When I first started connecting with OA friends on social media, I was a bit wary about it. I was concerned it would somehow lead to a break in anonymity, even if only accidentally. I’m quite open with friends and family that I’m in OA, but I also wanted to be respectful of the Traditions and didn’t want to risk …

I am on social media a lot, and I was fortunate to be among the first members of the first registered OA group on a popular social media site. We follow all Twelve Traditions of OA and have two meetings a week. I found my sponsors through this group. Through the site, I message one of them daily about my food, …

In 2015, as a first-time delegate to a World Service Business Conference, I was assigned to the Young Persons’ Committee. I replied, “Okay. But I’m not young.” In fact, my adult son was five years past young by OA standards! Perhaps my Higher Power had a sense of humor. During committee meetings, much to my surprise, I found a new …

Service is one of the ways I stay in recovery and out of relapse. When I came back to program last April, I knew that taking continuous action was the only way to keep my program moving forward. The first thing I did was commit to service at the group level because that’s key to getting me to a regular meeting. …

I’m afraid I’ll do it wrong. I’m afraid my sponsees will find out I’m a fraud. What if they don’t like me, won’t do what I tell them, or don’t become abstinent? What if I have to dedicate all my free time to them? What if they contact me constantly and I can’t say no? What if they ask questions …

When I was young, my granny always told me it’s what’s on the inside that matters, but I couldn’t help but see myself as ugly, fat, and disgusting. In seventh grade, I weighed 145 pounds (66 kg), and I started restricting my food and exercising two hours every day. I lost 20 pounds (9 kg) in three weeks. People flattered …