I have learned that sponsorship is so important in my recovery. When I got
clean there wasn't the huge fellowship that we have today. We had a  
tiny fellowship, and to make 90 in 90, you had to do some driving. My  
first sponsor was the first guy to tell me that he loved me and was  
willing to help me work the steps.

I have changed sponsors thee times since I have come to N.A. One was  
all about understanding the steps and traditions of our fellowship. He  
taught me a lot of stuff about our fellowships history. He died in 98,  
and I got one of his sponsee brothers that I still use today.

I had a stroke in 99, and have had to learn to accept life that is a  
lot different than the life that I used to live. My income is less than half  
what I once made. But I have an awesome connection to my higher  
power and would not trade that for the nice car and the physical things.
I try to get my sponsees to find some power greater than they are. I  
get them to do a lot of reading as well as a gratitude list writing in  
the beginning. When it's time, we work the steps and the accompanying  
tradition.

My clean date is Jan 25 94. I stay in touch with my sponsor regularly. I  
only go to Na meetings.

I live now in Canada. The Toronto area.