last night we had an awesome birthday meeting at my home group. a friend of mine celebrated 9 years and i had the honor of giving him his medallion in return he handed me my 21 yr medallion. we had over 40 people at the meeting. it was very humbling for me listening to all the people talk about how i have affected their recovery. i am just a simple addict who has managed to get it. i talked about how i managed to get to 21 yrs clean. how many NA friends i have around the world. what the newcomer means to me. and mostly how important they are to me. without the lessons i have learned over the years from addicts who have come before me and those who have come after me i would not be where i am today.
this program is a lot simpler than people make it out to be. you go to meetings, you collect phone numbers and call them when you feel like your going to use. you go to as many meetings as you can. you find a loving, caring sponsor who will guide you through the steps and listen to all your whining and bitching and then they will tell you to get out of God's way and let him work in your life. once your time starts adding up you realize that just giving into the fact you have a disease and the problem is you, you get a better understanding of why we have to work this 12 step program. this is not rocket science. it's Recovery.
of course i broke down and cried about the situation my son is in and how he is really in deep s#it right now. a lot of people who have come to this site no longer come on here and share their experience, strength and hope. that is sad that they have given up on what i know truly helped them on a daily basis. just know that this program works if you work it to the best of your ability. i had my staples taken out yesterday from my surgery and today i carried a laundry basket and the scab broke and i began to bleed pretty good. but i am ok and not going back to the hospital. i am just not going to lift anything over 5lbs for the next month.
for you new to the Tribe and to 12 step recovery F##k keep coming back just stay. i have written over 170 blogs about recovery. it would be an honor for you to read some of them and maybe get some suggestions that will help you along the way. the ultimate goal is to learn how to live drug free, to find the peace and serenity you have never had before. if i can help you in anyway please do not hesitate to become my friend and be open to taking suggestions that just might save your ass. i am no NA guru just someone who has stuck around long enough to GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just remember that Recovery is a journey not a destination and use the rest stops God provides along the way.
NA hugs and love,
JJ
Sheila got a personal letter from me. you know i do not know it all. i ask people to read my blogs to maybe find some suggestions that might work for them. sure i am proud to 7777 days in a row clean. 2 out 100 people make it to 30 days. EGO stands for Edging God Out. I was very pissed off when i read her blog. i never said i have all the answers, sometimes i do not even know the questions. you know if some of you feel like Sheila and thing my blogs are obnoxious. hell i'll stop writing them. the is a we not me program. i am here for the newcomers and the oldtimers. i can ony keep waht i have by giving it away. if you all want me to stop givng i can do that. Recovery to continue to learn about me and this disease we suffer from Addiction. I am no NA Guru and have said that many time over.
This past 3 days we had our Annual convention, i gave my phone number to at least 15 newcomers, picked a few new sponsee's and gave my phone #'s out over 100 times. i am here to help not harm. but if you think i am an egotistical asshole your more than welcome to your opinion. this is not the only recovery site on the net. but i chose this one because i thought not only could i help even one person but maybe i can continue to get help myself,
thank for listening.
NA hugs,
JJ
Wow congrats JJ… that is a wonderful tribute to you for all the work you do. Praying for your physical recovery and appreciate your sharing with us the good and happy times that recovery offers.. I agree that this is truly a better way of life and if there is even a small chance that something any of us say helps someone then it's worth it..Again congrats and keep on keeping on! I have to say that I appreciate your knowledge and sharing. I agree that the basics of recovery are simple it's just our heads that can complicate things..
Thanks for sharing your experience, strength and hope !
Karen
thanks karen, i love you lots to. you know i just try to write what i feel at the time. if you can read the reply from darkblade below. now this comes from a woman who has no clue i have worked the steps 7 times, and am back on step one, this is a woman who thinks she knows me better than i do. i am tired of this shit because she has a couple more years than i do thinks she knows what is right or wrong for me. I have never suggested the answers are in my blogs. there are onkly suggestions given to me by other addicts that have helped me get to where i am today. i do not have all the answers and as i have said i don't even know the questions sometimes but i do know what has worked for me in the past.
we had a great convention this past weekend. 850 people in one room with one guy having 1 day clean all the way up to a lady with 54 years clean. hell i was 2 when she got clean. now that is truly amazing. a great ime was had by all. thanks for what you say God knows i try my best. as for my son he is in God's hands right now. i cannot do a thing for him but pray. write me back when you can. love you recovery sister, JJ