Welcome to the Central Coast Area of Narcotics Anonymous

Serving: Paso Robles, Cambria, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Santa Maria, Lompoc

" The therapeutic value of one addict helping another is without parallel "

Just for today daily meditation

September 29, 2026

Just for today

Page 283

"When we stop living in the here and now, our problems become magnified unreasonably."

Basic Text, p. 99

"Just for today"--it's a comforting thought. If we try to live in the past, we may find ourselves torn by painful, disquieting memories. The lessons of our using are not the teachers we seek for recovery. Living in tomorrow means moving in with fear. We cannot see the shape of the secret future, and uncertainty brings worry. Our lives look overwhelming when we lose the focus of today.

Living in the moment offers freedom. In this moment, we know that we are safe. We are not using, and we have everything we need. What's more, life is happening in the here and now. The past is gone and the future has yet to arrive; our worrying won't change any of it. Today, we can enjoy our recovery, this very minute.

Just for Today: I will stay in the here and now. Today-- this moment--I am free.

A Spiritual principle a day

September 28, 2026

Connecting the NA Way

Page 280

"Sharing our recovery restores our faith and gratitude. Seeing that we are not alone frees us from the isolation and alienation of addiction."

Guiding Principles, Tradition Eight, Opening Reflection

When studying Tradition Eight, we often focus on understanding terms like "special workers" and "service offices," overlooking the significance of "nonprofessional." It's as though we can't see the forest for the trees. The heart of this Tradition and its relevance to our personal recovery lies in our nonprofessional approach, which makes it possible for us to relate and connect. Most of us interacted with all sorts of people who had a professional interest in helping us before coming to NA--counselors, therapists, psychologists, police officers, probation or corrections personnel. There's a very long list of people whose job it was to try to handle or manage us when we were so very unmanageable.

And yet we still ended up here, in NA. In our very first meeting, we were greeted by people who weren't "on the clock." These NA members shared the message of recovery with us not because it was their job to do so, but because that's how we stay clean and recover. Our approach is nonprofessional. It doesn't require formal training, degrees, or certifications; we have our experience with addiction and recovery. That's all we need.

This process of sharing freely shows us that we are not alone. As newcomers, we discover our connection. When we stay and share the message, we are reminded of our connection over and over, each time we share with another member. Addiction thrives on isolation and alienation, and no amount of cleantime will render us immune to the tendency to disconnect. Connecting is an active process, and we do it by sharing freely with other addicts.

Sharing in recovery is the antidote to alienation and isolation. By connecting the NA way, I will keep gratitude and faith alive.

WHAT IS THE NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS PROGRAM?

NA is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only one requirement for membership, the desire to stop using. We suggest that you keep an open mind and give yourself a break. Our program is a set of principles written so simply that we can follow them in our daily lives. The most important thing about them is that they work.

For more information on Narcotics Anonymous,
please go to the:
Narcotics Anonymous World Services Website,

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