Recovery An “I Can” Plan Early in my recovery, I often heard longtimers say, “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.” My first sponsor drove home this idea by always encouraging me to call ahead and plan ahead for meals and events and to make backup plans, including knowing who to call for support. This instilled in me a desire to keep … Read More
Higher Power Run to God Life’s problems and recovery—I love putting these two concepts together because it means I can let go of problems instead of wrapping my life around them and getting stuck. Recovery is about taking the action needed to experience serenity. Recovery gets me unstuck! I find such freedom in the program, such peace—and then, yikes! A problem hits me in the … Read More
Recovery All Gone I’ve always been an angry person. When I was eight, I became enraged and pulled a soap dish out of the bathroom wall. In adolescence, I sought help from teachers, pastors, and a psychologist, but my fear of telling family secrets made it hard for anyone to help me. Something I’ve always loved to do is cook and eat. On … Read More
Service Travel Treat Traveling to the OA Region One Assembly was a perfect opportunity for me to practice navigating an airport without compulsively wanting to eat. I am really glad I had my plan of eating in place. Arriving at the airport two hours early sometimes leaves me with time on my hands. The smells of airport foods can arouse compulsiveness out of … Read More
Service Food Processor This morning I was struck by the thought that preparation is a key element in my plan of eating and has a significant place in my daily action plan. Before OA, I made meals, but it wasn’t the same. Now, I am willing to commit the time it takes to think out a menu; shop for the ingredients (or, lucky … Read More
Let's Meet at Convention Empty Chairs, Full Heart I sat at the table waiting for someone to show up for the meeting. No one came. I’d felt angry before, but tonight was different. I was feeling afraid—afraid that this meeting would fall by the wayside as others had done through the years. Afraid that the people I had come to know and love through this small-but-mighty meeting were … Read More
Abstinence All My Affairs I sit here at 1:00 in the morning; I just finished some work on my latest job. I’m not irritable, restless, or even resentful about anything. After running around all day and having both a late dinner and work meeting, I’m just tired! After four years of abstinence, I’m in this place where I’m just scared of doing it wrong. … Read More
Higher Power What Hasn’t Changed? Spring of 2015 was the turning point. I had to get my fix of food no matter the cost. I maxed out my credit card, took from savings, ate in secrecy, and filled crevices of the house and car with my stash. I even ate frozen cauliflower. It struck me that I had a problem when I bought my first … Read More