February-21 topics

Daily Readings and Inspirations

At once, I became a part--if only a tiny part--of a cosmos.... AS BILL SEES IT, p. 225

When I first came to A.A., I decided that "they" were very nice people--perhaps a little naive, a little too friendly, but basically decent, earnest people (with whom I had nothing in common). I saw "them" at meetings
--after all, that was where "they" existed. I shook hands with "them" and, when I went out the door, I forgot about "them." Then one day my Higher Power, whom I did not then believe in, arranged to create a community project outside of A.A., but one which happened to involve many A.A. members. We worked together, I got to know "them" as people. I came to admire "them," even to like "them" and, in spite of myself, to enjoy "them." "Their" practice of the program in their daily lives--not just talk at meetings --attracted me and I wanted what they had. Suddenly the "they" became "we." I have not had a drink since.

"Self-pity is one of the most destructive of defects; it will drain us of all positive energy." Basic Text, p. 77
In active addiction, many of us used self-pity as a survival mechanism. We didn't believe there was an alternative to living in our disease or perhaps we didn't want to believe. As long as we could feel sorry for ourselves and blame someone else for our troubles, we didn't have to accept the consequences of our actions; believing ourselves powerless to change, we didn't have to accept the need for change. Using this "survival mechanism" kept us from entering recovery and led us closer, day by day, to self destruction. Self-pity is a tool of our disease; we need to stop using it and learn instead to use the new tools we find in the NA program.
We have come to believe that effective help is available for us; when we seek that help, finding it in the NA program, self-pity is displaced by gratitude. Many tools are at our disposal: the Twelve Steps, the support of our sponsor, the fellowship of other recovering addicts, and the care of our Higher Power. The availability of all these tools is more than enough reason to be grateful. We no longer live in isolation, without hope; we have certain help at hand for anything we may face. The surest way to become grateful is to take advantage of the help available to us in the NA program and to experience the improvement the program will bring in our lives.

Just for today: I will be grateful for the hope NA has given me. I will cultivate my recovery and stop cultivating self-pity.

SLOGANS/ACRONYMS

From myself