could someone explain this to me??

Ok I went to my first NA meeting last night and i was totally lost..All the people were very nice, and i now have a sponser(not sure what that means)..I was lost because they were saying chants together and i really dot know what they were saying..anyways my question is can anyone explain the 12 steps to me?? I have NO idea what they mean or where to start..I heard alot of people talking about what step they have completed and their experience completeing, but noone really said what the step was..Am i making since? Does anyone know what these steps are and what they mean and how to do them?? Thanks in advance!! Jessica

[ronny3]

Hello Jessica i felt the same way 2 1/2 weeks ago....thats ok.  its amazing how quickly you will feel comfortable and learn the prayers.  I still dont know them by heart well at least not all of them but thats ok noone will judge us there.  Your sponser is the person who will help you understand the steps and work through them, go in this with an open mind. we need to surrender in a way because obviously its our thinking that usually gets us to where we are..i dont want to explain the steps because its a process you can do it quickly or slowly.

call your sponsor today and tell him/her, hey just wanted to say hi..even tell him/her that you were a little lost and that you want to learn about the steps and try and go through with them.....its good to establish a friendship with your sponsor because they will be there for you now...that person will be there for you 24/7 no matter what...that person got the gift of sobriety and now they will pass it on to whoever they can...thats what i gotta do now and when you get there you will also :)  

dont worry take it easy...its things like that, that make it difficult for us....please feel free to private message me any questions or concerns..ill definately help you! your on the right track...my favorite time of the day now is going to the meetings at night lol...and afew weeks ago that would have never been an option ;)

_Ron

[mtgoat911]

all you have to do is get the na basic text and start reading about 12 step recovery and let your sponsor know you are ready to work the steps
the chants are prayer
""::God take my will and my life guide me in my recovery and show me how to live""
at the end of the meeting they close with a reading called just for today, which you can google
some meetings the entire group joins in on this reading and it can be hard to understand what s being read,
"just for today my thoughts will be on my new associations, people who are NOT using and who have found a NEW way to live, as long as i follow that way i have nothing to fear"
give yourself sometime, it takes a while to feel ok without drugs, and its also hard to attend meetings in the beginning, everything is new, so much to learn, i have will celabrate 5 years clean at the end of august, na works!!!! good luck

[IBKleen]

Hi & Welcome,

Sounds like you went to a step meeting. Probably not the best for a newcomer. I feel a discussion or speaker meetings are best in the beginning.

I have no idea what they were chanting. I stared in the fellowship in 1987 and have not chanted yet.

Here is the official website:

http://www.na.org/

You will find a lot of useful information and can purchase The Basic Text.

Good for you for making that all important step!!! Keep coming back!!