OA from A to Z

December 2009: I was eating my way through the holidays, agonizing over not being able to control myself after more than twenty-five years of dieting. I weighed 213 pounds (97 kg) and my excess weight was taking a greater toll on my well-being than ever before. I was sure of only two things: first, that I no longer had it in me to ride the dieting roller-coaster, and second, that I had no idea how to find help.

On Saturday, January 3, a newspaper article written by an OA member caught my eye. I had never heard of Overeaters Anonymous; I couldn’t believe what I was reading! Here was an article I could have written myself, and there was an OA meeting the very next day at a location twenty minutes from my house. On January 4, I attended that meeting, and my family and I firmly believe it was the best step I have ever taken. I have shed 50 pounds (23 kg) from my body and truly feel that the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders.

At a recent retreat, I wrote a poem about my discoveries. I’ve walked through many doors in my 53 years, and inside the OA door to recovery I found blessings for every letter of the alphabet:

“Inside the Door to Recovery”

Anonymity is a given.
Beauty is everywhere.
Control is not required,
but Choices are everywhere.
Doubts fade away.
Everything makes more sense.
Faith replaces fear.
Gratitude rules my attitude.
Hope replaces hopelessness.
I don’t get in my own way.
Joy comes more often.
Kindness is easier to find.
Love comes from my OA friends until I can love myself.
More is not as necessary.
Never am I alone, unless I choose to be.
Openness is the norm.
People just like me like me.
Quiet time has value.
Resentments can be overcome.
Some days are better than others.
Taking one day at a time makes good sense.
Unwillingness can be given to my HP.
Valuables are things we share, not things we lock up so no one else will take them.
We are all in the same boat—when we don’t have strength to row, others are there rowing harder to help us keep up.
X-ray vision can be applied to feelings.
You and you and you and you and you and you . . .
Zebras all look the same (and they look like mistakes of nature), but in recovery we see they’re all unique, wonderful creatures.

May you also find the key that leads you to OA and through the door to recovery.

— Joyce R., Canada