Narcotics Anonymous

Just For Today - Daily Email Service

   August 18                                      "How long do I have to go?"

   "The way to remain a productive, responsible member of society is to put
                             our recovery first."

                                                           Basic Text, p. 102

                           ----=----

   The meetings have been great!    Each night we've attended, we've
   gathered with other addicts to share experience, strength, and hope.   And
   each day, we've used what we've learned in the meetings to continue in
   our recovery.

   Meanwhile, life goes on.     Work, family, friends, school,  sport,
   entertainment, community activities, civic obligations-all call out for
   our time.  The demands of everyday living sometimes make us ask ourselves,
   "How long do I have to go to these meetings?"

   Let's think about this.  Before coming to Narcotics Anonymous, could we
   stay clean on our own?   What makes us think we can now?  Then there's
   the disease itself to consider-the chronic self-centeredness, the
   obsessiveness, the compulsive behavior patterns that express themselves in
   so many areas of our lives.  Can we live and enjoy life without effective
   treatment for our disease?  No.

   "Ordinary" people may not have to worry about such things, but we're
   not "ordinary" people-we're addicts.    We can't pretend we
   don't have a fatal, progressive illness, because we do.   Without our
   program, we may not survive to worry about the demands of work, school,
   family, or anything else.  NA  meetings give us the support and direction
   we need to recover from our addiction, allowing us to live the fullest
   lives possible.

                           ----=----

   Just for today:  I want to live and enjoy life.  To do that, I will put my
   recovery first.