I wanted to write this weeks ago, and now with all that’s changed and slowed down in the world, I can do service and write. May all of you be well and cared for. In “Send Us Your Stories” in the Nov/Dec 2019 issue, one of the topics listed was “Breaking and Mending Relationships.” I must say, when I first …

Powerful Shares I wanted to share how sad I am to hear about the discontinuation of Lifeline. It has literally been a lifeline to me. I am one of the ones who answered your 2018 subscription appeal, and I recently renewed my subscription and will cherish every last issue. Thank you for the articles about “The Joys of Retreats and …

Oceans of Recovery Thank you for publishing my story, “Walking Through It” (September 2019, p. 4). I forgot to add an important piece of information: I have fully recovered from my illness by God’s grace. Seems like a fairly important detail! Since recovering, I’ve taken up boogie boarding (in my 60s—who knew?). An OA friend and I hop in the …

I have thought several times that I need to write to Lifeline and tell you how much I appreciate the artwork, photos, and graphics that go with the articles. It’s obvious that a lot of time and talent goes into choosing the graphics, which really accent the message of the words. Thank you for your service in this manner. — …

Definitely do not change “abstinence” to “moderation” as suggested by “Alternative to Abstinence” (March 2019, p. 26). Moderation implies that we can eat like normal people. We are not normal eaters and never will be. Ads for drinking alcohol and gambling in casinos end with warnings to practice these activities “responsibly,” in other words, in moderation. Ads for food do …

“Meeting on the Menu” (March 2019, p. 7) reminded me of two OA miracles: arriving “to the meeting on time” and “how effortless it had been to refrain from compulsive overeating” once I became abstinent. Because my life today doesn’t yet look how I wish it would, I often forget where I came from. I used to be in constant …

Thank you for “No Wrong Door” (January 2019, p. 20) about OA’s Statement on Bariatric Surgery. As a member and an intergroup chair, I had been concerned about the controversy in OA over this surgery, which is, as the article states, “deemed by a doctor to be medically necessary.” OA members who undergo weight-loss surgery are not “less than” the rest …

I’ve had similar experiences to those described in “Corporate Conscience” (February 2019, p. 22), where a member observed that her group conscience meetings were much more efficient than meetings in her professional life. The article also reminded me to appreciate the benefits of recovery that I now use in my career: Abstinence gives me the ability to focus on what …

I’m from a very diverse area and have been in OA for forty-three years. I noticed the cover of the March Lifeline has only white people represented. We’ve had a lot of discussion about race in OA, and it’s caused our meetings to become aware of this kind of lack of understanding of racial issues. Can we do something to …

I often think of sending some words of gratitude to Lifeline, but I put it off and put it off. My addictive voice tells me that what I write has to be perfect, timely, brilliant— and that’s not true! I am deeply grateful and appreciative to all who contribute, all who work to put Lifeline together month after month, and …