Keep Coming Back Recovery Working the Program Mindful of Hope and Help I have been in OA for almost forty-three years. There was a release of 114 pounds (52 kg) within my first two years of program. I maintained that loss and gained serenity over the course of twelve years because I kept coming to the rooms and working my program, one day at a time. In subsequent years, I chose three different … Read More
Steps Perfect Peace The Fifth Step: what a daunting Step it was for me as a newcomer (and still is today)! However, as the Big Book says, “If we skip this vital step, we may not overcome . . .” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., p. 72). After having written my Fourth Step, I was hesitant to conduct the Fifth Step. However, since I … Read More
Diversity Newcomers Waking Up I walked into OA because all I could see before me was cycles and cycles of weight gain and loss, misery and short-lived false joy. I had to admit I did not want to live. I could not see the point of anything, and my only desire was to sleep or not be conscious because even excess sugar could not … Read More
Recovery Working the Program Putting a HALT to HALT When I made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of my Higher Power, I received an insight into how I could remain willing to live in surrender. In recovery, I’ve often been reminded to recognize when I’m hungry, angry, lonely, or tired—the HALT of the program. Even one of these four can set … Read More
Recovery Relationships I Give What I Want I didn’t know what I needed when I came through the doors of OA. I wanted to lose weight, but it what I really needed was love and acceptance. I needed to find out how to love, accept, and respect myself and my relationship with my HP. Today I give to others what I needed. I don’t talk down to newcomers. I don’t tell … Read More
Steps Tools & Concepts Traditions Acceptance Without Issue During any political election, I am especially thankful for OA’s Tradition Ten: “Overeaters Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues.” I know I can go to a meeting and no one will talk about the candidates or the issues. I am very aware that some members are strongly supporting a policy that is different than mine. At other occasions outside … Read More
Gratitude Recovery Sweet and Simple I’ve struggled with my weight since I was 5 years old. At that time I heard my father comment, “No fat daughter of mine will ever be seen in a tutu!” Those words would haunt me for fifty years. At the time I heard them, I didn’t know I was fat; I was only in kindergarten. I had not yet … Read More
Writing Dog Talk My dogs’ unconditional love is so helpful when I can’t love myself. Dogs don’t judge my weight, my income, or my status in life. To dogs, I am okay just the way I am. When I was new to OA and first got a sponsor, I refused to talk to her about anything but dogs for three months because I … Read More
Service Live and Learn—and Serve If I accept the circumstances I am in, I am given the opportunity to learn and serve. To learn and serve is the agreement I made when I entered the Twelve Step program: Accept—Learn—Serve. When I came to understand I had a disorder that made me different from many other people, and when I came to accept I would have … Read More
Fellowship Tools & Concepts Someone to Practice On I didn’t want advice. I didn’t want to go through another person to get to God. I had isolated to perfection—and then I learned what a sponsor could be for me. I still have my first sponsor, and for a brief time, I had an additional sponsor from whom I gleaned a tremendous amount. For me, a sponsor is a … Read More