Fellowship Recovery Practice Space I’m not entirely sure what OA unity means to me, but a specific memory early in my program comes to mind. After a meeting, one member said to another, “I love you if you’re eating. I love you if you’re not eating. I love you because you are a compulsive overeater.” This was one of the kindest things I’d ever … Read More
Recovery Working the Program Program Beauties Sensitivity to criticism is a character trait of mine that started early on. (It even appeared as a comment on my third grade report card.) I felt criticized at home and developed an oversensitivity to any comment from anyone. I still have a tendency to misperceive comments or questions as criticism and react defensively, with anger and resentment. In OA, … Read More
How OA Changed My Life Recovery Lucky and Relieved This program has changed my life. It has taken away my desire to assassinate your character. It has stilled my desire to engage in gossip because it has made me feel better about myself. It has forced me to cease being intolerant and judgmental and to humbly accept that I am no better or worse than you—just equal. The Twelve … Read More
Higher Power Tools & Concepts So That’s What the Tools Are All About After five years in program, it was just this year that I came to understand the Tools. For a long time, I thought they were the program. If I wanted to be working the program, I just had to be using the Tools. A little farther along, I believed my abstinence rested on whether I had used the Tools that … Read More
Diversity Newcomers Dear Newcomer, Welcome to OA. You are a valuable asset to us. Your abilities and talents will not be overlooked in this Fellowship. Do not be hesitant to jump into service work. You will not be alone. Even if you think your idea is silly, say it anyways. Remember, Higher Power is in our group conscience. You will be heard. Remember the … Read More
Sponsoring Tools & Concepts She Was Right My sponsor told me God loved me just the way I was but also loved me too much to let me stay that way. I was full of self-doubt and fear yet wished to control myself and the world around me. I was dishonest—I lied, stole, embellished, gossiped, and I disparaged others to make myself feel better. I was 50 … Read More
Share It Timely Help “Meeting on the Menu” (March 2019, p. 7) reminded me of two OA miracles: arriving “to the meeting on time” and “how effortless it had been to refrain from compulsive overeating” once I became abstinent. Because my life today doesn’t yet look how I wish it would, I often forget where I came from. I used to be in constant … Read More
Traditions Willing Is Filling Higher Power has graced me with this realization: in our lifesaving program, I’ve come to have a preference for certain Steps more than others! It is an uncomfortable awareness. I know that each and every Step has a purpose in my recovery and each and every one is part of a dynamic combination that covers every aspect of my life. … Read More
Steps Soul Food Step Five is where we begin to learn how to love ourselves. Most of us know something is wrong in the way we’re living, but we have no idea how to address it. When we allow ourselves to get vulnerable with another human being in Step Five, we open a door that creates greater understanding of our personality and character—the … Read More
Recovery Relationships Becoming “Other Wise” Tradition Twelve: Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all these Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities. If it’s not happening already, it’s just a matter of time in these rooms before you experience a relationship or acquaintance you do not like. It’s natural; we’re all human and none of us are perfect. However, I challenge your character … Read More