Recovery Relationships A Service Act of Desperation By admin Posted on February 1, 2019 4 min read 1 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Linkedin Share on Tumblr “Any form of service—no matter how small— that helps reach a fellow sufferer adds to the quality of our own recovery.” — The Tools of Recovery When I introduced myself as a newcomer at a meeting, I did my first real act of service. I asked for help—a selfish act of desperation. Most of us find desperation impossible to ignore, and so it was at that meeting. Soon after introducing myself in OA meetings, I received a call from a woman whose voice seemed illuminated with a sense of serenity and confidence as she openly shared her story with me. I’d never heard anyone else say out loud the silent pain I held inside. I surprised myself and asked her to be my sponsor. Early on, she told me, “Being your sponsor helps me as much as it helps you.” Initially, I could not see how this could be true. Now that I am sponsoring, I get it. The “service” I did while in my disease was born from fear of not getting my needs met. Today, I do service out of a deep sense of gratitude. Nothing is more rewarding than to help others have the chance at the peace of mind possible in this Fellowship. I do not go and proselytize to the still-suffering. If I work my program, I seem to be offered opportunities. For instance, look at what happened when I was working the action plan Tool: Each day I commit to three small actions to move my life forward. Last week, I’d committed to going to a fitness center to try a barre class. Another woman was taking the class for the first time that day too. After class was over, I overheard her discussing her weight with the instructor, and I heard the pain in her voice. I walked out of the class with her and said, “I do not know if this is your challenge, but my weight issue was related to compulsion and addiction to specific foods.” She was interested in what I shared about OA, so I gave her my phone number and some meeting information. Will she go to a meeting? I can only hope. What I do know is our conversation would never have happened if I’d not been working my program and if I’d not developed my service chops in OA. It would have never happened if I had not taken that first selfish act of desperation. — Rachel C
