Our own story
“When we honestly tell our own story, someone else may identify with us.”
Basic Text p. 95
Many of us have heard truly captivating speakers at Narcotics Anonymous
conventions. We remember the audience alternating between tears of identification
and joyous hilarity. “Someday,” we may think, “I’m going to be a main speaker at a
convention, too.”
Well, for many of us, that day has yet to arrive. Once in awhile we may be asked to
speak at a meeting near where we live. We might speak at a small convention
workshop. But after all this time, we’re still not “hot” convention speakers-and that’s
okay. We’ve learned that we, too, have a special message to share, even if it’s only
at a local meeting with fifteen or twenty addicts in attendance.
Each of us has only our own story to tell; that’s it. We can’t tell anyone else’s story.
Every time we get up to speak, many of us find all the clever lines and funny stories
seem to disappear from our minds. But we do have something to offer. We carry the
message of hope-we can and do recover from our addiction. And that’s enough.
Just for today: I will remember that my honest story is what I share the best. Today,
that’s enough.