are at, there are usually conferences or speaker meetings or dances going on within an hour or two drive time. If you have a couple of free weekends a month, maybe see what's within a reasonable distance and check it out. Another option may be some volunteer work, maybe at a shelter or you being a speaker at a local rehab, something like that. I have recently become involved in some outside volunteer work at a local food bank and the local YMCA, and both are very rewarding as well as getting me out there socially. Just a couple thoughts. Good luck & Peace.

Dave R · Guru

Keep looking in NA. Be open to people who are not exactly your age. Build relationships one at a time, starting with your sponsor and moving onward.

avid · Guru

Why not go to area and offer your services to the activities committee?
If there is none, then offerr to chair it yourself.
Our region has a fair number of activities...recently there was a fishing trip on a charter boat, a 5 on 5 basketball tournament, a cookout with volleyball tournament,
there have been golf outings, dances, bowling tournaments, and softball games......I'm sure there have been other activities just cant think of them now.
the attendance is usually pretty good and funds are raised for the convention.
Have fun in recovery.

Chad B · Member

avid, those are great events, and i wish i had the opportunity to participate in things like that. I am going to try and find out if we just dont have anyone in that position or what the deal is. Events like the ones you named would be awesome. even just going to a park once a month, or having a bbq would be better than just sitting here. thanks for your suggestions everyone.

Raman · Guru

Hi Chad,,, heres a pic... and a few more at; https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151854496251996.416180.554636995&type=3

SynthingProgress · Member

Being more home orientated myself I really enjoy the chats available, but if direct human contact is the goal you can't beat the right NA meeting, I imagine. No doubt the events are a good time, but I've yet to attend myself.

Try and enjoy the site/chat in the meantime :)

Chad B · Member

Raman, I love the pic. Is that Krishna? I have been studying Buddhism lately.

Raman · Guru

Buddha actually Chad.

Raman · Guru

Meeting makers make it, they say. I totally agree.
I dont what Id be if I dont make that daily contact with other NA members, read a bit of literature and pray and Meditate...

But that said, events in NA lead me right into the heart of the community spirit; Fellowship.

Even the other night, at the World Unity Day celebrations here in my hometown Bangalore, India, I had a distinct feeling of being
in the company of a Greater Presence. Not only WUD, but also being celebrated was 20 years of Bangalore as an area.

And that nite for me the feelings were heightened because because they asked me to do main share as one of the early members here.
I kept my ego to a minimum and wrote a document that clearly stated historical facts of how, when and why NA started here.
Not only that, I later took stage and sang and played my sax.
Then at the countdown, I had the most cleantime !
Certainly was my night, as after that I had a "meeting after meeting" with four other members, where we shared everyday living problems and solutions.

Being in the events and entertainment business, Im never lonely in that sense and am used to all sorts of gathering of people in various settings and occassions.
Planned events like those however, will never give me the feeling and experience I get in NA events..........

Seems the generation of this Higher Conciousness is exactly what NA events are actually designed for.

Chad B · Member

I have plans to go to my homegroups business meeting tomorrow night. I am nervous, because i feel like that i only have a few months clean, and that how can i voice my opinion about anything being so new in it. But my sponsor will be there, and i wont be too afraid. Im going to talk to someone about event in our group, and see if i can do something to help. Ive also contacted someone in the district who has encouraged me to come and offer my help with the activities committee for the area. Again, unsure of my self, not only being a newer member, but i was such a loner that ive not scheduled many things before. But i want to do more, and this will put me more into my recovery, and enable me to really get out of my comfort zone. I hope im not biting off more than i can chew, but if i dont try, then i will never know. NO REGRETS! My new mantra. Congrats on "your night" Raman.

Raman · Guru

Ha..
Thanks Chad..

Recovery hugs to you.....and may all your recovery dreams come true !

Dave R · Guru

Anyone can voice an opinion at a home group business meeting. That's what they are for.
I'm sure they can use your help at district. There are not not enough people involved in NA service.
Go for it!

St4rvingx4rtist · Veteran Member

Heya Chad. I sometimes find it hard to make new friends as well- I'm 24 and everybody is a bit older than me, which leaves me feeling left out. This has nothing to do with the people in the program, everybody is very nice and welcoming- this is my own issue that I'm trying to deal with. I try to overcome this by using the phone (which is something I'm still not great at- but I'm trying), going to NA events (the conventions are awesome!), and by going to meetings in other cities. When I do these things I try to reach out to new people, get phone numbers, etc. Most importantly though, I have a homegroup, and a sponsor- our sponsee family holds support group every month which allows me to become closer to other women in the program.
Keep coming back, it works! :)

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