Traditions Cash Conscious I’ve had a few interesting occurrences happen with the Seventh Tradition. The first I can remember is a time I didn’t want to go to a meeting. I realized I didn’t have any cash, which sounded like a really good excuse: “I don’t have two dollars, so I’m not going.” Right? I used the restroom at the college I was attending … Read More
Fellowship Recovery We Need to Ask Our intergroup has struggled with having fewer funds than we’d like when it comes to covering our expenses. We need to pay for our website, buy liability insurance for meetings, facilitate workshops, and send representatives to regional conferences and World Service Business Conference to help OA grow and make vital changes. We need resources to carry the message to those … Read More
Traditions Costs and Benefits I tried a very simple exercise to try to quantify how I spent my money and time, showing what it’s like now in my recovery and the costs of my compulsive eating. I probably do give this level of service (about sixteen hours), but when it comes to money . . . looks like more is due in the pot … Read More
Traditions Committed to Support Being ready to support OA financially is important. I do give at every meeting I go to, and last year I set up an ARC: Automatic Recurring Contribution. I set it for US$10 per month, charged to my credit card. I don’t miss the money, and I know it’s helping support OA as a whole. Putting money in the basket at … Read More
Steps Mopping Up Mistakes Step Nine Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Almost no one looks forward to doing Step Nine, yet it plays such an important part in any recovery that goes beyond weight loss. Two experiences showed me the advantage of working this Step with a sponsor. Whenever I reviewed … Read More
How OA Changed My Life Trash Talk In the years following high school, I couldn’t hold down a job for more than eight consecutive months, and my residence changed just as frequently. Between each new address, I would return to my childhood home, where my mother now lives alone. I’d pass through town just long enough to discard another mountainous load of boxes into her basement— always … Read More
Traditions What Price Freedom? I remember my last binge very clearly. I called my local OA office that night, and I will never forget the woman I spoke to and how glad I was to speak to an actual person. A few days later, she took me to my first meeting. Since that day (more than ten years ago), through the grace of God, … Read More