April 26

As far as some of us could remember we didn't like being ourselves, we didn't like ourselves, so we thought no one else would. When we couldn't stand ourselves any longer, we used drugs. The drugs took us out of ourselves, and it gave us a false sense of well-being.

When we were using, we weren't the people we wanted to be. We were what others wanted us to be.

We wore many masks, and after a while we didn't know who we really were. We lost ourselves in the process. When the euphoria wore off, and we saw the ugly side of addiction, we didn't like what we have become.

As our addiction progressed we became less human like, some of us functioned on an animal level. Some of us below that level, when our basic needs weren't met. For some of us, our bottoms seem to be more Mental and Spiritual than Physical.

When we became hopeless, we sought Help, directly or indirectly. However, nothing worked, not until we arrived at Narcotics Anonymous. Here, we met people just like us, but we were still hiding the really shaky, insecure person we really were. As we took the Steps with a Sponsor, we found out who we are not, before we found out who we really were and meant to be.

The Steps take us back on a Journey to the person we were, before we picked up the drugs. We learn to Love that person today. We Nurture ourselves with the help of our Sponsors, the Fellowship and the God of Our Own Understanding.

We finally have some Self-Acceptance and find that the True Value, is in being ourselves.