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Teachable

 Just for today - May 8 

"We have learned that it is okay to not know all the answers, for then we are teachable and can learn to live our new life successfully."

Basic Text, p. 93

In a way, addiction is a great teacher. And if addiction teaches us nothing else, it will teach us humility. We hear it said that it took our very best thinking to get to NA. Now that we're here, we're here to learn.

Turning Turmoil into Peace

Just for today - May 7 

"With the world in such a turmoil, I feel I have been blessed to be where I am."

Basic Text, p. 155

Are We Having Fun Yet?

May 6 – Just for today

"In time, we can relax and enjoy the atmosphere of recovery."

Basic Text, pp. 53-54

Imagine what would happen if a newcomer walked into one of our meetings and was met by a group of grim-faced people gripping the arms of their chairs with white knuckles. That newcomer would probably bolt, perhaps muttering, "I thought I could get off drugs and be happy."

Any Lengths

 Just for today - May 5 

"...I was ready to go to any lengths to stay clean."

Basic Text, p. 217

"Any lengths?" newcomers ask. "What do you mean, any lengths?" Looking back at our active addiction and the lengths we were willing to go to in order to stay high can help to explain. Were we willing to drive many miles to get drugs? Yes, we usually were. Then it makes sense that, if we are as concerned about staying clean as we were about using, we will try anything to find a ride to a meeting.

"What About The Newcomer?"

May 4

"Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry the message to the addict who still suffers."

Tradition Five

Our home group means a lot to us. After all, where would we be without our favorite NA meeting? Our group sometimes sponsors picnics or other activities. Often, home group members get together to see a movie or go bowling. We have all made good friendships through our home group, and we wouldn't trade that warmth for the world.

Sharing Our Gratitude

May 3 – Just for today

"My gratitude speaks when I care and when I share with others the NA way."

Gratitude Prayer

"Just Maybe...."

Just for today - May 2

"There is one thing more than anything else that will defeat us in our recovery; this is an attitude of indifference or intolerance toward spiritual principles."

Basic Text, p. 18

Self-Worth and Service

May 1

"Being involved in service makes me feel worthwhile."

Basic Text, p. 212

When most of us arrived in Narcotics Anonymous, we had very little self-worth left to salvage. Many members say that they began to develop self-esteem through being of service early in their recovery. Something just short of a miracle occurs when we begin to have a positive impact on others' lives through our service efforts.

God - Centeredness

Just for Today - March 30

"Gradually as we become more God-centered than self-centered, our despair turns to hope."
Basic Text p. 92

True Courage

Just for Today - March 17

"Those who make it through these times show a courage not their own."

Basic Text p. 82

Before coming to NA, many of us thought we were brave simply because we had never experienced fear. We had drugged all our feelings, fear among them, until we had convinced ourselves that we were tough, courageous people who wouldn't crack under any circumstances.

Anxiety Attack?

Just for Today - March 1

"[The] Power that brought us to this program is still with us and will continue to guide us if we allow it."

Basic Text, p. 26

 Ever had a panic attack? Everywhere we turn, life's demands overwhelm us. We're paralyzed, and we don't know what to do about it. How do we break an anxiety attack?

Self-acceptance

Just for Today - February 9

"When we accept ourselves, we can accept others into our lives, unconditionally probably for the first time."

IP No. 19, "Self-Acceptance"

From our earliest memories, many of us felt like we never belonged. No matter how big the gathering, we always felt apart from the crowd. We had a hard time "fitting in." Deep down, we believed that if we really let others get to know us, they would reject us. Perhaps our addiction began to germinate in this climate of self-centeredness.

What Is A Sponsor?

Just for Today - February 8

"…an NA sponsor is a member of Narcotics Anonymous, living our program of recovery, who is willing to build a special, supportive, one-on-one relationship with us."

IP No. 11, "Sponsorship, Revised"

This Is Not a Test

Just for Today - February 7

"We have found a loving, personal God to whom we can turn."

Basic Text p. 27

I Can't - We Can

Just for Today - February 6

"We had convinced ourselves that we could make it alone and proceeded to live life on that basis. The results were disastrous and, in the end, each of us had to admit that self-sufficiency was a lie"

Basic Text p. 59

"I can't, but we can." This simple but profound truth applies initially to our first need as NA members: Together, we can stay clean, but when we isolate ourselves, we're in bad company. To recover, we need the support of other addicts.

Keep Coming Back!

Just for Today - February 5

"We are grateful that we were made so welcome at meetings that we felt comfortable." Basic Text p. 80

Feeling Good Isn't the Point

Just for Today - February 4

"For us, recovery is more than just pleasure."

Basic Text p. 42

In our active addiction, most of us knew exactly how we were going to feel from one day to the next. All we had to do was read the label on the bottle or know what was in the bag. We planned our feelings, and our goal for each day was to feel good.

We Need Each Other

Just for Today - February 3

"Anyone may join us, regardless of age, race, sexual identity creed, religion, or lack of religion."

Basic Text p. 9

Addiction closed our minds to anything new or different. We didn't need anyone or anything, we thought. There was nothing of value to be found in anyone from a different neighborhood, a different racial or ethnic background, or a different social or economic class. We may have thought that if it was different, it was bad.

Goodwill

Just for Today - February 2

“Goodwill is best exemplified in service; proper service is doing the right thing for the right reason."  Basic Text p. ix

The spiritual core of our disease is self-centeredness. In dealing with others, the only motive our addiction taught us was selfishness — we wanted what we wanted when we wanted it. Obsession with self was rooted in the very ground of our lives. In recovery, how do we root self-obsession out?

Hardships

Just for Today - February 1

“We felt different... Only after surrender are we able to overcome the alienation of addiction." Basic Text p. 22

“But you don't understand!" we spluttered, trying to cover up. "I'm different! I've really got it rough!" We used these lines over and over in our active addiction, either trying to escape the consequences of our actions or avoid following the rules that applied to everyone else. We may have cried them at our first meeting. Perhaps we've even caught ourselves whining them recently. 

Trust

Just for Today - January 31

”Just for today I will have faith in someone in NA who believes in me and wants to help me in my recovery."  Basic Text p. 90

Learning to trust is a risky proposition.  Our past experience as using addicts has taught us that our companions could not be trusted.  Most of all, we couldn't trust ourselves.

Giving It Away

Just for Today - January 30

”We must give freely and gratefully that which has been freely and gratefully given to us."  Basic Text p. 47

The First Step - An Action Step

Just for Today - January 29

”Do we understand that we have no real control over drugs?" Basic Text p. 18

At first, many of us may have thought the First Step required no action-we just surrender and go on to Step Two.  But Step One does require action!

An Every-Day Addict

Just for Today - January 28

”We can never fully recover, no matter how long we stay clean." Basic Text p. 80

Learning how to live again

Just for Today - January 27

”We learn new ways to live.  We are no longer limited to our old ideas." Basic Text p. 54

We may or may not have been taught right from wrong and other basics of life as children.  No matter, by the time we found recovery, most of us had only the vaguest idea of how to live.  Our isolation from the rest of society had caused us to ignore basic human responsibilities and develop bizarre survival skills to cope with the world we lived in.

Self-Centeredness

Just for today - January 26

”The spiritual part of our disease is our total self-centeredness." Basic Text p. 20

What is self-centeredness?  It is our belief that the world revolves around us.  Our wishes, our demands are the only ones worth consideration.  Our self-centered minds believe they are capable of getting everything they want if only they would be left to their own devices.  Self-centeredness assumes total self-sufficiency.

An Added Gift

Just for Today - January 25

”We see it happening among us every day this miraculous turnabout is evidence of a spiritual awakening."  Basic Text p. 49

We watch them walk in to their first meeting defeated, their spirits broken.  Their suffering is obvious, and their desire for help even more apparent.  They collect a welcome chip and go back to their seats, shaken by the effort.

From Isolation to Connection

Just for Today - January 24

”Our disease isolated us... Hostile, resentful, self-centered, and self-seeking, we cut ourselves off from the outside world."  Basic Text p. 3-4

Serenity Check

Just for Today - January 23

”Lack of daily maintenance can show up in many ways." Basic Text p. 91

Ever had a perfect stranger remark about how great the weather was, only to reply "It stinks"?  When this happens, we are probably suffering from a lack of daily maintenance in our program.

The School Of Recovery

Just for Today - January 22

”This is a program for learning." Basic Text p. 16

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