Chattanooga Area
of Narcotics Anonymous
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November 09, 2026 |
The best-laid plans |
| Page 327 |
| “It is our actions that are important. We leave the results to our Higher Power.” |
| Basic Text, p. 91 |
| There’s an old saying we sometimes hear in our meetings: ‘If you want to make God laugh, make plans.’ When we hear this we usually laugh, too, but there’s a nervous edge to our laughter. We wonder if all of our carefully laid plans are doomed to fail. If we’re planning a big event–a wedding, a return to school, or perhaps a career change–we begin to wonder if our plans are the same as our Higher Power’s plans. We are capable of working ourselves into such a frenzy of worry over this question that we refuse to make any plans at all. But the simple fact is that we really don’t know whether our Higher Power’s plans for our lives are carved in stone or not. Most of us have opinions about fate and destiny but, whether we believe in such theories or not, we still have a responsibility to live our lives and make plans for the future. If we refuse to accept responsibility for our lives, we’re still making plans–plans for a shallow, boring existence. What we make in recovery are plans, not results. We’ll never know whether the marriage, the education, or the new job is going to work out until we try it. We simply exercise our best judgment, check with our sponsor, pray, use all the information at hand, and make the most reasonable plans we can. For the rest, we trust in the loving care of the God of our understanding, knowing that we’ve acted responsibly. |
| Just for Today: I will make plans, but I will not plan the results. I will trust in my Higher Power’s loving care. |
| Copyright (c) 2007-2026, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
November 09, 2026 |
Kindness and the First Tradition |
| Page 324 |
| “We learn to treat others with kindness and respect and do what we can to support each other and our group.” |
| It Works, Tradition One |
| Few of us come into Narcotics Anonymous with effective social skills; we often acquire them by trial and error–mostly error. When we unintentionally mistreat others, we feel terrible and become teachable. The good news is that some of our best lessons come from our mistakes. We call our sponsors, tell on ourselves, figure out our part, and determine better ways to handle similar situations in the future. We are at our best when kindness inspires our words and actions. When kindness is a priority, we’re more likely to be supportive, and that helps us grow as individuals and as NA groups. Naturally, it’s easier to be kind to those we love. But we don’t have to open our homes and share holiday dinners to honor our mutual stake in Narcotics Anonymous. Being a home-group member challenges us to practice kindness with folks who aren’t in our immediate circle. Our investment in the well-being of NA is more important than our personal feelings about any specific member. We put the welfare of the group first and treat all of our fellows with respect regardless of baggage or bitterness. Friendship is not a prerequisite for kindness. Rather, we are kind in order to foster unity within the group and to support personal recovery–our own and that of our fellow members. The simplest gesture of kindness can make a world of difference when we are feeling stuck. “I was isolating and thinking about using. I got a text from a fellow home-group member who asked if I was going to the meeting. It was just the push I needed,” a member shared. Our actions have a profound effect on others as well as an impact on our self-image. By choosing kindness, we improve ourselves as we contribute to NA unity. Our actions make NA meetings safe and respectful places for personal growth. The way we treat each other and our groups is a reflection of how we put “we” before “me.” |
| I will treat other members with respect and kindness today. I will act in ways that support recovery–yours, mine, and ours. |
| Copyright (c) 2007-2026, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
About NA
Anonymity
The basic premise of anonymity allows addicts to attend meetings without fear of legal or social repercussions. This is an important consideration for an addict thinking about going to a meeting for the first time. Anonymity also supports an atmosphere of equality in meetings. It helps insure that no individual’s personality or circumstance will be considered more important than the message of recovery shared in NA.
Who are members of NA?
Anyone who wants to stop using drugs may become a member of Narcotics Anonymous. Membership is not limited to addicts using any particular drug. Those who feel they may have a problem with drugs, legal or illegal, including alcohol, are welcome in NA. Recovery in NA focuses on the problem of addiction, not on any particular drug.
How does NA work?
Addicts helping each other recover are the foundation of NA. Members meet regularly to talk about their experiences in recovery. More experienced members (known as sponsors) work individually with newer members. The core of the NA program is the Twelve Steps. These “steps” are a set of guidelines outlining a practical approach to recovery. By following these guidelines and working closely with other members, addicts learn to stop using drugs and face the challenges of daily living.
Narcotics Anonymous is not a religious organization and does not mandate any particular belief system. It does teach basic spiritual principles such as honesty, open-mindedness, faith, willingness, and humility that may be applied in everyday life. The specific practical application of spiritual principles is determined by each individual. Recovery in NA is not a miracle cure that happens within a given period of time. It is a process, ongoing and personal. Members make an individual decision to join and recover at their own pace.
NA Meetings
Financial contributions from non-members are not accepted. Most NA meetings are held regularly at the same time and place each week, usually in a public facility. There are two basic types of meetings those that are open to the general public and those closed to the public (for addicts only). Meetings vary widely in format. Some formats are: participation, speaker, question and answer, topic discussion, and some have a combination of these formats. The function of any meeting is always the same: to provide a suitable and reliable environment for personal recovery.
NA’s primary approach to recovery is its belief in the therapeutic value of one addict helping another. Members take part in NA meetings by talking about their experiences and recovery from drug addiction. NA meetings are informally structured, held in space rented by the group, and are led by members who take turns opening and closing the meeting. NA meetings and other services are funded entirely by member contributions and the sale of recovery literature.
Reprinted from A Resource In Your Community.
Anonymous World Services, Inc.
PO Box 9999, Van Nuys, CA 91409
November 09, 2026 |
The best-laid plans |
| Page 327 |
| “It is our actions that are important. We leave the results to our Higher Power.” |
| Basic Text, p. 91 |
| There’s an old saying we sometimes hear in our meetings: ‘If you want to make God laugh, make plans.’ When we hear this we usually laugh, too, but there’s a nervous edge to our laughter. We wonder if all of our carefully laid plans are doomed to fail. If we’re planning a big event–a wedding, a return to school, or perhaps a career change–we begin to wonder if our plans are the same as our Higher Power’s plans. We are capable of working ourselves into such a frenzy of worry over this question that we refuse to make any plans at all. But the simple fact is that we really don’t know whether our Higher Power’s plans for our lives are carved in stone or not. Most of us have opinions about fate and destiny but, whether we believe in such theories or not, we still have a responsibility to live our lives and make plans for the future. If we refuse to accept responsibility for our lives, we’re still making plans–plans for a shallow, boring existence. What we make in recovery are plans, not results. We’ll never know whether the marriage, the education, or the new job is going to work out until we try it. We simply exercise our best judgment, check with our sponsor, pray, use all the information at hand, and make the most reasonable plans we can. For the rest, we trust in the loving care of the God of our understanding, knowing that we’ve acted responsibly. |
| Just for Today: I will make plans, but I will not plan the results. I will trust in my Higher Power’s loving care. |
| Copyright (c) 2007-2026, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved |