Recovery Relationships Show Up Anyway “I have learned that it does not matter how afraid I am. I can show up anyway. I pray and ask God to help me, and I’ve never been disappointed” (Voices of Recovery, p. 337). I was 55, divorced for six years, and very lonely. One morning as I was walking to work, I prayed to my Higher Power, saying, … Read More
Literature Tools & Concepts Abstinent Now I am writing to echo sentiments from “Print Preference.” I came to OA in 1986 and have abstained from sugar since then and have been maintaining a 100-pound (45-kg) weight loss. Words cannot express the gratitude I have for the gift of OA, for the gift of a life free from food obsession and bondage, and for a life in … Read More
Diversity Newcomers Young, Now Hopeful I always have to applaud newcomers because coming into my first OA meeting was one of the scariest experiences of my life. I was 15 years old when I started, and I had a monstrous fear of being judged or laughed at. I could already hear what other members would say about me: “You’re too young! What could you possibly … Read More
Recovery Relationships Connecting to Hope and Help I’ve always been a loner, happy in my own company, where I write, create, talk to myself, and can completely be myself with no mask, no pretenses, and no judgement. I had been a misfit throughout my life, always extremely self-conscious around other people. In the company of others, I would feel an element of forced politeness and false cheerfulness; afterwards, … Read More
Recovery Working the Program Action and Potential When I think of powerlessness, I get an image of myself as a lightbulb alone in a box on the shelf. I’m powerless, but I have potential. If I connect with my power source, if I’m attached to a fixture or socket and the light switch is turned on, then my potential comes to fruition: I can shine warm, useful … Read More
Recovery Relationships Living Connected I would rather live in recovery than die in isolation. These words came to me as a spiritual truth, simple yet profound. Living in recovery is not easy—it takes daily work—yet it beats the alternative. I am an introvert and crave solitude. It is one of my spiritual needs. However, before recovery, I was unable to distinguish between solitude and … Read More
Traditions Guided Out of Isolation Tradition One: Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon OA unity. I love how The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous reflects on Tradition One and talks about our isolation in the disease (pp. 109–117). I remember, about eight years ago, being surrounded by my loving friends and family but feeling completely miserable. I was … Read More
