In Times of Illness - Narcotics Anonymous

steps, and reaching out. When we honestly acceptand try to be ourselves, we are able to gain freedomfrom fear and self-pity. We remind ourselves thatwe are perfectly imperfect human beings, doing ourbest to live with terminal illness.In quiet moments of meditation, we may alsofind courage and answers we are seeking withinourselves. We can use this time to make decisionsand plan for times when we may be unable to makeour wishes known. Some members may choose tovisit their regular meetings to say good-bye tothe group. Others will find it comforting to invitetheir core group of NA friends to bring a meeting totheir home or hospital room. The company of otheraddicts who know us well is a source of comfort andstrength. We have found that a strong foundationin recovery prepares us to face all phases of our lifewith a measure of dignity and grace.In Times of IllnessWe are living with a terminal illness inrecovery. We accept the love of our NAfriends in the here and now, without fearof tomorrow.Prayer and meditation are powerful tools.We prepare ourselves to handle the realityof our illness with all the spiritual strengthand hope our recovery can provide.We avoid the tendency to judge ourselvesharshly and don’t allow ourselves to beisolated by feelings of fear and inadequacy.Judgment is not therapeutic, but empathy is.40