August 19: Spiritual Principle a Day, read by Fern

Spiritual Principle a Day for August 19, read by Fern

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August 19

Inclusiveness Means Any Addict

"All addicted persons are welcome and equal in obtaining the relief that they are seeking from their addiction; every addict can recover in this program on an equal basis."

—Basic Text, Chapter 6, “Tradition Three”

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Many of us who have been around NA for a little while have no doubt that the NA program is for any addict. Our literature and our Traditions clearly state that any addict with a desire to stop using should be able to find a place in our Fellowship. Making that ideal into a reality requires more than telling newcomers to “focus on the similarities, rather than the differences”—it requires us to actively make space in our meetings for any addict, “regardless of . . .”

“I was the only person who looked like me in the rooms where I got clean,” a member shared. “People told me to focus on the similarities, and all I could think was, That’s pretty easy for all of you—everyone looks like you! Then I heard someone say, ‘One day you’ll hear someone who is nothing like you share your story,’ and it clicked. I needed to hear that it’s okay that we’re not all the same—our stories are similar even when we’re not. I don’t have to ignore real parts of who I am to belong here.”

Making space for any addict requires taking an honest look at ourselves and our communities. Society outside of our meetings has all sorts of social strata. Differences in language, ethnicity, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, and financial status can present challenges—and some might prefer it if distinctions like these melted away at the door to our meeting. But they’re often all wrapped up in who we are as people, and our distinctions are assets to NA, not problems to be solved. We can tell newcomers that our differences don’t matter, but if our meetings are largely made up of people from similar backgrounds, it can look like NA is no more inclusive than the rest of society. When we share openly about our differences and encourage others to do so, too, our distinctions enrich the NA Fellowship. Being who we are helps newcomers identify and relate—and stay.

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Spiritual Principle:

Focusing on the similarities does not mean I need to ignore the differences. I will share honestly about who I am, differences and all—and honor the experiences of addicts who are not like me.

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© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
Welcome to the Voices of Recovery podcast.
This is your Spiritual Principleof the Day episode featuring a
recovering addict. Hi, my name is Fern.

(00:23):
My clean date is January 5th, 1984.
You're listening to the Voices of Recovery podcast.
This is the spiritual principle of the day for August 19th.
Inclusiveness means any addict. All addicted persons are welcome

(00:44):
and equal in obtaining the relief that they are seeking
from their addiction. Every addict can recover in this
program on an equal basis. Basic Text Chapter 6 Tradition 3
Many of us who have been around NA for a while have no doubt
that the NA program is for any addict.

(01:07):
Our literature and our traditions clearly state that
any addict with a desire to stopusing should be able to find a
place in our fellowship. Making that deal into a reality
requires more than telling newcomers to focus on the
similarities rather than the differences.
It requires us to actively make space in our meetings for any

(01:30):
addict, regardless of I was the only person who looked like me
in the rooms where I got clean, a member shared.
People told me to focus on the similarities, and all I could
think was, that's pretty easy for all of you.
Everyone looks like you. Then I heard someone say one day

(01:50):
you'll hear someone who is nothing like you Share your
story and it clicked. I needed to hear that.
It's OK that we're not all the same.
Our stories are similar even when we're not.
I don't have to ignore real parts of who I am to belong
here. Making space for any addict

(02:13):
requires taking an honest look at ourselves and our
communities. Society outside of our meetings
has all sorts of social strata. Differences in language,
ethnicity, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation,
ability, and financial status can present challenges, and some

(02:37):
might prefer it if distinctions like these melted away at the
door to our meeting. But they're all wrapped up in
who we are as people, and our distinctions are assets to NA,
not problems to be solved. We can tell newcomers that our
differences don't matter, but ifour meetings are largely made-up

(02:59):
of people from similar backgrounds, it can look like NA
is no more inclusive than the rest of society.
When we share openly about our differences and encourage others
to do so too, our distinctions enrich DNA fellowship.
Being who we are helps newcomersidentify and relate and stay

(03:23):
spiritual principle. Focusing on the similarities
does not mean I need to ignore the differences.
I will share honestly about who I am, differences and all, and
honor the experience of addicts who are not like me.
The Voices of Recovery Podcast is an independent production of

(03:45):
The Works of Wisdom. We welcome your questions and
donations via PayPal at [e-mail].
This podcast is an independent production and is not affiliated
with, associated with, authorized by, endorsed by, or
in any way officially connected with Narcotics Anonymous or any
of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

(04:06):
While any literature may be readduring episodes for the purpose
of supporting Recovery, such usedoes not constitute an official
endorsement or representation byNarcotics Anonymous.
In accordance with any tradition, the NA name is not to
be used to endorse or be affiliated with any outside
enterprise, and no such endorsement or affiliation is
implied. Music is by Sage.

(04:28):
Thanks for listening to the Voices of Recovery podcast.