The cursor on my computer screen blinks about once every second. I know this because, some days, I spend a lot of time watching the cursor blink in the sea of empty space that lies between “From the editor” and “De J, Editor.” With my hands poised on the keyboard, I wonder, “What should I write? What needs to be said?” The seconds add up to minutes, hours, days; and I keep coming back to this blank screen. Usually, something kicks in and, suddenly, I have more to say than I have room for in the allotted space.

Recovery can be like that. We go through times of great breakthroughs when we can’t wait to share our newest revelation. Other times, maybe not so much seems to be going on, but we know our recovery continues, and that doing the next right thing propels us forward. As we learn to live life on life’s terms, we experience loss and tragedy, we laugh and learn, and we reach out to ask for and give support. Change and growth are assured as we work the Twelve Steps and learn to live by spiritual principles that lead us out of the dark, tight places of addiction into the vast freedom available through recovery.

De J, Editor

Who is missing?

I am writing in response to the article titled, “Who Is Missing from Our Meetings and Why?” (October 2006). I think this a crucial topic, and I am grateful that NA World Services realizes its importance.

I got clean when I was eighteen years old. I didn’t believe that addicts my age were recovering, much less staying clean, but NA literature talked directly to me when I had those thoughts. It seemed that NA understood my struggle. There is an information pamphlet titled Youth and Recovery that helped me out a lot. When I got out of treatment and went to regular meetings, I met several recovering addicts who were around my age. We stayed pretty close, and that is one of the main reasons I am still clean today. There were several young people going to my home group, and addicts with more clean time than we had guided us.

If the disease of addiction doesn’t discriminate, recovery shouldn’t either. I hope we can get rid of our condescending attitudes toward people who are not just like us. Too many times, I have seen addicts walk out of the rooms, never to return, because of things like that. In NA, every clean addict is a miracle. We need to look at our similarities, not our differences.

I think we have a lot more work to do in developing more literature, meetings, and information, because our primary purpose is to carry the message to the still-suffering addict, “regardless of age, race, sexual identity, creed, religion or lack of religion.” (Basic Text, p. 9) There are addicts out there who are missing from our meetings, and if we unify we can carry the message to them, too.

Sasha O, Indiana, USA

Life-sized Basic Text I told my girlfriend I would like to be the Basic Text for Halloween, and just a few weeks later she had created the costume. I wore it to a Halloween function given by my area, and everyone there loved it. Since then, we decided we wanted to share it with the fellowship, so we go to various conventions and anniversaries to let people see, hug, and sign the life-sized Basic Text. We have found great joy in being able to share in this way. It is one of our ways of practicing the Twelfth Step. We hope you enjoy the pictures—and, you never know, we may be coming to a convention near you! Val B and Pamela W, Virginia, USA

Eighty-four days

My name is Ron, and I am an addict. I have been clean for a while in a New York prison. I have been receiving The NA Way Magazine for the last eighteen months. Each issue has touched me in one way or another, but the October 2006 issue did more than touch me; it brought me to tears.

I was spiritually and mentally broken about being in prison. I was staying clean, but that was about all. Then I read Habib’s story, and I cried like a baby. Here I was, feeling sorry for myself and thinking life was over because when I get out, I’ll be an “ex-prisoner.” Habib’s message hit me hard. It took an addict on the other side of the world to get me to do something I have not done in a while. I got down on my knees and thanked my higher power for the life I have today and the life I will have when I get out of prison.

I wish I could thank Habib for saving me mentally and spiritually. Thank you, NA Way, for printing his message. I will never forget an addict named Habib.

Ron J, New York, USA

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