Doing Service Anyway I so appreciated reading the Service and Recovery story in the March 2018 issue of Lifeline (“Speaker Go-Getter”). It reminded me of everything I have learned in Overeaters Anonymous about remaining abstinent: by reaching out to others, we create the framework for our own recovery. When I was very new, the secretary of a Saturday meeting asked me to lead the meeting … Read More
Longtime Lifeline I love Lifeline magazine. I’ve always loved it, even when I didn’t like this or that particular article I read over the years. I’ve subscribed since 1981 or 1982 and never missed an issue since way back when. In the past, I bought a binder (it was available from the WSO) to save and re-read articles. At meetings, I’d pass them … Read More
Section Shift I love Lifeline. I miss the section where members asked a question and one of the trustees answered. I’m not sure if this section was discontinued or if no questions have been submitted. It was a nice feature. — Anonymous Editor’s Note: Ask-It Basket now appears in A Step Ahead newsletter, published quarterly on oa.org, and will return to Lifeline in 2019. … Read More
A Sense of Humor I just wanted to let you know that the “Dogust” 2017 issue and the theme “Let’s Share a Laugh” are great. I was looking for some humor in OA and there it was! I really liked all the selections. I also liked the section on pets! Yay for doing something a little different, and with a sense of humor. — … Read More
Still Learning Just wanted to send a belated “thank-you” for the July 2017 stories. I especially felt blessed by the Step Study story “How I Ask”. The author identified one of my most troublesome defects, obsession with control, and then offered a helpful clarification: “or illusions of control.” What I have to keep learning is that I actually have control over very … Read More
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
Experience and Opinion Regarding “Love, Licks, and Fellowship” (August 2017), since our magazine presents experiences and opinions of OA members, my own opinion is that OA meetings are not a dog and pony show. This kind of thing is a distraction from Tradition Five, “Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the compulsive overeater who still suffers.” — Joanie … Read More
Our Own Concept After reading “Be a Coach!” (May/June 2017), my group had a group conscience meeting about the concept of a sponsor being a coach. We discussed the idea thoroughly and decided that, to us, an OA sponsor is not like a sports coach. We thought a “guide” or a “friend along the path” is a better image. We have our own concept … Read More
Disappointed I just had to write in and let you know how disappointed I am that Lifeline published the story called “Turtle Tale” (August 2017). I think this was a horrible story that should never have been considered. I found the way the writer associated compulsive overeating and food addiction to her dog eating a live animal quite disturbing. The story itself … Read More
Every Opportunity This is in response to “Outside Issues” (September 2017). Almost everything in my life is technically an outside issue! But those are the things I would eat over, so I find it important to talk about them in a general way in meetings, as well as share them in greater depth with close program friends. When I am in the disease, … Read More