May 13
Onward on the journey
“The progression of recovery is a continuous uphill journey.”
Basic Text, p. 83
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The longer we stay clean, the steeper and narrower our path seems to become.  But God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.  No matter how difficult the road becomes, no matter how narrow, how winding the turns, there is hop…[Read more]

May 12
Living with spiritual experiences
“For meditation to be of value, the results must show in our daily lives.”
Basic Text, p. 47
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In working our program, we are given many indirect indications of a Higher Power’s presence in our lives: the clean feeling that comes to so many of us in taking our Fifth Step; the sense that we are fin…[Read more]

May 10
Becoming entirely ready
“We… get a good look at what these defects are doing to our lives.  We begin to long for freedom from these defects.”
Basic Text, p. 34
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Becoming entirely ready to have our defects of character removed can be a long process, often taking place over the course of a lifetime.  Our state of readiness grows in…[Read more]

May 9
Write about it!
“We sit down with a notebook, ask for guidance, pick up our pen, and start writing.”
Basic Text, p. 30
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When we’re confused or in pain, our sponsor sometimes tells us to “write about it.”  Though we may groan as we drag out the notebook, we know that it will help.  By laying it all out on paper, we give ourselves th…[Read more]

May 8
Teachable
“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. 96
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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…[Read more]

May 7
Turning turmoil into peace
“With the world in such a turmoil, I feel I have been blessed to be where I am.”
Basic Text, p. 145
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Some days it doesn’t pay to turn on the news, we hear so many stories about violence and mayhem.  When we used, many of us grew accustomed to violence.  Through the fog of our addiction, we rarely go…[Read more]

May 6
Are we having fun yet?
“In time, we can relax and enjoy the atmosphere of recovery.”
Basic Text, p. 56
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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, “…[Read more]

May 5
Any lengths
“…I was ready to go to any lengths to stay clean.”
Basic Text, p. 132
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“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 us…[Read more]

May 4
What about the newcomer?
“Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry the message to the addict who still suffers.”
Tradition Five
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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 togeth…[Read more]

May 3
Sharing our gratitude
“My gratitude speaks when I care and when I share with others the NA way.”
Gratitude Prayer
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The longer we stay clean, the more we experience feelings of gratitude for our recovery.  These feelings of gratitude aren’t limited to particular gifts like new friends or the ability to be employed.  More freque…[Read more]

April 29
“What if…”
“Living just for today relieves the burden of the past and the fear of the future.  We learned to take whatever actions are necessary and to leave the results in the hands of our Higher Power.”
Basic Text, p. 94
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In our active addiction, fear of the future and what might happen was a reality for many of us.  What if…[Read more]

April 27
Recognizing and releasing resentments
“We want to look our past in the face, see it for what it really was, and release it so we can live today.”
Basic Text, p. 29
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Many of us had trouble identifying our resentments when we were new in recovery.  There we sat with our Fourth Step in front of us, thinking and thinking, finally de…[Read more]

April 26
Self-acceptance
“The most effective means of achieving self-acceptance is through applying the Twelve Steps of recovery.”
IP No. 19, Self-Acceptance
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Most of us came to Narcotics Anonymous without much self-acceptance.  We looked at the havoc we had wreaked in our active addiction, and we loathed ourselves.  We had di…[Read more]

April 25
Embracing reality
“Recovery is a reality for us today.”
Basic Text, p. 101
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Pain and misery were realities in our using lives.  We were unwilling either to accept our living situation or to change what was unacceptable in our lives.  We attempted to escape life’s pain by taking drugs, but using only compounded our troubles…[Read more]