Any form of service, no matter how small, is a contribution that demonstrates our commitment and our gratitude.<\/b><\/p>\n
Guiding Principles, Seventh Tradition, "Word for Word"<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Seventh Tradition confuses most of us at first. The basket goes by and our reaction ranges from surprise (because we thought it was free), to guilt (because we have nothing to put in), to shame (because people see we don't), to reaction (why do we have to? ), in exasperation (because there is no way).<\/span><\/p>\n Over time, we understand the meaning of the Seventh Tradition, appreciating the importance of our contributions as a sign of our gratitude and our commitment to self-preservation. We give what we can, when we can, and sometimes more than we thought we could or would ever manage \u2013 not just with our money, but with our skills, our passion, our empathy and our time. And we also understand how contributing to NA shows our commitment to the program and our gratitude for its impact on our lives.<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond the basket, it's tempting to assume that the service that requires an election, that gives us a title, or that takes a lot of time has the most meaning. One member aptly shared this: \u201cWe are often asked if a glass of water is half empty or half full, but I don't care how much water is in the glass. I just want to know how good the water tastes. The quality of the work we do at NA is more important than the quantity. Every bit of love and gratitude we contribute counts."<\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes momentary acts of gratitude have lifelong meaning for another addict: remembering a newcomer's name or saying \u201cwelcome home\u201d to a returning member after relapse.<\/span><\/p>\n And then there are those forms of service we use to keep us busy so we can endure the terrible embarrassment we sometimes feel. They can help us slow down long enough to work up the guts to ask someone to support us. They keep us busy until we are ready to accept hugs. Sometimes having something to do before or after the meeting can help hold us back when we feel like we're ready to explode. These contributions are self-supporting in a way. We are grateful that they help us overcome difficult times.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n How much time, what talent, or what precious good can I contribute to NA today to show my gratitude? What can I do to make an addict feel at home, even if that addict is me?<\/b><\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-11805","spad","type-spad","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.na-greece.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/spad\/11805","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=11805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}