Post by Caressa2 on May 3, 2004 7:32:36 GMT -5
"Being involved in service makes me feel worthwhile."
Basic Text, p. 2l2
When most of us arrived in Narcotics Anonymous, we had very little self-worth left to salvage. Many members say that they began to develop self-esteem through being of service early in their recovery. Something just short of a miracle occurs when we beging to take a positive impact on others' lives through our service efforts.
Most of us don't have a lot of experience, strength, or hope to share at thirty days clean. In fact, some members will tell us in no uncertain terms that wgat we can do best is listen. But at thirt days, we do offer something to that addict just coming into the rooms of NA, struggling to get twenty-four hours clean. The very newest NA member; the one with only the desire to stop using and none of the tools, can hardly imagine anyone staying clean for a year; or two years, or ten. But he or she can relate to those people with thirty days clean, picking up a keytag with a look of pride and disbelief emblazoned on their faces.
Service is something that is our unique gift - something that no one can take away from us. We give, and we get. Through service, many of us start on the sometimes long road back to becoming productive members of society.
Just for today: I will be grateful for the opportunity to be of service.
Thought for today: Service is what helped me with my self-esteem and self-worth. It was a reason to keep coming back and it helped me to see others coming in and realize that it wasn't any better "out there" and they did the research for me, and I was able to "stay" and not have to go out and find out for myself.
My sponsor said, "If you have one hand in the hand of your Higher Power and the other hand in the hand of a newcomer, you won't have any hands left to pick up!"
Basic Text, p. 2l2
When most of us arrived in Narcotics Anonymous, we had very little self-worth left to salvage. Many members say that they began to develop self-esteem through being of service early in their recovery. Something just short of a miracle occurs when we beging to take a positive impact on others' lives through our service efforts.
Most of us don't have a lot of experience, strength, or hope to share at thirty days clean. In fact, some members will tell us in no uncertain terms that wgat we can do best is listen. But at thirt days, we do offer something to that addict just coming into the rooms of NA, struggling to get twenty-four hours clean. The very newest NA member; the one with only the desire to stop using and none of the tools, can hardly imagine anyone staying clean for a year; or two years, or ten. But he or she can relate to those people with thirty days clean, picking up a keytag with a look of pride and disbelief emblazoned on their faces.
Service is something that is our unique gift - something that no one can take away from us. We give, and we get. Through service, many of us start on the sometimes long road back to becoming productive members of society.
Just for today: I will be grateful for the opportunity to be of service.
Thought for today: Service is what helped me with my self-esteem and self-worth. It was a reason to keep coming back and it helped me to see others coming in and realize that it wasn't any better "out there" and they did the research for me, and I was able to "stay" and not have to go out and find out for myself.
My sponsor said, "If you have one hand in the hand of your Higher Power and the other hand in the hand of a newcomer, you won't have any hands left to pick up!"
. I will be back looking for Lin and others.