August 21: Just for Today meditation, read by Fern

Just for Today meditation for August 21, read by Fern

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August 21

Friendships

"Our friendships become deep, and we experience the warmth and caring which results from addicts sharing recovery and a new life."

IP No.19, "Self-Acceptance"

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Most of us come to Narcotics Anonymous with few genuine friends. And most of us arrive without the slightest understanding of what it takes to build lasting friendships. Over time, though, we learn that friendships require work. At one time or another, all friendships are challenging. Like any relationship, friendship is a learning process.

Our friends love us enough to tell us the truth about ourselves. The old saying, "The truth will set you free, but first it will make you furious," seems especially true in friendship. This can make friendships awkward. We may find ourselves avoiding certain meetings rather than facing our friends. We have found, though, that friends speak out of concern for us. They want the best for us. Our friends accept us despite our shortcomings. They understand that we are still a work in progress.

Friends are there for us when we're not there for ourselves. Friends help us gain valuable perspective on the events in our lives and our recovery. It is important that we actively cultivate friendships, for we have learned that we cannot recover alone.

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Just for today:

I will be grateful for the friends I have. I will take an active part in my friendships.

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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 Just For Today 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 podcasts.
This is the just for today, for August 21st.
Friendships. Our friendships become deep and
we experience the warmth and caring which results from

(00:44):
addicts sharing recovery and a new life.
IP #19 self acceptance. Most of us come into Narcotics
Anonymous with few genuine friends, and most of us arrive
without the slightest understanding of what it takes
to build lasting friendships. Over time, though, we learn that

(01:07):
friendships require work. At one time or another, all
friendships are challenging any relationship.
Friendship is a learning process.
Our friends love us enough to tell us the truth about
ourselves. The old saying the truth will
set you free, but first it will make you furious.

(01:28):
Seems especially true in friendship.
This can make friendships awkward.
We may find ourselves avoiding certain meetings rather than
facing our friends. We have found, though, that
friends speak out of concern forus.
They want the best for us. Our friends accept us despite

(01:50):
our shortcomings. They understand that we are
still a work in progress. Friends are there for us when
we're not there for ourselves. Friends help us gain valuable
perspective on the events in ourlives and our recovery.
It is important that we activelycultivate friendships, for we

(02:11):
have learned that we cannot recover alone.
Just for today, I will be grateful for the friends I have.
I will take an active part in myfriendships.
Or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.
While any literature may be readduring episodes for the purpose
of supporting recovery, such usedoes not constitute an official

(02:33):
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.
Thanks for listening to the Voices of Recovery podcast.