Together, We Have I have been in the rooms of OA for several years now, quietly waiting for my miracle. Like a student yearning for answers, I have listened, watched, and learned. I have listened to your stories and shares, hearing nuggets of wisdom that come from living a life built on the Principles of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, a life … Read More
My Life Depends on You Recently, my schedule changed, so I had to change my weekly attendance to a different OA meeting. Sadly, the new meeting has been disappointing. The turnout is rarely more than five or six people. Sometimes, only two are there to get the meeting started, and several members show up late. This type of behavior in recovery is disturbing to me … Read More
Virtual Family Attending meetings, listening, and sharing struggles is a program requirement that works for my recovery. Undeniably, however, I am an introverted person. I have always been uncomfortable in groups in which I do not play a clear role as a provider of service. I had a vital role to play at work each day for forty-two years. Service is in … Read More
No Longer Isolated It is a wonderful feeling to go around the room and look into another compulsive eater’s eyes and say, “I put my hand in yours because I care,” and really mean it sincerely. Unity Day reminds me that I am no longer isolated in my home, in my room, in my hiding places, being loved and comforted by my food. … Read More
All Roads to Recovery Tradition One says, “Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon OA unity.” We all found our way to OA not because of our strength but due to our weakness, which is how we react to food or compulsive overeating. The road I traveled to program was different from anyone else’s. I tried other Twelve Step programs after … Read More
Recovery’s Greatest Hits I’m planning on attending the next World Service Convention, and I hope you plan to attend too. I was so grateful to attend World Service Conventions in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2013 and Boston, Massachusetts, in 2016, and I’m sure the next Convention will be equally rewarding for my recovery. The 2013 Convention was “right in my backyard” since I’m in … Read More
On Voting and the Traditions Is it a Tradition break that only trusted servants can vote? Our Second Tradition says, “All those who considers themselves a group member are welcome to speak or vote. To exclude some from speaking or voting on decisions for the group denies them effective membership in the group.” (The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, Second Edition, pp. … Read More
Viva OA I do not have an adequate vocabulary to describe Region Eight’s first international assembly and convention in South America where we met in Medellín, Colombia. Board members, region reps, and committee chairs began arriving on Wednesday, greeted at the airport by OA members with signs that read, “Bienvenidos, OA.” We were driven to the hotel, and as we arrived we … Read More
Marking This Day The purpose of this special day, International Day Experiencing Abstinence, is to encourage members to establish or reaffirm their own abstinence. Many people ask what abstinence is, so we will look to the OA Policy on Abstinence and Recovery: “The WSBC 2019 accepts the following definitions: Abstinence: The act of refraining from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors while working … Read More
Soak Up the Recovery and Fellowship I always get excited just thinking about World Service Convention. These are events not to miss! I have attended almost every World Service Convention since 1995, and I’ve attended lots of workshops at them, but it is the connection with other members that keeps me coming back. My first Convention, in 1995, was themed “Heart of Recovery,” and it was … Read More
