Passport to Freedom

The newcomer may find all this confusing at first. They may wonder how this can
possibly help solve their particular sitution. It will help to just sit and listen with an
open mind, and keep coming back. Even if you grasp only one thought you are on your
way to recovery. We are sick too. We may be overcome with guilt, feel it is our fault
they used. We didn't make them take that first drink, pill or fix. They had a choice and
they chose to use. The reason "why" is not important, that is their problem. Setting up a
specific "quiet time" for ourselves to meditate on one of the Nar-Anon slogans will help
us detach our mind from the problem at hand.

"Let Go And Let God"---------------------- "One Day At a Time"
" Easy Does It" -------------------------------- "Listen and Learn"
"Keep It Simple"----------"Think"-----------"Live and Let Live"

Nar-Anon has a treasure chest of tools to help us keep our minds channeled in the right
direction. A sincere effort in practicing the Twelve Steps can be a rewarding way of life
for the family whether the addict is in a recovery program of their own or is still an
active user.

Nar-Anon is a fellowship for family & friends whose lives have been or are affected by
living with someone who uses drugs. Whether or not the addict admits they have a
problem and seeks help, the principles of Nar-Anon when applied can be of help to the
family as well as the addict

The purpose of Nar-Anon is found in the 5th Tradition : to help families of addicts

We are all looking for an easy way out of this dilemma. It is up to each of us to decide
for ourselves if freedom from despair is worth the price we must be willing to pay. Most
of us believe that the gifts (rewards) of freedom and growth and happiness are worth
the price of acceptance. When we can accept the first step we get our first taste of
freedom. We are set free of our need to control the addict. Surrender to God's
guidance will cost us our self-will.

We can best help others by inspiring them to think through and solve their own
problems. We do not want to interfere with the life of anyone else, lest we deprive
them of the opportunity to sort out their own good qualities and on that stable
foundation build better, stronger personalities.

Nar-Anon is a selfish program, in the sense that we come to the meetings only to
improve ourselves. Our growth and our serenity depends upon our not dicussing the
shortcomings of others and not indulging in gossip or criticizing and condemning the
addict.

EXPECTIONS: Do not expect personal relations and differences to be ironed out
immediately. At this point we need to have understanding, patience and more
patience. Remember that they are now facing reality without the panacea of drugs. It
may have been a long time since they have had to do this. Don't be discouraged if
process is slow. Some of us have also been living for many years in this unhealthy
environment and think the situaton is hopeless. Have faith and be patient, there are
many success stories. You can be one of them.
KEEP COMING BACK

Keep your mind on the present-today

"Some things there are that torment themselves a fresh with the memory of what is
past; others again, affict themselves with the apprehension of things to come; and very
ridiculously both-for the one does not now concern us, and the other not yet... one
should count each day as a separate life."
..........................................................................................Seneca

A look at the past has value only if we keep it in proper prespective. We can change
our attitude towards the past and learn from it, and with the understanding we gain, we
can fashion the way we think and act today. The past can never be relived or rewritten,
it is part of us, but the past itself is gone.

We can and perhaps should make goals for ourselves. We can set up guidlines and
goals to give our lives a sense of direction. We have been wandering aimlessly, too
long concentrating our energies on another persons life. Now is the time to make our
own life useful and constructive.