The Nicotine Anonymous Quarterly SEVEN Minutes A Forum for Nicotine Users Who Don’t Use
Volume XII November 2002 Number 4
In This Issue Pondering Smoking Harry S., Macon, Georgia 1 1 Pondering Smoking e have to decide what is important to us 2 ⁄2 packs per day. For a long time I had smok- by Harry S. Win this life and what to do about it! ing consequences, especially a foul taste in my I started smoking when I was nineteen years mouth and a cigarette cough. I was beginning 3 old and a sophomore at the University of Geor- to have a constant burning painful sensation in From the Chair, gia. All of the guys in my fraternity seemed to the middle of my chest from the constant irri- Jan F. be smokers and it looked so cool, the way they tation of this noxious inhalant. sat around smoking and blowing the smoke and No one in his or her right mind would choose casually talking and generally enjoying the good this kind of habitual behavior. An addict of any 4 fellowship that was there. This, along kind including a nicotine addict is not in sound NicA in Barcelona with the romantic advertisements of mind. We are subject to many kinds of delusions Martha K. cigarettes that we were constantly and denial that serve to keep us imprisoned bombarded with, and the free sam- by this Demon. 5 ples that were available, enticed I made several abortive Outreach Corner me to start. attempts to quit. One Kelly C. I must say that I time I actually quit did not like it at first. for about a month It made me light- and this tricky 7 headed and made my head mind of mine con- Sun, Sea, and Nicotine Free spin and caused me to vinced me that I in Santa Monica cough. My good buddies probably could smoke told me to hang in there and cigars, that they— 8 I would get the hang of smoking and according to the Media Mania II I did. I started smoking because I misinformation that Jan S. wanted to fit in and belong. It was- was being disseminated—were not as bad. n’t long before cigarette was my This is absolutely not true especially for a 9 constant companion. It was with cigarette smoker. A cigarette smoker would World Services News me from morning until night and probably inhale arsenic fumes if he didn’t seemed to always be of some comfort know they would kill him right away. to me. Eventually on my fifth or sixth try to 10 What began as an innocent friend stop smoking, after I had thoroughly from Mary B. became a Devil that I thoroughly prepared myself with a long NAWS Statement of despised. I continued to smoke period of meditation, Cash Flows for 36 years although for the last enlisted the support of others 15 or 20 I knew in my heart that this who had successfully stopped smoking, used was not something that I really wanted to do. I medication (nicotine gum), having the resolve 11 tried many devices and ways to cut down, feel- and sheer determination that I was going to be from Carole Z. ing that this at least would be better than to continue my heavy smoking which was then at continued on page 4 Send letters to the editor, articles, The Twelve Steps stories, poems, artwork, or other material for Seven Minutes to: of Nicotine Anonymous Seven Minutes c/o NAWSO 1. We admitted we were powerless over nicotine—that our lives 419 Main St., PMB #370 had become unmanageable. Huntington Beach, CA 92648 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Subscription requests, circulation 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of additions and deletions may be sent God, as we understood Him. to the same address. 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Material can sent by e-mail to: 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
2 n Seven Minutes n November 2002 From the Chair . . .
Jan F., Newport Beach, California
The best way to find yourself is to lose person you are talking to is willing to hear. Maureen R. is our Pen Pal Coordina- yourself in the service of others. In other words, the power is in them not tor for E-mail. Those of us who can get to —MAHATMA GANDHI in you. If they are willing, they will jump meetings don’t realize how important this on board and leave you in the dust, stand- is to our isolated members. The high destiny of the individual is to serve ing there wondering what just happened! Pat L. is our Pen Pal Coordinator for rather than to rule . . . Many times I have tried to convince peo- Paper— good old letters. These people —ALBERT EINSTEIN ple to be of service and it has been virtu- probably appreciate contact more than Give what you have to somebody, it may be ally impossible. At the same time, with the e-mail participants but both are invaluable. better than you think. exception of our office and fulfillment func- Catherine C. is our Seven Minutes Edi- —HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW tion, everything that is done for our Fel- tor. We can all see on these pages what an lowship is done by volunteers. outstanding job she is doing. Way to go I don’t know what your destiny will be, but I hear about unsung heroes all the time. Catherine. Donna E. is the Publisher of one thing I know: the only ones among you I thought I would take the time to intro- Seven Minutes. This is another job that who will be really happy are those who will duce ours so they won’t be unsung any- never seems to get any recognition. Thanks, have sought and found how to serve. more: Donna. —ALBERT SCHWEITZER Bill C. steadfastly maintains our Staff Scott J. is our Teleservice Coordinator. an I say it any better than these pres- Directory without which we would never He has an army of volunteers who keep in Ctigious individuals? I don’t think so. know who to call or where to call them. touch those looking for help. I am always But I am going to say a few things about Steve M. keeps our By Laws up-to-date. grateful for the volunteers who provide service anyway. Service has become an I don’t know if anyone ever thanks him. this vital function. integral part of my life. I really don’t know Nicholas V. is the Chair of our upcom- Dan P. is our Book Coordinator. The how it happened. I think I came to a World ing 2003 Conference in Santa Monica. board just finished its efforts to correct the Service Conference and just stayed. Ser- (For some reason, I am monitoring his per- errors in the old Book and there are two vice in this fellowship has given me con- formance very closely.) more publications in the works. fidence in my ability to do things that I Jan S. is the Chair of our 2004 Con- Bill P. is the Coordinator of the Tra- never thought possible. I can honestly ask ference, I for one am really looking for- ditions Committee. This is a vital func- myself where in the world I ever got up ward to going back to the East Coast. tion for an organization like ours. It is very the courage to put my name in for con- Alan K. is our E-mail Coordinator with easy to overlook our traditions in our sideration for World Services Chairperson. a whole slew of volunteers helping him enthusiasm to get something done. This It’s not that I was a “shrinking violet.” It keep this vital function going. committee does its best to keep us in line. was just that I never thought I could do David F. is our Literature Coordina- Current Officers are: Jan F., Chairper- something like this. It wasn’t my forte, or tor. The fellowship will be hitting him with son; Ramona F., Treasurer; and Kate W., other people were better qualified, or they a lot of work in the near future. Secretary. Emeritus Officers are: Kent B., had more experience, or they had the right Martha K. is our Meeting List Coordi- Chairperson; Annette L., Treasurer; and personality. They could do it better than nator. She rescued our Meeting List from Jennifer M., Secretary. The newly elected I so I shouldn’t rock the boat. Slowly but the dung heap of history and we owe her officers are: Robin L., Chairperson; Jeff C., surely over the years, I have been of ser- a debt of gratitude. Treasurer; and Dale K., Secretary. vice to Nicotine Anonymous and I have Our Outreach Coordinator is Jeff C. Well there they are. Our first line of grown. I can now do a lot of things that I who has the following three projects (this offense and they have a lot of help. never thought possible. In order to get, is really dear to my heart; I wish we had Pick your spot and jump in. Be of ser- you have to give. I gave myself and I got more money): Adopt-A-Mile is Coordi- vice. The bus is leaving. This is not an impo- a better self back! nated by Kelly C. This is something we sition in your life, this is where you get a Enough of me! If you have ever tried to can all participate in. Gary M. coordinates life. And thanks again to all our volunteers. talk someone into being of service who our Mass Mailings. We are doing more isn’t ready to hear you know how futile it and more of this. And Jan S. coordinates The Dead Sea is the Dead Sea, because it con- is. I feel it has nothing to do with what you Media Mania. I hope we will have one for tinually receives and never gives. say, it has everything to do with what the each meeting. —SOURCE UNKNOWN
November 2002 n Seven Minutes n 3 NicA in Barcelona Martha K. East Quogue, New York
the very day I was landing. more people into the meeting since there I checked into my hotel, settled into my are so few people and it’s hard to attract room and called Jose Luis as instructed. newcomers. I laughed as I told them that Barcelona, (Thanks to this program, I follow direc- we had the same problem and it sounded Spain tions now!) We arranged to meet outside as if they were doing everything right and Î the church about a half hour prior to the the rest was out of our hands. I was espe- meeting. cially moved by their courage, consider- I spent the day walking around the city, ing how difficult it is to try to stop stopping at the end of Las Ramblas for a boat smoking when the culture and political ride around the port. After viewing the city climate are so unsupportive. It reminded from the top of the Monument a Colom, I me how grateful I am to live where I do. took the metro to the meeting and got there Jose Luis sent me back to the United his past August I took a trip to in plenty of time to find a bench outside the States with about ten pieces of literature TBarcelona, Spain. What a great adven- church to sit and wait for Jose Luis. that the Spanish e-mail group has been ture I had! As the current Coordinator of We greeted each other warmly, as if we’d working on. These translations represent the Worldwide Meeting Directory for already met, and chatted for a while before an incredible amount of work as well as the World Services, I was thrilled to person- being joined by Alberto, who started the opportunity to reach out to the still-suf- ally verify that both Barcelona meetings group, and two other men, who were still fering nicotine addict who does not have are still open. smoking. Jose Luis translated for everyone access to our literature at present. It was my Prior to leaving, I had contacted Pierre, and was clearly exhausted by the time the pleasure to send this literature on to Jan F., who lives in Brazil and translates Por- meeting was over, close to two hours later. our World Services Chairperson, to share tuguese, Spanish and French e-mail for What a wonderful feeling to bring the mes- with the Board at the next meeting. World Services. I told him about my travel sage of hope to an area that is isolated from At the end of the night, we all hugged plans and asked him if he knew anyone other meetings. All of the members were good-bye, as if we’d been friends for years. in the area who might speak English (since like sponges, absorbing anything I could This fellowship gives me the chance to con- I speak absolutely no Spanish). He wrote tell them about my experience with recov- nect with people in places where I don’t back to tell me that as soon as I landed, I ery, the history of the program and what know a soul. What a special gift! That I was to contact Jose Luis. It so happened it’s like in the United States. didn’t speak Spanish and that only Jose that there are two NicA meetings in One of the funniest moments was when Luis spoke English didn’t really matter. We Barcelona and one was held on Thursdays, they asked what they could do to bring all speak the same language of recovery. Pondering Smoking continued from page 1 a non-smoker, and always praying and because I continued to go without smok- and finally years into many years. For believing that God would not want me to ing and the desire and cravings became many years now I have had no desire or be a smoker and would do everything in less and less strong. I continued to chew craving for cigarettes. In fact I’m very grate- His power to help me overcome this deadly quite a bit of nicotine gum for several ful that I cannot stand to be in the pres- habit, was I able to start going one day at months. Then it suddenly dawned on me ence of people who are smoking. The a time on the road to recovery. It wasn’t that I was going for long periods of time stench is overwhelming. I love the smoker easy! without any thought of cigarettes or but I can’t stand the smoking. I quite often had a desire and an out- smoking. What has happened as a result of this right craving to smoke. I started wearing Long story short, I continued on this process? Why should I be grateful for mak- a thick rubber band on my wrist and when gradual process of learning to live life on ing this decision and sticking to it? this happened I pulled the rubber band up life’s terms without having to turn to cig- Here is a relatively short list of reasons and released it, giving myself a sharp sting arettes. Minutes turned into hours and that are very positive. There are many oth- on the wrist. This is called aversion ther- hours into days, days turned into weeks, apy. It must have been helpful to me weeks into months and months into years continued on page 6
4 n Seven Minutes n November 2002 Outreach Corner Kelly C., Adopt-a-Mile Outreach Project Leader
Adopt-A-Mile California Intergroup’s flier to fit our infor- Getting the Word Out through mation in the Chicago area. It has a bright Distribution of Pamphlets, red, eye-catching “no smoking” sign at the Flyers, and Business Cards top. It includes our phone number, Web aking information about Nicotine site info, and lists all of the local meeting MAnonymous available and easily places and times. Please contact me if you accessible to the public is a very important would like a copy of this flyer. part of “carrying the message.” Our friends Office number. • I would recommend having a small and neighbors need to know that we will • Cardholders can be purchased at office number of color copies made to be posted be there if they need us! Adopt-a-Mile supply stores for under $1.00 each. I pur- in high-profile areas, since they are expen- involves having individual members or chased 20 at 79¢ each. I put ten business sive. Black and white Flyers work fine in groups of members publicly claim respon- cards in each cardholder. most cases. sibility for a “mile” or certain area of their neighborhood. They would then be respon- • As a backup for when the business cards Reimbursement/Ordering sible for keeping the various locations in ran out I put an Avery Label on each card- Literature their territory stocked with information holder indicating a number to call for more • Complete “Public Outreach Project about Nicotine Anonymous. business cards or more information. The Approval” form before starting your Another way to do it would be to have number you leave could be your per- project. one person claim all of the libraries in sur- sonal number or a main informa- rounding towns, another claim all the tion number or 800 number if • Complete “Public Outreach Litera- churches, another claim all the meeting your area has one. Our area does ture Request” form once project has halls and Alano Clubs, etc. not have a general number, so been approved. Below are some suggestions based on I put my cell phone number • Save all receipts in order to be the distribution I did in my area. Keep in on the label so they could reimbursed by World Services. mind these are only suggestions and feel leave me a voice mail. I was free to use your imagination and try any able to print them on my com- Locations to Distribute new ideas you have! puter, but you can also write the Literature info with pen or marker. Here 1. Doctors’ and dentists’ Pamphlets is what my label looked like: offices. Ask the person at the desk • “Introduction to Nicotine Anonymous” for permission to leave the litera- is suggested. This is a general pamphlet for NICOTINE ANONYMOUS ture in the waiting room. Most use anywhere. You’re not alone anymore. offices are eager to support non- For more information or more •“Introducing Nicotine Anonymous to profit organizations. Business cards business cards please call the Medical Profession” is also an idea, and “Introduction to Nicotine Name (000) 000-0000. although I have not tried it out yet. It Anonymous” pamphlets can be left For local meetings call could be distributed to any doctors, den- for patients to read while they are (000) 000-0000. tists, and mental health professionals you waiting. Also, “Introducing Nicotine meet along the way. Anonymous to the Medical Profes- sion” can be left for doctors and den- Flyers Business Cards and Cardholders tists to read. • Flyers can be made to hang • Nicotine Anonymous business cards with on community bulletin boards. 2. Hospitals. The chemical a local number to call for meetings would You can make an original of dependency unit is the best place work best. I would think that people would your own or change one that has be more willing to call if there is a local already been made and put your local number, rather than the World Service information on it. I adapted the Southern continued on page 6
November 2002 n Seven Minutes n 5 Pondering Smoking because I had not smoked for almost 12 smoke. I know they’re happy about that. continued from page 4 years I believe that I had averted having a We smokers never realize how terribly foul heart attack. People who smoke have dou- we smell. ers and each person will gather his or her ble the risk of dying if they do have a heart 7. What I am most happy about is I’m own list through experience. attack and they are at much higher risk of no longer a slave to this substance. I have 1. They tell me that each cigarette having a heart attack because of the nox- a freedom that is unbelievable when it is smoked results in the loss of seven min- ious chemicals that are constantly circu- compared to the constant necessity to utes from one’s life expectancy. Multiply- lating: bathing and bombarding the always have a cigarette at hand and to ing seven minutes for each cigarette not endothelial system which lines the blood practically always be smoking one. I don’t 1 smoked during the last 14 ⁄2 years I have vessels. Presently my cardiovascular risk is have to get up in the middle of the night 1 gained 3 ⁄2 years in life expectancy! Pardon no higher than anyone else in the general and search for a cigarette butt that still has the pun but that’s something you can blow population and in my particular circum- a few drags on it. I don’t have to smoke a smoke at. stance. cigarette the last thing before I go to bed 2. Cigarette smoking costs money. Mul- 4. Taste and smell have been restored. at night and the first thing in the morning. tiplying the cost of each cigarette times I am now enjoying the taste of my food There are many other good reasons to the number smoked and the number of more than I ever have in all my life. Eat- stop smoking. Those people who smoke years smoking I arrived at a figure of ing is an absolute pleasure. are responsible for finding their own rea- $19,635.18 that I have saved as of this 5. Risk of having mouth cancer, voice sons and discovering with the help of oth- morning in the raw cost of buying ciga- box cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, ers their own paths to recovery. rettes. I don’t know exactly where that pancreatic cancer, and various others is no Sometimes we can learn more by climb- money is now but I can assure you that I higher for me now than for the general ing the same mountain a hundred times spent it on better things than cigarettes. population. At one time my risk of having than by climbing a hundred different 3. Almost three years ago I had to have lung cancer was ten times greater than oth- mountains. coronary bypass surgery. This was proba- ers because of my heavy smoking. Discover your bliss, follow your bliss, bly brought on by approximately a 70- 6. I don’t have to subject others to the and your angel of strength and mercy will pack-per-year history of smoking but constant aroma and ambience of cigarette surely be with you.
Outreach Corner continued from page 5
to start, but there are end- 7. Local Smoking Cessation Pro- http://www. americanheart. org/. less possibilities here. grams. Contact the people in charge to see if they will To find addresses and phone numbers 3. Mental Health Clinics/ make our literature available use internet search engines, online phone Psychiatrists and Psycholo- to people in their program. directories and local phone books. gists. Use the same suggestions Remember to bring tape, push pins, and as in #1. 8. Drug Stores. a stapler. Good luck and don’t forget to have fun! 4. Libraries. Most libraries have bul- 9. Churches. Grab a couple of other members, organize, letin boards that are perfect for our fly- 10. Local Tobacco Reform and make a day of it. Treat your- ers. Groups selves to dinner after- 5. Colleges. Most have bulletin boards on wards! If you don’t have 11. Meeting Halls for other 12-Step Pro- campus and also have doctors’ and nurses’ time for that, just do grams (AA, NA, etc.) and Alano Clubs. offices. what you can. Remember, “Any service, no matter how 12-Step Groups: http://www.onlinerecov- 6. County and State Health Depart- small, that helps to reach a fel- ery.org/12/; Alano Clubs: http://www. ments. Many of these have specific depart- low sufferer adds to the quality grrr.net/ alano.html. ments dedicated to tobacco prevention of our own recovery.” and control. State Health Agencies: 12 Organizations (find local Please e-mail me at http://www.fda.gov/oca/ sthealth. htm; offices). American Lung Associa- Outreach-AdoptAMile@- state and Local Health Departments: tion: http:// www. lungusa.org/; nicotine-anonymous.org with http://www.apha.org/ public_health/ American Cancer Society: http://www. any questions or problems, or just to share state.htm cancer. org/; American Heart Association: your experience with this project.
6 n Seven Minutes n November 2002
MEDIA Getting the Word Out MANIA II Through Radio and TV Just as the press is anxious to help us spread the word about our fellowship, so are your local radio and TV stations.
This is the second in our series of “how to’s” to help you ✏ Contact the Program Director of television stations for contact the media. Radio and television stations will be oh, so guidelines. For instance, many Cable TV stations will do happy to hear from you! Here are the steps you can take to make a running spot along the bottom of the screen and might sure news about your group goes out over the airwaves and lands limit you to the amount of words and even letters you can on the local TV screens: use. They will let you know. ✏ Local radio and television stations are listed in the tele- ✏ Most TV stations want camera-ready artwork or graphics phone directory. if you want a visual spot with more that just printed words ✏ Contact each one for the name of the Program Director. on the screen. Our Nicotine Anonymous logo is a great Larger stations also have a Public Affairs Director. All sta- place to start. Be creative here: use both visual graphics tions have Public Affairs air time that they are anxious to and words. Go for it! give to worthy causes at no charge! ✏ If you decide to produce a videotaped spot, remember the ✏ The Program director or Public Affairs Director will tell you anonymity guidelines and do not show full face shots. if there are any guidelines you should follow. The New York Intergroup produced a video and it was ✏ Radio commercials are generally 10 seconds, 30 seconds, super. or 60 seconds long. They are referred to as “spots.” Below ✏ Just as newspapers have deadlines, so do radio and TV sta- are two public service spots from the New York NicA Web tions. The Program/Public Affairs Director will let you site that can be used. We are also producing 30 and 60 sec- know how far in advance you need to send in your mate- ond commercial spots on CD that can be sent to your local rial before it will be aired. Most stations act very quickly stations. We will let you know when they are finished, or to get things on the air, especially when the material is as they say in radio talk, “pressed.” camera-ready or pre-recorded. ✏ If you write your own spot, be certain to lift words from ✏ When you send in material to the station, be sure to fol- our already Conference Approved Literature. low up with a call to see that it has been received and if there is anything else you can provide. 30-Second Public Service Announcement ✏ You need to know how LONG the station will run your (00:30) spot. Most stations will tell you this up front when you Nicotine anonymous, a twelve-step fellowship of men and women inquire about placing a spot; some run the spots for a helping each other to live free of nicotine, meets regularly in [location month, some longer. Should any of your material change, of meeting]. There are no dues or fees. The only requirement for Nico- follow the same deadline time frame as you did for the tine Anonymous membership is the desire to be free of nicotine. For original submission. With e-mails and faxes it is much, further information about the program and meetings near you, please much easier to get the information out to the stations in call [phone number]. a timely fashion. 60-Second Public Service Announcement Smile! (00:60) Hey—Smile! Now that you’re in the newspapers and on radio Nicotine Anonymous is a twelve-step program of recovery from nico- and TV, you can really watch your meetings grow! If you have tine addiction based on the same principles and traditions as Alcoholics any further questions or need some help, just e-mail me at Anonymous. The only requirement for Nicotine Anonymous member- [email protected] ship is the desire to be free of this powerful drug. There are no dues or fees for membership as the program is self-supporting through mem- In love and service, Jan S., ber contributions. Meetings are held [time and location]. For further Mass Media Outreach Project Leader information, please call [phone number]. You can learn more by visit- ing the Nicotine Anonymous Web site at www.nicotine-anonymous.org.
8 n Seven Minutes n November 2002 World Services News
[Editor’s Note: These are some of the or she is already working the first approximately 1450 e-mail mes- reports submitted to the board for the step. sages. This is considerably higher October quarterly board meeting. I hope As I write this report on Septem- by about 600 than usual due to the to include more reports of this sort to ber 21, we have two more Traditions period of time our Web page meet- keep you up-to-date with what’s hap- questions on the table that we are ing search engine was down. The e- pening with World Services. If you have currently answering. Those will be mail servants handled direct an interest in being on any of the com- included in the next report. responses at a much higher level. mittees working for NicA, I’m sure your All the servants did a phenomenal service will be welcomed. Check the Daily Meditations job handling dozens of additional responses Web site, your Intergroup, or World Jennifer M., Secretary Emeritus Services directly for more information.] It is my goal to prepare the daily meditations that I continue to Traditions receive for Board approval (Jan- Committee uary) and 2003 delegates con- ference approval (April). I Bill P., Carrollton, Texas believe that we will be at We on the Traditions Committee or close to the 90 that we have had a steady workload this can then turn into a 90- quarter. In August, we reviewed the in-90. Very exciting!! Final Conference Minutes. The Daily Medita- We also worked with Catherine tions flier that went out on the current issue of Seven Min- in the last group mail- utes. A change was made to omit an ing included the wrong opinion expressed on a controver- e-mail address for me, sial outside issue. Catherine is doing but I am very excited to a fantastic job on Seven Minutes! She report that since then Joe is great at working with all parties has set up a DailyMedita- involved and being clear on dead- tions@nicotine-anony- lines, etc. mous.org e-mail address for We recently received a question me and future coordinators— from a member who had started a thanks Joe! That will significantly meeting eight years ago. The meet- reduce the problem that I experienced ing is still going, but wrestling with when I began this project with fre- daily this question, “Should newcomers quently changing personal e-mail during this period. start working the steps even though addresses. I want to thank Alan for Intergroup Liaison they are still using the patch or the forwarding submissions that were Robin L., Chair Elect/Intergroup nicotine inhaler or some other crutch rejected at the old e-mail address. Liaison that still includes nicotine?” The As a side note, the lady whose opinion of all the Traditions Com- submission was rejected by the 2002 Since the July board meeting I mittee members who responded was conference delegates because she have done the following: that working the steps is how we gain was not writing from a nicotine-free Attended the Chicagoland NicA freedom from nicotine. Asking some- perspective has since become retreat. This was my first NicA one to get free of nicotine first is “smober” and resubmitted her medi- retreat other than the World Ser- putting the cart before the horse. We ation with an add-on! All is well in vice Conferences except for a pic- believe that all members should be the world. nic in Dallas about two years ago. encouraged to work the steps, with- It was a lot of fun and very reward- out precondition. Allen added that E-mail Coordination ing. It was really nice to spend time if someone has admitted powerless- Alan, E-mail Coordinator working on my personal recovery, ness over nicotine and an unman- For the 7-month period Feb. not just doing service work. Thank ageable life, even before stopping, he 1–August 31, 2002, we handled you Chicagoland. Mary B., Long Beach, California New e-mail Addresses for WS Servants Use these e-mail addresses when you want to contact a World y first NicA meeting was other people had, it wouldn’t Services board or committee member: Min La Palma. I went to have gone black. this meeting because I called I found a new meeting in Board the Nicotine Anonymous line Long Beach. I was really scared [email protected] and a great woman named Eva to start but knew I needed to [email protected] answered the phone. She told keep going to meetings. At this [email protected] me about her meeting and new meeting something dif- [email protected] promised she would be there. ferent happened. George, a reg- [email protected] I enjoyed taking several chips ular, asked me to make a [email protected] from that meeting. I believe commitment, and by doing [email protected] Eva and Bob kept that meeting this, gave me the opportunity [email protected] together for many years. to give back. I know I wouldn’t [email protected] Being self-centered and only have seventeen months with- thinking of what I need, I out the people who were there Committee Chairs and Coordinators never offered to do anything for me. [email protected] and was never asked to do any- Thanks to George for getting [email protected] thing. This meeting went black me to do something for some- [email protected] just recently and I feel sorry I one else. Without you, I prob- [email protected] never made a commitment to ably would have continued to [email protected] La Palma. Maybe if I and a few take. Fulfi[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Offi[email protected] Offi[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] NAWS Statement of [email protected] Cash Flows [email protected] January through August 2002 Mail sent to these addresses will be forwarded to the person who is currently serving in that position. Thanks to Joe S. for mak- Ramona F., San Jose, California ing this possible! STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS OPERATING ACTIVITIES Merry Net Income 2,294.25 Adjustments to reconcile Net Income to net cash provided by operations: Happy 1200 · Accounts Receivable 1,077.33 1205 · Advances to Conference –500.00 1209 · Advance to Fulfillment 50.00 1120 · Inventory Asset –99.43 Holidays! 2000 · Accounts Payable -31.93 If you want to smoke, 2200 · Sales Tax Payable -151.04 Net cash provided by Operating Activities 2,703.04 that’s your business ... Cash at beginning of period 51,285.26 If you want to quit, Cash at end of period 53,988.30 that’s our business ...
10 n Seven Minutes n November 2002 Carole Z., Walnut Creek, California
t is a very hot day in late August; the sun feels having to learn how to speak up for myself and Itoxic. I feel extremely irritable. I think about say what I want more directly; I am having to smoking again. I have not smoked since March, tell unpleasant people to go away; and I am hav- so I am close to my six-month “anniversary.” ing to find new friends that are healthier for me. The television is irritating me a lot but I cannot I am having to realize how much I have hated turn it off. It has become my new friend since I myself. I am having to learn about real love. stopped smoking. The “news programs” espe- So, am I better off now? Prob- cially upset me; I sit listening to the awful ably. But I don’t feel it yet. I pray “hyped-up” reporting of events; I begin to feel this is not as good as it gets. I scared and anxious about this country and the pray that I will (and sooner world in general. And it seems that lately, actors rather than later) feel a joy in smoking in movies has become fashionable living and be able to fully love again. and function in the world. Until Happy I think, well what the heck is the point of not then, I am mostly hanging on smoking? Life is becoming so awful in this by my fingertips, sometimes liv- world, who cares whether I smoke or not? ing a minute at a time, some- (Nicotine-Free) According to average life span figures, I’ve got times an hour, sometimes a day, around 25 years left, but all those years will be but I am still here. obviously sliding me into old age and death. I I do know—not just believe, ask myself again, so why does it matter if I smoke know— one thing. I do know Holidays! or not? I don’t do much of anything else and that God is always watching out smoking was so enjoyable for me, in spite of the for me, even on those days health hazard. People say I look better, but for when I feel totally and me it’s, “So what? I don’t feel better.” absolutely alone. So I will con- I am so scared that this is as good as it gets. tinue to pray for the strength to stay on my new I had expected to feel fabulous by now, but I path and to improve the quality of what is left don’t. Instead I’m having to deal with unpleas- of my life. I think it will get better—and it has ant memories and feelings which I had previ- to be better than all the years of medicating ously chosen to suppress by smoking. I am myself with nicotine. ✁ Subscribe to Seven Minutes! Seven Minutes is a quarterly publication of NAWSO news, articles and letters—it is “a meeting on a page.” Your subscription will help Seven Minutes continue as the official conduit of this fellowship of recovering nico- SUBSCRIPTION FEES tine addicts. You will also receive a Worldwide Meeting Schedule. You may pay by check, Number of Years money order (US funds only) or credit card. Mail to: 12 3 U.S. $ 7 $13 $18 NAME PHONE (WITH AREA CODE) Canada $ 9 $17 $24 Overseas $14 $27 $39 ADDRESS n New Subscription CITY ST ATE ZIP n Renewal Please find my (check one) n check n money order enclosed. Or, please bill my n Address change credit card (check one): n Mastercard n Visa n American Express n Discover Card
NAME ON CARD SIGNATURE
CARD NUMBER EXPIRATION DATE
BILLING ADDRESS Send payment, in US funds only, to: NAWSO, 419 Main St, PMB#370, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 USA. Thank you!
November 2002 n Seven Minutes n 11 Seven Minutes PRSRT STAND NAWSO U.S. POSTAGE 419 Main St., PMB #370 P AID
Huntington Beach, CA 92648 LEWISVILLE, TX
PERMIT #88
December 1 October 4 October 1 December
September 1 July 21 July 1 September
June 1 April 20 April 1 June
ch 1 January 18 January 1 ch Mar
Deadline Date for submissions for Date Deadline Date Publication
for Submissions for
Publication Dates and Deadlines Deadlines and Dates Publication New!