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We learn that a simple, tender hug can make all the difference in the world when we feel lonely.<\/b><\/p>\n
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Core Text, Chapter 8, \u201cIndeed we are recovering\u201d.<\/i><\/p>\n
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That awkward moment... We walk up to the door of our first gathering. A guy stands there with a big smile and asks our name. We reach out to shake his hand, but instead of taking it, he hugs us. "Hugs in NA!"<\/p>\n
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For some of us, this hug is the first display of love we've received in a long time. This simple, welcoming act can be reassuring (You will be okay), affirming (You are in the right place), even healing (You are loved and accepted). We hear over and over again, in all our literature and at meetings, that our self-love tank was empty when we entered NA. Later, when we inevitably screw them up in one way or another, our members give us a hug: "You're not alone." This hug is an expression of unconditional support and is an integral part of our program. It is meant to spark that slow process of building (or rebuilding) our capacity for compassion, acceptance, forgiveness and self-love.<\/p>\n
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For many of us, accepting this love from others is a challenge, both at the beginning and throughout recovery. The idea of being loved by strangers who expect nothing in return can seem unsettling or downright strange, despite our loneliness.<\/p>\n
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And for others, it's not the love that holds us back \u2013 it's the embrace. We weren't raised that way, in our families or in our cultures. Or, touch is not our forte, period, and we have our reasons for that. Let's be honest: Some of us don't want to be hugged, even by those with the best intentions. Perhaps the most open-minded, receptive, and compassionate way to show NA love is to pay attention to the signals others give and follow their example. As one member commented: "There's only one condition for being a NA member, after all - and joining the NA lap isn't it!" Each of us can decide if, when and how we want to be hugged.<\/p>\n
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Regardless of my comfort level with the hug, I appreciate being loved and supported by the rest of the NA members. How can I help someone else feel less alone today?<\/b><\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-11799","spad","type-spad","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/spad\/11799","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=11799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}