It is important, in whatever way we deliver, to be able to share with others and collaborate, and these are not skills most of us bring with us into the rooms.
Living Clean, Chapter 7, "Principles, Practicality, and Perspective."
Sharing and cooperation are generally taught to us as children as basic social values. Many of us, however, have not absorbed enough of the critical lessons of sharing what we have, playing nice with others, and being helpful. Some version of “Together We Can” – promoting the greater good and the concept of common prosperity – is posted on the walls of school halls around the world, just as the Twelve Traditions are often posted in our assembly halls.
If we didn't learn the lesson then, we can learn it now – and help other addicts follow suit. The NA Brotherhood is based on cooperation, mutual support and shared leadership. True cooperation requires that we have respect for each individual with a view to acting in the best interest of the group. What is freely given is freely shared. We share our skills as well as our experience, strength and hope.
According to the First Tradition, we can learn to disagree without becoming unpleasant. Taking disagreements personally is a threat to the implementation of cooperation and endangers our common well-being. The work of the Twelve Steps prepares us for challenges such as sharing space, serving, and working with those with whom we disagree. We participate even when we're not happy with the team spirit, or at least we don't quit when things don't go our way.
Our collective participation helps carry the NA message to the still suffering addict and aids our own recovery. We grow and thrive when we participate. We need each other, and NA needs us too.
I pledge today to overcome my self-centered tendencies by working with other addicts to fulfill our purpose, to carry the message of recovery.
