Quote:
October 14, 2014
The end of loneliness
Page 300
"With the love that I am shown in Narcotics Anonymous, I have no excuse for loneliness."
Basic Text p. 262
Addiction is a lonely disease. We may be surrounded by people but, sooner or later, our addiction drives a wedge between us and even our closest loved ones. Many of us are driven to Narcotics Anonymous by a desperate loneliness.
Though we may approach the rooms of NA with caution and suspicion, we are welcomed with a hug, a smile, and a warm "keep coming back." This may be the first place where we have felt welcome in a long, long while. We watch other members talking and laughing, leaving the meeting in groups for more talk at the local coffee shop. We wonder if we, too, could become a part of this loving bunch.
Our pattern of isolation can make it difficult for us to join in. Over time, however, we begin to feel "a part of" rather than "apart from." Soon, when we walk into the rooms, we feel at home. We begin to make friends and our lives start to change.
NA teaches us how to overcome our isolation. Through our first tentative friendships formed in our home group, we start to find that making friends isn't hard. A sense of belonging comes when we share ourselves with others.
Just for Today: I am thankful for the friendships my Higher Power has given me in NA. Because of them, I am lonely no more.
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We don't have to be lonely, we have a choice. I have been thinking of a friend for a week and never called her. Feeling really bad, she called me today to say that her husband has been in the hospital since the 3rd. He broke his hip playing hockey. I said to her, "What is he doing still playing hockey at 82?" She said, "I know, there was no stopping him, but there won't be any more now." It is so sad. I am sad, I didn't call, I have known him since early recovery and we were the same member of a group for many years. She is to call me back. I want to make sure she is not alone.