Share It A Great Way to Start In “Day In and Day Out” (October 2017), the author suggests listing five things for which to be thankful. When I started this exercise, “OA” was the only thing I could list. Now my list is up to forty and keeps getting longer when I think of something I missed. Making a gratitude list each morning is a great way to … Read More
Relapse & Recovery All-In Abstinence Planning Lately, I have been comparing my OA journey to someone else who has decades of abstinence. I know through working the Steps that comparing myself to others is one of my shortcomings. I did not get abstinent at my first meeting, nor can I say, “I have not relapsed.” I want my story to be different, but I can’t change … Read More
Service Small Ways That Matter This is my third time back in OA. At first, I came when my mother needed the program. I came back a second time for myself, but I still thought of OA as a calorie-counting club with a diet. This time I know better, and I am back for the Twelve Steps. What else is different this time? I can … Read More
Tools & Concepts Strength of Ten By the grace of God, working the Steps and using the Tools, I have been free from the compulsion to overeat for four years, one day at a time. And I would like to keep it that way. Recently, I was traveling: I went through seven time zones, which challenged my routine. I know this is a program of action … Read More
Service Hope in Writing I love our literature. Thank God for all the many members who have taken time over the years to share their experience, strength, and hope in writing, giving our Fellowship this rich resource. By the grace of God, I’ve now been abstinent for two and a half years, the longest period in my history of recurring relapse. I attribute my … Read More
Newcomers Even Before When I first joined OA and wasn’t getting abstinent, I came across “Pray Then Act” (Lifeline, March 2015, p. 16), a story about a person who experienced a sudden, intense obsession to stop for food at a drive-through. She immediately called her sponsor, who said, “You can have it tomorrow.” This advice drove home in a very real way the OA principle … Read More
Working the Program Wiener Dog Wisdom I have a wonderful dachshund named Macy. Dachshunds are smart and stubborn dogs whose long bodies make them prone to back problems. Macy had recurrent trouble with her spine, and when she was in pain, it was hard for her to get onto the couch or bed using her short little legs. So I bought her a set of doggy steps … Read More
Uncategorized Working the Program Pug Life My name is Lucy. I am a pug. I want to tell how my brother Joey, my sister MP, and I all helped with our Mom’s recovery. In 2009, our Mom was very sad. She was eating a lot. Nothing would help. She even took trips and had holidays but was still very sad. We decided to help. On our Mom’s … Read More
Service An Invitation to All Members I have thoroughly enjoyed giving service as intergroup newsletter chair for the past two years. It’s been a pleasure to read articles of recovery from enthusiastic members and compile them into a final product each month. When I first ran for newsletter chair, I really didn’t know what I was doing. However, I knew from previous experience with OA service … Read More
Working the Program Caring is the Key I have developed a repertoire of activities I can engage in instead of eating compulsively. My overeating often stemmed from a misguided attempt at self-care; I thought I could make myself feel better by eating. Therefore, my efforts to avoid overeating revolve around taking better physical, emotional, and spiritual care of myself: I write about what I am feeling and … Read More