Working the Program Adjusting Focus I was a great believer in whatever the next diet, philosophy, or trick was. You see, I knew there was a solution. Desperate, bingeing, swearing off, gaining weight, once-in-a-blue-moon losing weight through unhealthy restricting, and begging God to help me, eventually I found my way to OA. I was in another Twelve Step program, so I knew asking for help … Read More
Newcomers Tools & Concepts Nurturing is Our Nature One of my self-care activities is to spend time with the beautiful wildflowers that we are blessed to have in Tennessee. One of the first wildflowers to announce the coming of spring around here is the bloodroot, and I took pictures just as some were beginning to blossom. As I looked at the small cluster of flowers (right), I thought … Read More
Steps Going Forward After I’d worked all Twelve Steps using the Big Book, then worked them again using The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, my sponsor asked me to read through and study the Twelve Traditions. Up to that point, I’d thought the Traditions were the “extra” pages in the Twelve and Twelve—like the index or glossary. However, I found a … Read More
Service Now Serving Service is a favorite Tool of mine. Carrying the message to the compulsive overeater who still suffers is the purpose of our program, and service has always been important to my personal recovery. When I move to a new area, I find that doing service helps me get to know the people and projects in my new OA groups. There … Read More
Diversity Virtual Gifts The gifts of this program are incredible. Once, I was in the food and in a relationship with a partner who hated what I adore: the people, language, and country of France. Now, I’m abstinent. I was able to leave that relationship, and I’ve moved to France for a year. God has truly turned my hopeless, trapped existence to one … Read More
Fellowship Tools & Concepts Phone Phenomenon My Higher Power’s grace led me to phone meetings, and after participating in a holiday phone marathon, I was hooked. By now, I’m sure I’ve called in to thousands of phone meetings! This may seem like a lot, but it’s easy because meetings are almost always available—there are three hundred phone meetings registered right now on oa.org. I may call … Read More
Newcomers Attitude Adjustment During one of my regular OA meetings, something triggered an uncomfortable, awkward feeling that I couldn’t explain. As I made the long drive home, the feeling continued to intensify: I decided I would never attend another meeting. I knew how dangerous that thought was to my abstinence, but I couldn’t push it out of my mind. The next day I … Read More
Higher Power The Still, Small Voice There is a voice that lives within me. It is calm and soothing and always steers me to the right course, even when my will wants to go the other way. This is the voice of my Higher Power, ever steady and always present. When I’m faced with a difficult decision, this is the voice that guides me. This is … Read More
Newcomers Comfort and Support There I was, alone, scared, and miserable on a Wednesday morning, approaching the church where the OA meeting was held. I wandered forlorn into the main entrance. Church services were being celebrated, and I had no idea where to go or even who to ask. No one seemed to know where I should go. I wandered around this mammoth church … Read More
Newcomers First Glimpse As a newcomer to OA, I was helped most by seeing how genuinely happy and pleased the other group members were to have me join them that first morning— even though I came with anxiety, shame, silence, and a travel mug of coffee (which violated their rules). The greeter asked me to stay after that first meeting and gave me … Read More