With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. – Alcoholics Anonymous p. 58 Welcome to the new website and the new blog. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share my experience, strength and hope! I’ve gone through a lot of holidays, […]
Yearly Archives: 2021
Laughter is the Best Medicine
A man is sitting at a bar, crying. The bartender asks, “Why are you crying?” Man says, “I wish I knew where I was gonna die.” Bartender says “Why’s that?” Man sobs “I wouldn’t go there.” A man from the south walks into a bar in Boston and hears the bartender talking in that Bostonian […]
Show Me the Way
I’m a compulsive overeater and a sugar addict, and also a grateful member of Overeaters Anonymous. Before coming into OA, I used sugar to calm my nerves and I was always nervous. I had a marriage that was dysfunctional, and I thought it was my husband’s entire fault. I tried to match his addiction with […]
All About Abstinence
What is abstinence in Overeaters Anonymous? Abstinence is a gift from God, but I’m the one who gets to keep it or throw it away. Abstinence is the gateway to recovery. Abstinence is the most important thing in my life. Abstinence needs to be strong, but not brittle. Abstinence: I abstain from starting over. I […]
How OA and Zentangle helped me untangle my life
I was fortunate to find a sponsor that was not merely extremely kind, patient, and loving – but someone willing to challenge my old beliefs about art and my own creativity! When I was a child, my parents had discouraged my keen interest in art by advising me it was “a complete waste of time.” […]
Show Me the Way
I’m a compulsive overeater and a sugar addict, and also a grateful member of Overeaters Anonymous. Before coming into OA, I used sugar to calm my nerves and I was always nervous. I had a marriage that was dysfunctional, and I thought it was my husband’s entire fault. I tried to match his addiction with […]
What Do You Mean By “Doing the Footwork?”
Soon after I got into OA, I heard “Let go and let God.” Later it was “Just do the footwork.” I tried to understand how I was supposed to turn things over to my Higher Power, but also do the footwork. I couldn’t figure it out. What was the difference between taking back control of […]
In the Throes of my Bulimia
I am a proud member of Overeater’s Anonymous. It’s hard to believe that I can honestly say that sentence. I first heard about OA when I was in the throes of my bulimia. I didn’t know anything about OA except the thought of it scared me and made me sick to my stomach. There was […]
Writing Out My Gratitude List
Many sponsors encourage members to make gratitude lists to aid us in the recognition of what is going well in our lives, rather than focusing on the things that make us unhappy or uncomfortable. My sponsor encourages me to remember to make a “Gratitude List” – especially on the days when things aren’t going as […]
One Member’s Action Plan
The following is an Action Plan I put together that has helped me to release over 90 pounds and to remain abstinence since 6/14/17. This is my personal Action Plan designed to meet my unique needs and the individual challenges I had to face. It does not represent OA as a whole. I developed this […]
Putting Together A Plan of Eating
Our Plans of Eating are as varied as our members. There are those of us who are strict vegetarians (such as my sponsor) that rely upon tofu, seitan, or legumes with rice for their daily protein, whereas others among us much prefer to eat animal meat or seafood (such as I do), with healthy fats […]
Putting Together A Plan of Eating
Our Plans of Eating are as varied as our members. There are those of us who are strict vegetarians (such as my sponsor) that rely upon tofu, seitan, or legumes with rice for their daily protein, whereas others among us much prefer to eat animal meat or seafood (such as I do), with healthy fats […]