"We have to keep our recovery first and our priorities in order."

Basic Text, p. 82

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Before coming to NA, we used many excuses to justify our use of drugs:  He yelled at me.  She said this.  My partner left.  I got fired.  We used these same excuses for not seeking help for our drug problem.  We had to realize that these things kept happening because we kept using drugs.  Only when we made recovery our first priority did these situations begin to change.

We may be subject to the same tendency today, using excuses for not attending meetings and being of service.  Our current excuses may be of a different nature:  I can't leave my kids.  My vacation wore me out.  I have to finish this project so I can impress my boss.  But still, if we dont make recovery our first priority, chances are that we wont have to worry about these excuses anymore.  Kids, vacations, and jobs probably wont be in our lives if we relapse.

Our recovery must come first.  Job or no job, relationship or no relationship, we have to attend meetings, work the steps, call our sponsor, and be of service to God and others.  These simple actions are what make it possible for us to have vacations, families, and bosses to worry about.  Recovery is the foundation of our lives, making everything else possible.

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Just for today:  I will keep my priorities in order.  Number One on the list is my recovery.