Simple Sanity When I was a boy, I was always attracted to quotable quotes, points to ponder, or words of wisdom. Little did I know that this love of phrases would come to help me in the Fellowship. But when I first arrived in program, I found our slogans too simple. They seemed to lack the depth, meaning, and imagination that famous … Read More
Promises Power I have been in recovery a little over a year and I am 45 pounds (20 kg) lighter. This change in weight brought me a healthy body for the first time in my life and a complete change in how I live. Daily affirmations are a huge part of my recovery, and they’re one of the best ways I’ve found … Read More
Label Letters When I think of the acronym H.A.L.T. (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired), I realize those letters can encompass a wide array of other emotions and labels too. Here are just a few: H—hurt, halfhearted, haphazard, hopeless, hardship, harebrained, hasbeen, headstrong, heavy-hearted, hesitant, hopeless, hostile, hurried, hyper, helpless A—alone, abandoned, abnormal, absentminded, afflicted, annoyed, afraid, amiss, anxious, apathetic, awkward, awful L—loser, lost, lousy, … Read More
Re: Direction Many new members struggle with ideas and actions suggested by OA that seem to be strange, not realizing they are already living these ideas. For example, we are taught “abstinence is the most important thing in my life without exception.” How can anything be so important? For me, before OA, food was the most important thing in my life without … Read More
Day Trip There are so many useful slogans in OA. I have heard them at meetings and read them in our literature. I have underlined them, highlighted them, and written them down in a notebook for later review, but there’s one I find especially inspiring. When I first came into program I didn’t like the phrase “One day at a time.” In my mind … Read More
Progress Report My favorite slogan is “Progress, not perfection,” from Chapter 5 of the Big Book. It says, “The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., p. 60). When I joined OA four years ago, my character defects of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and fear of rejection were in full … Read More
Sticking to It I came to OA devastated, broken, and defeated, and I will never forget the first voice I heard on the phone, a longtime OA member telling me to calm down and tell her what was wrong. She seemed at that moment to have the voice of an angel. It was calm and soothing, and I knew immediately she could help … Read More
What Needs to Happen For me, the slogans are an amazing resource. When life is tough and I feel like I am running on an empty tank, the Steps can seem to be on a higher plane than I can reach. Even the Tools can seem like a lot of effort. But slogans are short, sweet, and easy to remember, and they carry a bucketful … Read More
Life’s Terms Taking life on life’s terms is one of the most important ideas that OA has given me—it’s such a meaningful concept. My sponsors remind me it’s my job to fit into my Higher Power’s plan, not the other way around. Looking back, it’s clear to me now that early years of abstinence gave me lots of practice in accepting life … Read More
An “I Can” Plan Early in my recovery, I often heard longtimers say, “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.” My first sponsor drove home this idea by always encouraging me to call ahead and plan ahead for meals and events and to make backup plans, including knowing who to call for support. This instilled in me a desire to keep … Read More