shydawg
01-09-2009, 03:33 AM
We Are All Addicts
« on: August 20, 2008, 06:32:07 AM »
"..as long as the ties that bind us together are
stronger than those that would tear us apart …
all will be well…"
I was asked to take a minute and write something
besides poetry for this newsletter, so I
gave a little thought to what the topic means
to me. I was always told that when you are
asked to do something … you do it, because
that's your Higher Power stretching you in
preparation for growth.
The first thing that comes to mind is that we
read a lot of material at the beginning of our
meetings. One of the things we read about is
our common last name, ADDICT. We ask
that people not identify themselves as crossaddicted,
alcoholics, etc., because the term
"addict" encompasses everything.
I used to cringe when people did this, and I
would fight it vehemently. Now I realize that
some people don't fully understand what we
mean when we ask that they not identify
themselves in any other manner than "addict".
So, here is an opportunity for me to speak my
peace…
Basically, the first tie that binds us together is
that we are addicts. We are not cross-addicted
to a number of substances. We are addicts,
meaning addicted.
Our readings state that "we don't care what or
how much you used", so why would we want
you to confuse a simple program by identifying
yourself in a multifaceted way? It's
really simple. Are you a man or a woman
whose life was controlled by the use of
drugs (which includes alcohol)? Then you
are like us … an addict.
Separating ourselves and putting different
labels on ourselves does not promote unity.
We need unity and we need to identify as
addicts so that no addict seeking recovery
need ever die.
One thing that keeps me clean is to give
away what was so freely given to me.
Sometimes what was given to me was
someone pulling me aside and telling me
what things meant, even when I didn't want
to hear it. I didn't want to hear these lessons
because I was self-centered, and I
thought I already knew everything anyway!
My job in recovery is to be here when an
addict reaches out for help. Sometimes we
give a little guidance in just the right way so
that someone can understand and save their
life.
Those of us who have some recovery realize
that when we first came to N.A. we didn't
know what was wrong with us, and it was
only by coming back that we slowly started
to realize what things really meant. Things
finally started to sink in. You know what I
mean ….?
Jennifer S.
« on: August 20, 2008, 06:32:07 AM »
"..as long as the ties that bind us together are
stronger than those that would tear us apart …
all will be well…"
I was asked to take a minute and write something
besides poetry for this newsletter, so I
gave a little thought to what the topic means
to me. I was always told that when you are
asked to do something … you do it, because
that's your Higher Power stretching you in
preparation for growth.
The first thing that comes to mind is that we
read a lot of material at the beginning of our
meetings. One of the things we read about is
our common last name, ADDICT. We ask
that people not identify themselves as crossaddicted,
alcoholics, etc., because the term
"addict" encompasses everything.
I used to cringe when people did this, and I
would fight it vehemently. Now I realize that
some people don't fully understand what we
mean when we ask that they not identify
themselves in any other manner than "addict".
So, here is an opportunity for me to speak my
peace…
Basically, the first tie that binds us together is
that we are addicts. We are not cross-addicted
to a number of substances. We are addicts,
meaning addicted.
Our readings state that "we don't care what or
how much you used", so why would we want
you to confuse a simple program by identifying
yourself in a multifaceted way? It's
really simple. Are you a man or a woman
whose life was controlled by the use of
drugs (which includes alcohol)? Then you
are like us … an addict.
Separating ourselves and putting different
labels on ourselves does not promote unity.
We need unity and we need to identify as
addicts so that no addict seeking recovery
need ever die.
One thing that keeps me clean is to give
away what was so freely given to me.
Sometimes what was given to me was
someone pulling me aside and telling me
what things meant, even when I didn't want
to hear it. I didn't want to hear these lessons
because I was self-centered, and I
thought I already knew everything anyway!
My job in recovery is to be here when an
addict reaches out for help. Sometimes we
give a little guidance in just the right way so
that someone can understand and save their
life.
Those of us who have some recovery realize
that when we first came to N.A. we didn't
know what was wrong with us, and it was
only by coming back that we slowly started
to realize what things really meant. Things
finally started to sink in. You know what I
mean ….?
Jennifer S.