From Great Fall to Grateful

I would like to tell you how I think the character, Humpty Dumpty, can be like some compulsive overeaters.

Humpty Dumpty had been told not to get on that wall. It was slippery and dangerous.

“No one can tell me what to do. I will keep climbing that wall; I will not stop. I’m in control. I’m Superman,” he told himself.

Like Humpty, Alice, a compulsive overeater, used to be in OA. She left because she didn’t want to be told what to do. “I will keep eating the way I want. I don’t want or need help. I am in control. I’ll hide my food. I’m Superwoman.”

While Humpty precariously balanced on the top of the wall, people called up to him and offered him help down.

“I don’t need your help,” he said. “I’m fine.” Humpty Dumpty was in denial and incapable of being honest.

During his time on the wall, Humpty Dumpty had a pocket full of sugar from which he constantly ate. From Humpty’s first bite, he was hooked; he couldn’t stop. The more sugar he ate, the more he wanted to eat. Poor Humpty, he didn’t know about the Twelve Steps. He didn’t know about meetings. He didn’t know about sponsors. He was caught in the sugar addiction like a fly in a spiderweb.

Alice was caught in the never-ending cycle of compulsive food addiction. “I’m fine” is what she told concerned family and friends. Any fears she had, she denied or kept to herself. Day after day, month after month, she repeated, “I don’t need help; I’m fine. I can stop eating anytime I want. I. Just. Don’t. Want. To.”

Then Humpty slipped. He lost his balance and tumbled all the way down to the rocks—rock bottom. He was completely shattered and splattered everywhere. There was much confusion and concern, yet all the king’s men, doctors, specialists, and magicians couldn’t put Humpty together again.

Tragedy also happened when Alice hit rock bottom. She hated herself and her body. She could not stop eating and bingeing. All the doctors, money, diet pills, bulimia, exercising—nothing worked.

“I am at the end,” she thought. “There is nothing left for me. I feel like a completely worthless failure. I am ready to give up. What’s the use?”

The doorbell rang. It was Alice‘s sponsor stopping by to see how she was doing, for Alice had missed the meeting. In her desperation, Alice decided to be honest. Alice hugged her sponsor and started to cry as she told her sponsor everything. Her sponsor listened carefully, and then said, “I know how you feel. I felt miserable and worthless before and still do on occasion. We have an addiction, and it is not here today and gone tomorrow; it is always with us. But what I also know is that Overeaters Anonymous works, and it is a ‘we’ program. We cannot beat this one on our own. Always remember, ‘There is One who has all power—that One is God,’ (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., p. 59). The age of miracles is not over. There is hope. It is not too late.”

Together, they went to an OA meeting. Alice was afraid of rejection, of being criticized, and of others being aloof; but instead, she was welcomed and hugged. Overwhelmed by the acceptance and love, she was so glad she returned. Alice went back to attending meetings, staying in touch with her sponsor, and working the Steps.

Unlike Humpty Dumpty, whose life ended when he fell and shattered, Alice’s life was restored. She now has wholeness of body, mind, and spirit. All she had to do was be honest, ask for help, and work the program for a life that is now beyond her wildest dreams.

— Anonymous