Comments on: Hey Look at My Narcotics Anonymous Key Tag, I’m a Drug Addict http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/key-tag-to-celebrate-sober-time/ Stories, Struggles And Success of A Recovering Addict Trying to Do What Winners Do Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:54:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: DanN http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/key-tag-to-celebrate-sober-time/comment-page-1/#comment-14500 DanN Fri, 18 Jun 2010 05:19:45 +0000 http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/hey-look-at-my-key-tag-im-a-drug-addict/#comment-14500 I agree that using the key tags out in public is probably not a good idea, regardless of how proud you may be of your recovery. While we NA members may be open-minded, caring individuals who think that our recovery is something that should be celebrated, you can bet that MOST people in the "real world" do not share our view. There is still an incredible stigma attached to drug users/addicts, EVEN IF THEY ARE IN RECOVERY. Remember, NA is NOT "real life." If you are planning on displaying your key tags in public with NA recovery bravado, just remember: for every person you meet that gives you a positive comment about the tag (perhaps a fellow addict), there are 9 other people that are judging you negatively when they see it. That is just the ways things work. Don't be a fool and carry around your key tags when going to a job interview, meeting new people, etc., unless you like being judged negatively. Honesty is incredibly important, but it is not necessary to reveal every aspect of yourself at all times in all situations; life is not an NA meeting. I agree that using the key tags out in public is probably not a good idea, regardless of how proud you may be of your recovery.

While we NA members may be open-minded, caring individuals who think that our recovery is something that should be celebrated, you can bet that MOST people in the “real world” do not share our view. There is still an incredible stigma attached to drug users/addicts, EVEN IF THEY ARE IN RECOVERY. Remember, NA is NOT “real life.”

If you are planning on displaying your key tags in public with NA recovery bravado, just remember: for every person you meet that gives you a positive comment about the tag (perhaps a fellow addict), there are 9 other people that are judging you negatively when they see it. That is just the ways things work. Don’t be a fool and carry around your key tags when going to a job interview, meeting new people, etc., unless you like being judged negatively. Honesty is incredibly important, but it is not necessary to reveal every aspect of yourself at all times in all situations; life is not an NA meeting.

]]> By: Joe http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/key-tag-to-celebrate-sober-time/comment-page-1/#comment-14473 Joe Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:21:48 +0000 http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/hey-look-at-my-key-tag-im-a-drug-addict/#comment-14473 no u wouldnt u would be very proud of urself just like i am to carry all my tags around i have every one of them conected to each other plus 2 multiple years tags cuz i have 3 years clean no u wouldnt u would be very proud of urself just like i am to carry all my tags around i have every one of them conected to each other plus 2 multiple years tags cuz i have 3 years clean

]]> By: rena http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/key-tag-to-celebrate-sober-time/comment-page-1/#comment-13596 rena Sat, 22 May 2010 04:51:23 +0000 http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/hey-look-at-my-key-tag-im-a-drug-addict/#comment-13596 i just happened to run across this post while trying to do research for a final paper. The post is about NA and the keychains. I actually proudly have my keys on my lengthy chain of key faubs. I like the faubs alot better then the coins because many times a day I see them and it makes me proud of my clean time; and it is a great reminder. my key chains have also sparked up conversation from other members who happened to notice my key faubs. So to answer your question...yes people really do use them for thier keys. i just happened to run across this post while trying to do research for a final paper. The post is about NA and the keychains. I actually proudly have my keys on my lengthy chain of key faubs. I like the faubs alot better then the coins because many times a day I see them and it makes me proud of my clean time; and it is a great reminder. my key chains have also sparked up conversation from other members who happened to notice my key faubs. So to answer your question…yes people really do use them for thier keys.

]]> By: Kenny http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/key-tag-to-celebrate-sober-time/comment-page-1/#comment-8357 Kenny Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:21:11 +0000 http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/hey-look-at-my-key-tag-im-a-drug-addict/#comment-8357 I'm a addict called Kenny been CLEAN 7753 DAYS thats 21 yrs 2 months 20 days carry my keytags with pride. Many many people knew about my addiction and all the problems it caused my family and many others. So I have no problem letting people see that I am in recovery. I have had many people ask about the keytags in my time around the fellowship of narcotics anonymous and am not ashamed in any way to tell the about the life that this fellowship has given me and my family. Many of those people that have asked about those keytags are now also living a new life in NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS!!!!!!! KEEP COMING BACK NO DON'T LEAVE I’m a addict called Kenny been CLEAN 7753 DAYS thats 21 yrs 2 months 20 days carry my keytags with pride. Many many people knew about my addiction and all the problems it caused my family and many others. So I have no problem letting people see that I am in recovery. I have had many people ask about the keytags in my time around the fellowship of narcotics anonymous and am not ashamed in any way to tell the about the life that this fellowship has given me and my family. Many of those people that have asked about those keytags are now also living a new life in NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS!!!!!!! KEEP COMING BACK NO DON’T LEAVE

]]> By: James Michaels http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/key-tag-to-celebrate-sober-time/comment-page-1/#comment-8138 James Michaels Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:54:41 +0000 http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/hey-look-at-my-key-tag-im-a-drug-addict/#comment-8138 I do not like the key tags. I went out and purchased NA coins that can used like poker chips. My wife has them locked up and when I reach a milestone, she gives me what I have earned. I do not like the key tags. I went out and purchased NA coins that can used like poker chips. My wife has them locked up and when I reach a milestone, she gives me what I have earned.

]]> By: Dave http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/key-tag-to-celebrate-sober-time/comment-page-1/#comment-7120 Dave Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:56:36 +0000 http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/hey-look-at-my-key-tag-im-a-drug-addict/#comment-7120 Grrr TYPOS. My Mind is doing so many things.... TY ERIN! Grrr TYPOS.

My Mind is doing so many things…. TY ERIN!

]]> By: Dave http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/key-tag-to-celebrate-sober-time/comment-page-1/#comment-7119 Dave Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:55:19 +0000 http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/hey-look-at-my-key-tag-im-a-drug-addict/#comment-7119 OH, I forgot to add Keep up the good work Ash! :-) OH, I forgot to add

Keep up the good work Ash! :-)

]]> By: Dave http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/key-tag-to-celebrate-sober-time/comment-page-1/#comment-7118 Dave Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:48:53 +0000 http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/hey-look-at-my-key-tag-im-a-drug-addict/#comment-7118 Welcome Kim, and thank you for your post, it inspired me to write this. You are a special person, never forget that! Ashley, keep coming back dear! I'm Dave, and I'm a greatfully recovering addict. Today I have 771 days clean and am 47 years old. My life was filled with years of abusing myself until I decided to surrender August 22, 2007. 2 years, 1 month and 10 days later, I am clean and working on being the best person I can be. Had you told me I would be typing something of this nature 3 years ago, I would have asked you where you got such good drugs from, them take it from you. This is such an amazing program. I ave met SO many different people.....just like me. When I take time off from work for vacation, it is planned to make sure there are meeting there. I try to do the right things for the right reasons. I have had 4 spinal surgeries, 17 epidurals and a few fusions. All this took its tol over time with no thanks to Mr. Oxycontin and Dr. Feelgood. For SOME reason, my higher power decided I had enough and opened my eyes to NA. If there isn't an NA meeting near, AA will do. Recovery is discovery. I wear my tags with pride. Sh#t, I have embroidered jackets and shirts with the NA symbol and my clean date on it. My motorcycle helmet is indicative of recovery......without recovery, I would perish. I LIVE TODAY, Just For Today. Welcome Kim, and thank you for your post, it inspired me to write this. You are a special person, never forget that! Ashley, keep coming back dear!

I’m Dave, and I’m a greatfully recovering addict. Today I have 771 days clean and am 47 years old. My life was filled with years of abusing myself until I decided to surrender August 22, 2007. 2 years, 1 month and 10 days later, I am clean and working on being the best person I can be. Had you told me I would be typing something of this nature 3 years ago, I would have asked you where you got such good drugs from, them take it from you.
This is such an amazing program. I ave met SO many different people…..just like me. When I take time off from work for vacation, it is planned to make sure there are meeting there. I try to do the right things for the right reasons.
I have had 4 spinal surgeries, 17 epidurals and a few fusions. All this took its tol over time with no thanks to Mr. Oxycontin and Dr. Feelgood. For SOME reason, my higher power decided I had enough and opened my eyes to NA. If there isn’t an NA meeting near, AA will do. Recovery is discovery.

I wear my tags with pride. Sh#t, I have embroidered jackets and shirts with the NA symbol and my clean date on it. My motorcycle helmet is indicative of recovery……without recovery, I would perish. I LIVE TODAY, Just For Today.

]]> By: Kim http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/key-tag-to-celebrate-sober-time/comment-page-1/#comment-6875 Kim Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:55:46 +0000 http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/hey-look-at-my-key-tag-im-a-drug-addict/#comment-6875 My addiction to pain-killers started after I had my gallbladder out last July. Since I started attending NA meetings, I have been clean of opiates for a little over two weeks. Seeing that white NA 'just for today' key tag as well as attending meetings, has kept me from going back to opiates. This is the longest I've been clean and serene. It was hard as hell for me to admit to my addiction. I'm not at all embarassed about wearing an NA key tag. It's a reminder to me to work the program. My addiction to pain-killers started after I had my gallbladder out last July. Since I started attending NA meetings, I have been clean of opiates for a little over two weeks. Seeing that white NA ‘just for today’ key tag as well as attending meetings, has kept me from going back to opiates. This is the longest I’ve been clean and serene. It was hard as hell for me to admit to my addiction. I’m not at all embarassed about wearing an NA key tag. It’s a reminder to me to work the program.

]]> By: Jen http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/key-tag-to-celebrate-sober-time/comment-page-1/#comment-6865 Jen Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:46:38 +0000 http://www.whatwinnersdo.com/hey-look-at-my-key-tag-im-a-drug-addict/#comment-6865 I currently attend NA twice a week. I have six months clean and I take a great deal of pride in my neon key tags! While in recovery we are taught how important it is to share with others the miracle of our recoveries. "We can only keep what we have by giving it away!" I know myself and others in my group are proud of those key tags and we do sport them with our keys! I have no problem with anyone seeing them because having the capacity to finally be honest with the world is the biggest step in recovery! And sharing with others not only keeps us clean but may help someone else out there find that they are not alone! I thank god "Just for today!" I currently attend NA twice a week. I have six months clean and I take a great deal of pride in my neon key tags! While in recovery we are taught how important it is to share with others the miracle of our recoveries. “We can only keep what we have by giving it away!” I know myself and others in my group are proud of those key tags and we do sport them with our keys! I have no problem with anyone seeing them because having the capacity to finally be honest with the world is the biggest step in recovery! And sharing with others not only keeps us clean but may help someone else out there find that they are not alone! I thank god “Just for today!”

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