Steps Traditions Make a Right Turn If I wasn’t stuffing my mouth with food, I was “verbally vomiting” out of it! My former purpose in “venting” wound up revealing itself to me and others as a lack of acceptance and a failure to trust that God is in control. A lack of acceptance indicates discontent and disagreement; a discrepancy between the way people and things are … Read More
Steps Facing the Negatives Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Life is much different than I ever imagined it would be. And I’d have to say that, up until recently, that hasn’t been a good thing. As a kid, I was smiley and talkative: I loved people and loved any opportunity to chatter away to anyone and everyone. When … Read More
How OA Changed My Life Recovery Progressive Focus I was just prescribed progressive lenses for my glasses. If I keep my head straight and look forward, I can see. If I look up, down, or to the sides, everything is a blur. I am reminded that before my Higher Power blessed me with the gift of the Twelve Steps, I spent most of my life in a blur. … Read More
Recovery Relationships Apply Love “What we do have to offer is . . . a Fellowship in which we find and share the healing power of love” (The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, Second Edition, p. 1). I recently shared my experience, strength, and hope regarding responding to someone who pushes my buttons. I shared how I literally apply love. When … Read More
Steps Traditions Saying the Words Step Ten: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. Most days, I take personal inventory at the end of the day. It helps me sleep. I inventory fears, resentments, and stressful thoughts and beliefs. Wrongs seem to stem from those. I also list gratitudes, but not the things I think I should be grateful for. … Read More
Relapse Slipping & Sliding Nonslip Grip I have been in OA for twenty-eight years. Before OA, I was a force to be dealt with, very carefully and with dread. I was filled with self-righteous indignation. Imagine my surprise when I discovered indignation was just a synonym for resentment. That Step Four was a real eye-opener. It wasn’t everybody else’s fault after all. Now I am so … Read More
Gratitude Recovery Home Truths Here am I thinking, now that I’m an abstinent member of OA, it automatically means I’m an outstanding citizen within my family. But eavesdropping on a conversation between my wife and son lands a bombshell of a home truth in my lap. My son asks, “Mammy, do you ever wake up grumpy?” My wife replies, “Sometimes!” Then, after a substantial pause, “And sometimes I let him sleep on!” Dumbfounded, … Read More
Recovery Relationships Conscience Acceptance Before program, I was conflict-averse. (I don’t enjoy conflict now, but before, I used to really run from it—physically, if possible, or emotionally.) Basically, when things got ugly, I’d panic and check out. Because my compulsive disease can also be contradictory, I’d often display the opposite trait, pushing to get my way, in group decisions. If the group went against … Read More
Recovery Relationships Different Paths to Unity Editors note: Below are two world service contributions from OA members in support of our Strategic Plan. My name is Heidi, and I’m a compulsive overeater—a short sentence, but one I could not say for many years. During my childhood, I was often alone because my parents worked full-time. My big sister did well in school, and my parents always … Read More
Abstinence Day In and Day Out I was “struck abstinent” on April 20, 2016. I used to think being struck abstinent meant it was permanent, but it isn’t. I work very hard to maintain my abstinence. Abstinence for me means eating three meals plus two snacks daily, with no sugar, fast food, or anything from my “red light” list. This is my action plan: On Sundays, … Read More