Respecting and Valuing Others in the Program

I respect each recovering addict who is in a meeting because I know that most, like me, are actively seeking a solution to their problem. There may be some who are attending the meeting only because the court has mandated their attendance or they have otherwise been coerced to attend to avoid some negative consequence. I can even respect this, because I too have often attended meetings for these reasons, especially in the beginning.

I respect each addict’s right to be there regardless of their motivation, and I am truly grateful that they are there. Their presence implies that someone felt they had something to learn or gain by attending, and they were at least willing to “play along” for whatever reason.

Each person in a meeting is a potential source of experience, strength, and hope from whom I can draw support for my own recovery.

Those with less recovery time than me, if they are willing to share, remind me of where I once was. This often gives me a deeper appreciation of the progress I have made. They also give me an opportunity to share the experience, strength, and hope that are mine alone to share. As most of us know, “We can only keep what we have by giving it away.”

Those with more recovery time than me are my predecessors. If I am willing to listen and learn, their experience may allow me to avoid some of the rough spots I might otherwise encounter in my journey of recovery. I am grateful for their willingness to share.