Each of us has something to offer. We don't need specialized training to get the message across - all we need to do is pay attention.<\/b><\/p>\n
Guiding Principles, Eighth Tradition, Initial Contemplation<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n We all have something to give to NA, and we don't have to be professionals to do it. There is no NA University where we take courses like Sharing, Advanced Support Relationship, or a graduate level course in Hospital and Foundation Strategy. We learn along the way. Some of us support others the way we were supported. Or we improvise. We are not professional recovering addicts or advocates or trusted servants. We pay attention to how others do it, and we consult with our supporter and our Higher Power, paying attention to what sounds right for us. It is the therapeutic value of one addict helping another.<\/span><\/p>\n Paying attention to what is happening around us should be easy for us. In our old life, situational awareness was essential for survival. We always watched our backs, counted others out and did what we had to do to get through any difficult situation we found ourselves in. These same skills can help us "read" a room. We can see where our help is needed: Are there people sitting alone before the meeting? Greet them. Does the secretary need help handing out rally cards? Done!<\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps most importantly, we pay attention to what's happening in real time as we share with other addicts. We really listen when others share. Instead of guessing what we think someone might need to hear, we just listen. When we feel we should, we share our relevant experience. When we are present and attentive to the process, we realize that we don't need to control things. Humility, prudence and attention - to our own strengths and the needs of those around us - help us make better decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Since there is no such thing as a recovering drug addict professional, I will do my best to get the message across the NA way. I will do this by being attentive to the needs of the NA, especially the addicts who are still suffering.<\/b><\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-11741","spad","type-spad","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/spad\/11741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/spad"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/spad"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}