Fellowship
“In NA, our joys are multiplied by sharing good days; our sorrows are lessened by
sharing the bad. For the first time in our lives, we don’t have to experience anything
alone.”
IP No.16, “For the Newcomer”
When we practice using the steps and the other tools of our program to work
through our hardships, we become able to take pleasure in the joys of living clean.
But our joys pass all too quickly if we don’t share them with others, while hardships
borne alone may be long in passing. In the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous, we
often multiply our joys and divide our burdens by sharing them with one another.
We addicts experience pleasures in recovery that, sometimes, only another addict
can appreciate. Fellow members understand when we tell them of the pride we take
today in fulfilling commitments, the warmth we feel in mending damaged
relationships, the relief we experience in not having to use drugs to make it through
the day. When we share these experiences with recovering addicts and they respond
with similar stories, our joy is multiplied. The same principle applies to the
challenges we encounter as recovering addicts. By sharing our challenges and
allowing other NA members to share their strength with us, our load is lightened.
The fellowship we have in Narcotics Anonymous is precious. Sharing together, we
enhance the joys and diminish the burdens of life in recovery.
Just for today: I will share my joys and my burdens with other recovering addicts. I
will also share in theirs. I am grateful for the strong bonds of fellowship in Narcotics
Anonymous.