Just for today my thoughts will be on my recovery, living and enjoying life without the use of drugs.

Just for today I will have faith in someone in NA who believes in me and wants to help me in my recovery.

Just for today I will have a program. I will try to follow it to the best of my ability.

Just for today through NA I will try to get a better perspective on my life.

Just for today I will be unafraid, my thoughts will be on my new associations, people who are not using and who have found a new way of life. So long as I follow that way, I have nothing to fear.

January 24
From Isolation To Connection

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

Addiction is an isolating disease, closing us off from society, family, and self. We hid. We lied. We scorned the lives we saw others living, surely beyond our grasp. Worst of all, we told ourselves there was nothing wrong with us, even though we knew we were desperately ill. Our connection with the world, and with reality itself, was severed. Our lives lost meaning, and we withdrew further and further from reality.

The NA program is designed especially for people like us. It helps reconnect us to the life we were meant to live, drawing us out of our isolation. We stop lying to ourselves about our condition; we admit our powerlessness and the unmanageability of our lives. We develop faith that our lives can improve, that recovery is possible, and that happiness is not permanently beyond our grasp. We get honest; we stop hiding; we "show up and tell the truth; no matter what. And as we do, we establish the ties that connect our individual lives to the larger life around us.

We addicts need not live lives of isolation. The Twelve Steps can restore our connection to life and living-if we work them.

Just for today: I am a part of the life around me. I will practice my program to strengthen my connection to my world.
pg. 24

You know only an addict or alcoholic can understand your message. After alomost 2.5 years of being clean & sober I ended up relapsing on alcohol. I commend those who can stick to the program & recover. I guess I just lost the will to stay sober. Been through a lot the last few months & went back to what I know. Whatever you do don't go back!! It's not a good feeling! I'm hoping I'll regain the desire to go back into the program myself. Right now my life is still managable but none the less a mess!! After relapsing I tried to go back 2 days later & my ex abusive BF wouldn't let me go back to meetings. Here I am 6 months later still drinking. At least I've left the drugs alone except for a couple times on pot which I feel bad about. I don't want to drink but find myself drinking anyways. I don't want to be this way but haven't found my way back.

One of our lady members catches hell for going to the meetings from her husband. He says she goes too much and he needs her at home. Last night I took another woman to the meeting who wanted to go rather than be home because a neighbour told her that her ex told the neighbour that he was coming after her to do her harm. I had to go into her house before she did because she was afraid that he might be waiting for her. I have one friend at work who has gotten back with her husband who used to use her face for a punching bag. Another one of our members quit going because she wanted to be home with her husband and didn't think she was an addict any longer but has went back to the over medicating with her pills. I have one member who has stayed off the meth but still tokes the grass. And since his wife drinks he asks me to stop by the liquor store to buy wine for her. I have been wanting to ask her if she got a drink out of it. But I guess it is none of my business. I hope you have a good day.

We are all addicted to something. Food, pleasurable brain chemicals, emotions, etc. I like the 12 step program and find it is applicable to almost everyone.

Just For Today: Monday, February 7.
"I will have faith that my Higher Power's will for me is good, and that I am loved. I will seek my Higher Power's help in times of need."

I will keep you all in my prayers for strength to stay with the program.. Sounds like a good one.. I've never been on drugs or alcohol but I do know how hard it is to not go back.. When I was in my 20's I had a lot of trouble with nerves and would buy sweets and hide it..and then pig out when I had a relapse...I had a complete breakdown at age 23, pregnant with my 4th child, 12 days in the hospital with 7 electroshock treatments... it took me 2 yrs to feel "normal" again.. Good luck to all of you..