Fellowship Recovery Just Taking My Turn I learned about service when I first came into OA long ago, working the Steps and using the Tools. I learned it was good for my recovery to get out of my head and do things for others—that one recovering compulsive eater reaching out to another is the foundation of OA. I learned that no CEO presides over us. Rather, … Read More
Steps Step Seven Save My favorites among the literature are The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous and the AA Twelve and Twelve. Both books have helped me, especially with Step Seven. I struggle so much with the character defect of pride, and I find the antidote in the Principle of Step Seven: humility. Before OA, I didn’t even know how to … Read More
Steps Humility Keeps Me Abstinent I used to joke that when I first came into program, I was very proud of my humility. Not that I knew what humility was—I thought of it more as self-deprecating behavior. And I really did not think I had a problem with it. Now I think of it as balance. And I know I have a problem with it. … Read More
Steps The Enough Prayer Let me have faith so I will love as if there will always be love enough for me and I have never been hurt. Let me have faith so I will be a friend, as if my friends have always been here and I have never been alone. Let me have faith so I will eat as if there will … Read More
Newcomers An Act of Hope When I walked into the rooms of Overeaters Anonymous, hope felt like a possibility, a possibility of a better life. I’d been bottling up all my feelings again; my mom had recently passed away and my wife and I had just moved into the South Bay area. Fear, anger, and sadness were churning inside me, and I did what I … Read More
Journal Questions Box Step “Our path in OA transcends weight loss and a return to emotional health.” —Seeking the Spiritual Path I used what I call my “God Box” yesterday and the day before because I was desperate to rid myself of all the negativity, insecurity, and despair I was feeling—and even hatred. I was so alone . . . at least I felt … Read More
Higher Power Perseverance, Even When When I got into program, I weighed about 240 pounds (109 kg), well over my target weight of 190 pounds (86 kg). I was bingeing and drinking too much alcohol, plus I was mildly depressed. I thought my spiritual life was okay, but really it was a cycle of small peaks and deep valleys. I’d get some abstinence, but then … Read More