Many Sources of Inspiration

When I attended a recent Region Nine assembly, the trustee asked us to write about how OA literature has been useful on our OA journey. “Write a note to a fictitious OA member explaining how you found OA, which piece of OA-approved literature helped you work all Twelve Steps of OA, what piece of OA literature is your favorite and why, and which literature you feel is useful in carrying the message of OA.” Here goes . . .

I came into OA when I was in my twenties. A friend had given me a meetings list and said OA might help me. I put the list on my fridge. Six months later, after a blitz of bingeing and gaining weight, I went to my first meeting. I hated it and fled at the end. After another week of overeating, I went to a second, different meeting, where a woman with one year of abstinence came up to me and asked if I had a sponsor. When I said no, she said to call her at 6:10 the next morning. I have never binged since!

She had me purchase Alcoholics Anonymous and AA’s Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Starting that day, I was given reading assignments from them both, and these two books continue to be my primary literature. That’s where my directions are, which I refer to on a daily basis and use for sponsoring. Other OA-approved literature supplements them but does not replace them, since the fundamental directions for how to work the Twelve Steps are in these two books.

I’ve had a lifetime subscription to Lifeline, which I’ve read monthly and written for regularly. It’s a good size. It fits easily in a pocket or bag and is good to have on hand to give to someone when giving Twelfth Step Within service. I write my contact info on the cover.

I also like the coins. I keep them in my coin purse and give them to newcomers. My abstinence date is engraved on one coin to remind me of how precious my abstinence is and how I don’t want to change it.

I also use Dignity of Choice when starting with a new sponsee to help them choose a safe food plan. Dignity of Choice gives several options, including my first food plan, which has remained basically the same for thirty-seven years.

I love For Today, a nugget of recovery whenever I want it!

My favorite book has been Overeaters Anonymous, Third Edition, which offers great stories of genuine recovery from compulsive overeating. I’ve listened to the CDs at least ten times. They are my traveling companions in my car and always a source of inspiration and assurance that it is possible for me to be abstinent one more day.

— Anonymous