shydawg
11-02-2008, 11:38 AM
Recovery in action
In the rooms of Narcotics Anonymous, we experience recovery in action. This action is that of our members—whether they are young in recovery or have the rewards of staying clean for various amounts of time—sharing their experience, hope, and faith with others at the meetings. Although some of the people in attendance do not hear the whole message, some pick up just enough to carry them through that day and, I hope, on to another meeting. I reflect back on myself in early recovery, when I was not truly able to understand all that was being shared, but I heard a word here and there that allowed me to stay clean, just for one more day.
All of the sharing at a meeting may not have to do with the topics set forth. We speak of the issues that come up for us, personally, that either twisted our thinking back to the way it was in our active addiction or allowed us to look at what we had heard at another meeting that kept us clean. It is of the utmost importance to tell on our disease, but it is equally important to tell how our recovery today has helped us deal with life on life's terms. I have found that by listening, I gain a great deal. If the person sharing is speaking from their heart, the message is there for me to take. After all, we only keep what we have by giving it away. Learn from the mistakes of others, and you probably won't live long enough to make them all yourself.
Greeting others with a warm hug makes all addicts feel welcome—not only the newcomer, but the addict who has been around for a while.
Another action in recovery we can experience is being responsible. When we are new, we can become responsible by reading at the beginning of the meeting. If we are too shy for that, we can help after the meeting closes by helping put away the chairs. As we progress in cleantime, and as the fear of reading goes away, then we can read. No one will laugh if we find some of the words hard to pronounce. They will only show empathy. Action can be taken with the willingness to make coffee, or help set up chairs and tables for the meeting, or help put out the literature.
Think of a person visiting from another area. How do they feel when they walk into a meeting place where they don't know anyone? Yes, we can make a big difference with small actions.
As we progress in our recovery, we can become responsible to our group by going to area service committee meetings and carrying information back to our group. Most groups have a group service representative, and these GSRs usually welcome other group members who want to accompany them to area meetings. This is a great learning tool for a future service position within our group or elsewhere in the service structure.
To answer the question "What can I do?" our first goal is to stay clean, but it seems to elude some of us that our simple sharing can be helpful to others who may be struggling.
Larry F, Ontario, Canada
In the rooms of Narcotics Anonymous, we experience recovery in action. This action is that of our members—whether they are young in recovery or have the rewards of staying clean for various amounts of time—sharing their experience, hope, and faith with others at the meetings. Although some of the people in attendance do not hear the whole message, some pick up just enough to carry them through that day and, I hope, on to another meeting. I reflect back on myself in early recovery, when I was not truly able to understand all that was being shared, but I heard a word here and there that allowed me to stay clean, just for one more day.
All of the sharing at a meeting may not have to do with the topics set forth. We speak of the issues that come up for us, personally, that either twisted our thinking back to the way it was in our active addiction or allowed us to look at what we had heard at another meeting that kept us clean. It is of the utmost importance to tell on our disease, but it is equally important to tell how our recovery today has helped us deal with life on life's terms. I have found that by listening, I gain a great deal. If the person sharing is speaking from their heart, the message is there for me to take. After all, we only keep what we have by giving it away. Learn from the mistakes of others, and you probably won't live long enough to make them all yourself.
Greeting others with a warm hug makes all addicts feel welcome—not only the newcomer, but the addict who has been around for a while.
Another action in recovery we can experience is being responsible. When we are new, we can become responsible by reading at the beginning of the meeting. If we are too shy for that, we can help after the meeting closes by helping put away the chairs. As we progress in cleantime, and as the fear of reading goes away, then we can read. No one will laugh if we find some of the words hard to pronounce. They will only show empathy. Action can be taken with the willingness to make coffee, or help set up chairs and tables for the meeting, or help put out the literature.
Think of a person visiting from another area. How do they feel when they walk into a meeting place where they don't know anyone? Yes, we can make a big difference with small actions.
As we progress in our recovery, we can become responsible to our group by going to area service committee meetings and carrying information back to our group. Most groups have a group service representative, and these GSRs usually welcome other group members who want to accompany them to area meetings. This is a great learning tool for a future service position within our group or elsewhere in the service structure.
To answer the question "What can I do?" our first goal is to stay clean, but it seems to elude some of us that our simple sharing can be helpful to others who may be struggling.
Larry F, Ontario, Canada