Tools & Concepts Anonymity Benefits Wow! Anonymity is so important to OA, it’s part of the name of our organization. As Tradition Twelve states: “Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all these Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.” The new second edition of the OA Twelve and Twelve does an excellent job of explaining the many ways we all benefit from anonymity. … Read More
Traditions Anonymous Generosity At my meeting, we would not want to know or care if someone tossed a lot of money into the Seventh Tradition basket. All Seventh Tradition contributions are anonymous. No one will know whether I put twenty pence or twenty pounds into the basket when it goes around. We use an opaque purse large enough for a person’s hand to fit in, … Read More
Traditions Tradition 12: Fallen Star I was the self-appointed poster child for OA: I had physical recovery, I performed a lot of service, and I had several sponsees. My phone rang day and night. I was asked to speak at marathons and retreats. I wasn’t anonymous, and I didn’t want to be anonymous—I was a star. I was lacking in self-esteem, and OA offered a … Read More
Traditions Tradition 11: Attractive Anonymity Living in a small town, I found it difficult to maintain anonymity. At first, I did not want anyone to know I was a member of OA. My meeting took place in the church I attended, so I felt somewhat uncomfortable. Later, I helped the members find another meeting space. Then there was the challenge of finding ways to attract … Read More
Traditions Tradition 10: Capital Idea I recently had a spiritual aha moment: Many of us learned that a proper noun is not just a person, place, or thing, but a specific person, place, or thing, usually beginning with a capital letter. If I’m talking about a proper noun in a meeting, I’m probably referring to an outside issue (and possibly breaking the spirit of anonymity). In … Read More
Service Applying Anonymity I believe the most important Tool in program is anonymity. Using this Tool made me free to grow—and I seemed to change my opinion on any given subject once a week. At first I cried at every meeting. It was God’s way of shutting my mouth so my ears could open. I began to get a handle on my newfound … Read More
Service Principle Consideration When I use anonymity as a Tool, it helps me apply all the other Tools in a way that places “principles before personalities” (Tradition Twelve). Use of this Tool helps me do my service, attend meetings, be a sponsor, respect others’ eating choices, listen on the telephone, keep my writing focused, and read the literature with an open mind. In this … Read More
Service Forget Me Not When reflecting on our precious Tools of recovery, I always forget one (probably the one I need to concentrate on most). So I use a mnemonic device to help me recall all of the Tools: And Action plan Please Plan of eating Spend Sponsorship More Meetings Time … Read More
Service Fitness Witness The Big Book says we get to keep what we have “so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., p. 85). Doing my spiritual exercises stands between me and that first bite! I reached my maintenance weight, having released 125 pounds (57 kg), after years of struggling with food, weight, body size, and life in … Read More
Slipping & Sliding Four Decades On January 19, 2016, I will enjoy forty years of recovery in Overeaters Anonymous. On that day, the fifty-sixth anniversary of the founding of OA, I will wish I could say I have forty years of abstinence. But I have had plenty of ups and downs, sometimes enjoying years of abstinence, sometimes struggling to maintain a few days. On that … Read More