Narcotics Anonymous

Just For Today - Daily Email Service

   May 23                                                 Amends and sponsors

    "We want to be free of our guilt, but we don't wish to do so at the
                           expense of anyone else."

                                                            Basic Text, p. 40

                           ----=----

   Let's face it:  Most of us left trails of destruction in our wakes and
   harmed anyone who got in our way.  Some of the people we hurt most in our
   addiction were the people we loved most.  In an effort to purge ourselves
   of the guilt we feel for what we've done, we may be tempted to share
   with our loved ones, in gruesome detail, things that are better left
   unsaid.  Such disclosures could do much harm and may do little good.

   The Ninth Step is not about easing our guilty consciences; it's about
   taking responsibility for the wrongs we've done.  In working our Eighth
   and Ninth Steps, we should seek the guidance of our sponsor and amend our
   wrongs in a manner that won't cause us to owe more amends.  We are not
   just seeking freedom from remorse-we are seeking freedom from our
   defects.  We never again want to inflict harm on our loved ones.  One way
   to insure that we do not is by working the Ninth Step responsibly,
   checking our motives, and discussing with our sponsor the particular
   amends we plan to make before we make them.

                           ----=----

   Just for today:  I wish to accept responsibility for my actions.   Before
   making any amends, I will talk with my sponsor.