A Wellspring of Hope
Newsletter of The Recovery Group
January 2004
Volume 6, Issue 1
ser*en*dip*i*ty ~ (noun) First appeared 1754:
the faculty or phenomenon of finding
valuable or agreeable things not sought for.
PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO:
SerendipityNewsletter@yahoo.com
with a Subject of 'Letter to the Editor'
From Our Editor
Founder's Corner
From the TRG Administration
From Our ODAT Committee
From The Recovery Loops' Coordinator
From Our TRG Sponsor Program
Letters to the Editor
Announcement ~ WTS: Twelve Steps in Twelve Weeks
For Kids, Teens and Parents/Guardians
January Loop Spotlights:
Spanish and Recovery
Sponsors and Recovery
Strong Recovery
Teens ODAT
From The Recovery Group Members
Recovery Writers' Series
From the Literature
Recovery Meditations Calendar
The Recovery Group Online Meetings
Overeaters Anonymous Contacts
Recovery Group Contacts
Serenity Prayer
Hello, Serendipity Readers,
Dear Friends ~
The highlight of January is always the announcing of the new term of
Trusted Servants for the Recovery Group. Each of us shares a connected
space in our chain of recovery ... and this chain reaches around the
world. Soon, the list of the 2004 Trusted Servants will be sent to
the Recovery Intergroup and, shortly after that, announced to all
members of TRG.
The Recovery Group is made up of several branches, the ODAT loops being
one of them. ODAT loops are special-focus loops, and there are many,
many of them! You might say that there's a loop out there for every
possible interest, but in reality, we just have a lot! The main premise
for having the ODAT loops is that it's a lot easier for a compulsive
overeater to share and communicate with others who have similar
interests or problems. We have loops from A-Z; from an "AA" loop to a
"WLS" (Weight Loss Surgery) loop; well, _almost_ A-Z!
Hi, Everyone!
Dear Friends,
~ Please consider submitting a Letter to the Editor. ~
ANNOUNCING: WTS: Twelve Steps in Twelve Weeks (1st Quarter, 2004)
We care about the children in our world, and are offering a safe place
for them to "hang out", and share their thoughts, worries, and
frustrations. Since we, as adults, are aware that our own overeating
problems had their seeds "way back" in our childhood, we see the value
in having children learn how to deal with the worries, frustrations,
stresses, etc. that they may be experiencing and then heading to food
over.
To this end, we at TRG offer three different groups/loops: COKids,
Kids and Discovery, and Teens One Day at a Time.
SPANISH AND RECOVERY
STRONG RECOVERY
One of TRG's Special Interest groups is called "Disabilities". It is
a loop for overeaters who have any kind of disability. It is a place
where we can focus on our recovery from compulsive overeating, while
at the same time talking about our disabilities with others who
understand what we are going through. People who are disabled have
difficulty dealing with day to day problems, and may even be
housebound, depending on the disability. Others can get around, but
often with difficulty, sometimes having to depend on others to get
where needed. This loop is a blessing for COEs with disabilities.
If you would like to know more, please visit these websites:
In this column we bring you shares from Recovery Meditations,
Odyssey, Danny's "Letters To God", Journey to Recovery, Reflections,
The Promises and many others. About a year ago, we brought a
few selections from "Odyssey, A Personal Journey". This month we
will return to this collection and bring you three more selections.
The writer is a wonderful gentleman whose journey started when he
weighed 725 pounds. He has shared his extraordinary journey with
us, and we are grateful recipients of his experience, strength and
hope. (Note: if you wish to read all of his Odyssey, the entire
collection can be found at:
~ FROM OUR EDITOR ~
Happy New Year to you all; I hope it brings a year of happiness, good
health, and steady recovery to each one of you.
This issue, the first of 2004, is one I hope you enjoy; there should
be something for everyone in it. In her Founder's Corner, Mari
reminds us that the WTS Twelve Steps in Twelve Weeks Step Study begins
on January 1, and is a wonderful way to better ourselves in this new
year. Several other articles emphasize and describe this quarterly
step study, also. If you haven't already joined, please consider
doing so, at least as one who receives and reads the leader's shares
and questions.
A related item to note is that the topics for online meetings will be
aligned with the step currently being worked in the WTS step study.
This means that meetings for the first week of January (and future
studies in April, July, and October) will have Step One as their
primary subject, with sub-topics relating to that step. And so on,
through each week of each quarter.
As regular items, we have articles from various TRG administrators,
who work very hard and give service to TRG. With their help, jobs
are spread out and work loads lightened. We have also spotlighted
and focused on several of The Recovery Group loops; they cover a
broad range, from COEs with disabilities to Spanish-speaking COEs
to COEs who are kids or teenagers. Perhaps one of these descriptions
will spark an interest in you to join or offer service.
This month's Recovery Writers Series again focuses, as it did a year
ago, on the writings in "The Odyssey: a personal Journey". For this
and the next two months you will get to hear from a wonderful man who
has been on his journey to recovery for over a year. His is an
inspiring story, and we are fortunate that he is sharing it with us.
Myrlene has chosen a Big Book reading for us this month concerning our
perception of a Higher Power, about which she has also given us her
own thoughtful, personal reflection.
As always, I ask that you send me any comments you would like to make
(positive or negative); I look forward to your input. That's what the
Letters to the Editor column is for, as well as the column: "From The
Recovery Group Members". This is your newsletter; I value your input.
Love and blessings for a good year ahead,
Marty
Editor, SERENDIPITY
Newsletter of The Recovery Group
~ FOUNDER'S CORNER ~ HAPPY NEW YEAR~
Benjamin Franklin wrote "Be always at war with your vices, at peace with
your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."
We have begun a new year and it's a time when many of us reflect on the
past year and make resolutions to "do better." I can think of no better
way to begin the new year than by working or re-working the Twelve Steps.
The WTS Twelve Steps in Twelve Weeks Step Study begins on January 1,
2004 and will conclude March 31. I'm not sure which vices we will
uncover, or if any of us are not at peace with our neighbors .... but I
can almost guarantee that at the completion of working the Twelve Steps
we will be better people.
Thank you all for being part of our Recovery Group Twelve Step community.
May the year 2004 hold many blessings for each of you.
@-}-}-}------
Love in recovery,
Mari
~ FROM THE TRG ADMINISTRATION ~
TRGAdm is the administrative hub from which all the loops, meetings,
studies and services come together to make up The Recovery Group
Community. It is quite a busy place. We are a family ... and fight,
make up, love, grump about things, help one another and are always
there when someone needs us. TRG Administration is a conduit through
which the life blood of the community flows and if we do our job right,
we find a common thread connecting the loops, meetings, studies and
services.
Our Trusted Servants range from newcomers to old-timers and everything
in between. Some have found abstinence for the first time and others
have been blessed for decades. There are times when a newcomers
imparts the wisdom found mostly in the oldtimers and the oldtimers go
back to their roots and begin again. Our Trusted Servants understand
this disease ... and carry the message via their service.
We invite anyone interested in serving others to join our Trusted
Servant Pool by sending a blank email to:
TrustedServantsPool@yahoogroups.com.
It is here that positions are announced first, and it is here that the
beginning of what may turn out to be the best job you've ever had begins.
TRGADM administrators
~ FROM OUR ODAT ADMINISTRATION ~
A full list of ODAT loops can be found at:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/odat/index.html.
Take a look at the list, poke around a bit, and you're bound to soon
find a loop to which you'll be able to relate.
The ODAT committee's mission is to serve the members of TRG. We work
hard to keep the loops as safe places for you to share your experience,
strength and hope with each other.
http://www.TheRecoveryGroup.org/odat/index.html
January 1st is the time that we have rotation of service for those who
want to move on, so we are looking for people to do service on the
loops to which they belong.
Here are some items of interest in TRG's loops:
~ Newcomers loop is a short-term loop for people just finding out about
OA or about TRG. Members are either new to the program, new to online
OA, or are seasoned members who help to answer questions.
Dodee
~ Anorexia and Bulimia is a vital loop, which is working hard to stay
in the solution and give hope to those still in the problem. They have
their Trusted Servants all set for 2004.
~ OA Friends has survived an administrative probe and is moving on. I'd
like to see more participation, but enjoy the conversations -- similar
to those I have with my OA friends.
~ Relapse and Recovery has some new members coming back to the program
and heading in the right direction.
~ Big Book will be starting the book again January 1st.
~ Working the Steps (WTS) will be starting a step study in January. I
have been asked to lead this study and am looking forward to it.
~ Journey to Recovery is still a checking-in place for many members.
~ HOTJ is small right now. Do you have or have you had 100 pounds to
lose? You could share your ESH there.
~ Italian JTR, French and Recovery, German and Recovery, and Spanish
and Recovery still exist for members who speak and write those
languages.
~ There is also a loop called The Recovery Loop, which was one of the
first -- if not the first -- loops in The Recovery Group. There are
people sharing there with much recovery.
Coordinator of Recovery Loops
RecoveryLoopsAdm@lists.TheRecoveryGroup.org
The Recovery Group maintains a Sponsor Program because we believe that
Sponsorship is the key to success in the Twelve Step Recovery Program.
There are as many kinds of sponsors as there are individuals. Some
sponsors feel their role is that of a friend. Others are more rigid
and take a highly structured approach to sponsoring. Some are
easy-going and laid back. Others use tough love. As the sponsor and
sponsee get to know one another, their relationship evolves and becomes
one where each others' needs are met.
"Having a sponsor is the best way to learn how to be a sponsor: we are
taught by example. We also learn to sponsor by doing." (from 'A Guide
for Sponsors', Overeaters Anonymous)
Having a sponsor is an essential part of our recovery from our disease
of compulsive overeating, anorexia, bulimia, binge disorder (or any of
the other descriptions for our disease) which is, for all intents and
purposes, killing us.
Being a sponsor, and giving back what we have so generously been given
is just as essential as having a sponsor! It is a spiritual axiom that
we cannot keep what we do not give away. We must give back!
Having confidence as a sponsor is not difficult, because we have a
sponsor ourselves; someone we can emulate in the way that we now
sponsor, and also someone we can go to for help when needed as we
sponsor others.
To find out about the Recovery Sponsor Program go to:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/sponsors.html.
For both Sponsors and Sponsees there is a loop within The Recovery
Group to join and ask questions, share our experience, strength and
hope, as well as any issues that come up as we sponsor or are sponsored.
The loop is "Sponsors and Recovery" at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sponsorsandrecovery/.
If you have questions, suggestions or need the Sponsor Directory and
Biographies for TRG's Sponsor Program, please write the address below,
and don't forget you _must_ include the name of the Recovery Group
to which you belong. Write to:
Sponsors@TheRecoveryGroup.org.
If you wish to contact all the sponsors at once, and describe the
kind of sponsor you're looking for and a little about yourself, please
write the address below, and (again) don't forget you _must_ include
the name of the Recovery Group loop to which you belong:
RecoverySponsors@yahoogroups.com
If you would like to become a Recovery Sponsor and serve The Recovery
Community in this very important way, please let us know by writing
to:
TRGSponsorsAdm@lists.TheRecoveryGroup.org
Thank you.
In loving service to all,
Dreena and Patt, Sponsor Coordinators
The Recovery Group Sponsor Program Trusted Servants
www.TheRecoveryGroup.org
SUBMITTING LETTERS
Letters to the Editor are encouraged and welcomed.
Please send your letter to
SerendipityNewsletter@yahoo.com.
Please put 'Letter to the Editor' in the subject line.
Begining January 1, 2004, Dodee will be leading the first Quarter
"WTS: Twelve Steps in Twelve Weeks" study.
By virtue of her being involved in many aspects of The Recovery Group,
Dodee has the advantage of observing the human nature of COES from many
perspectives, and promises to bring a unique leadership to this twelve-
week study.
Each week of the study, Dodee will share her insight on a different
step. She will then pose questions about the step, to which the
participants respond, both to the other members and to their sponsor.
It sometimes happens, during the quarter, that a member's share will
inspire another member to share his/her own experience, strength and
hope and a thread will develop. When this happens, it makes for a
particularly "well-worked" step.
One requirement to becoming an active participant of this group is to
have an individual step sponsor. If you already have one, that's fine.
If, however, you need one, TRG has a wonderful Sponsor program, through
which you can find an online sponsor. More on this subject can be
found in these Serendipity articles: "FROM OUR RECOVERY GROUP SPONSOR
PROGRAM" and the "SPONSORS AND RECOVERY" loop spotlight.
Please note that WTS is not a general sharing loop. That is, all
shares must specifically relate to the Steps and how they apply to
the member's own recovery. Private sharing is done outside the loop,
on a member-to-member basis only.
If you would like to join the January 1, 2004 Step Study, please do the
following:
Send an email to Listserv@Maelstrom.stjohns.edu
No subject necessary
In the body of the message type:
Subscribe WTS FirstName LastInitial
If, however, you just want the Leader's shares, please join WTSStudy
by sending a blank email to:
WTSStudy-subscribe-request@lists.therecoverygroup.org. This
is a non-sharing loop, whose members receive and are able to read only
the leader's Shares and Questions each week.
As Mari stated in her Founder's column, this is a wonderful way to have
a new beginning in this new year. Come climb on board; the journey
begins today!
«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»
"COKids" is for adults (parents or guardians); a place for them to share
and discuss the problems they may be seeing developing in children in
their lives. It is a place for them to share and discuss the problems
their children are experiencing.
"Kids and Discovery" is for kids, a place that offers them a place to
share what's going on in their lives; a place where they are welcomed
with open arms and listened to by other kids with the same sort of
problems. What these kids cannot do alone, they _can_ do together.
"Teens One Day at a Time" is a discussion group for teen-agers who have
eating disorders and wish to have a safe place to share their experience,
strength and hope about this disease, as well as the worries and
frustrations that are often felt at this stage in their lives.
This month, TeensODAT welcomes Rose, its new coordinator! There
is more on this loop below, since it is in the "spotlight" this month.
If any of these loops interests you, please check them out at the urls
below. If you know of someone else who might be interested, please pass
the information along, and invite him/her to join us.
~ JANUARY LOOP SPOTLIGHTS ~
Spanish and Recovery is a loop which is conducted completely in spanish,
for those compulsive overeaters who need or prefer this medium. There
are close to 500 members of this loop, which was formed almost five
years ago. Here is the welcoming paragraph of the group's home page:
"La lista de Recuperación en Español es un grupo de discusión formado
por hombres y mujeres de habla hispana que son comedores compulsivos
y desean compartir su experiencia, fortaleza y esperanza el uno con el
otro. Nuestro grupo de discusión por internet es un grupo afiliado a
Comedores Compulsivos Anónimos y nos guiamos por medio de las Doce
Tradiciones de CCA. Solo existe un requerimeinto para afiliarse a
Recuperación en Español, y es el deseo de dejar de comer
compulsivamente. Creemos que lo que nunca pudimos hacer solos, lo
podemos lograr juntos--un día a la vez."
If you are interested in this loop, or know of someone who might be,
here are the urls of pages (in Spanish!) which will help you with more
information:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/special/spanish.html or
http://espanol.groups.yahoo.com/group/SpanishandRecovery
Suscribir:
SpanishandRecovery-subscribe@gruposyahoo.com
Sponsors and Recovery is a loop within The Recovery Group community
which provides a place for both sponsors and sponsees to share
their experience, strength and hope, as well as ask questions and
participate in discussions regarding sponsor/sponsee issues. Whether
it be that a Sponsor needs to share anonymously about a particular
difficulty with a Sponsee, or that a Sponsee has a question about
something their sponsor is doing and wants to get input from others,
this loop is dedicated to that purpose. Please remember, though, to
maintain anonymity and to not use personal names of either sponsor or
sponsee.
To read more about this group, please visit the following webpage:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/sponsorsandrecovery/
To join Sponsors and Recovery, please send a blank email to:
SponsorsAndRecovery-subscribe-request@lists.therecoverygroup.org
For more information about TRG's Sponsor Program, see "FROM OUR
RECOVERY GROUP SPONSOR PROGRAM" in this newsletter, and the following
url:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/sponsors.html.
Strong Recovery is loop for compulsive overeaters who have reached
their individual recovery goals and wish to have a safe place to
discuss Maintenance issues. We welcome all: both those who have
reached their goals and those haven't yet. All are welcome. If you
have reached your goal weight, congratulations ... and welcome home.
If you have not, stay with us until you do ... and beyond, as we
maintain recovery, one day at a time.
To find out more, please visit:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/odat/strongrecovery/index.html or
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StrongRecoveryODAT/
To join, please send a blank email to:
StrongRecoveryODAT-subscribe-request@lists.therecoverygroup.org.
TEENS ODAT
Teens One Day at a Time (TeensODAT) is a discussion list for teen-agers
who have eating disorders and wish to have a safe place to share their
experience, strength and hope about this disease. Eating disorders
begin at an early age and by the teen-age years, damage is already
being done both physically and psychologically. If you are, or know
of, a teen-ager who is a compulsive eater, an anorexic or bulimic,
please join us. You will be safe here. You will find recovery here.
We are pleased to announce that Rose, a very special lady, has agreed
to be Teens ODAT Advisor. Rose will work directly with the teens and
TRG to make sure that TeensODAT is a safe recovery home for you. It
will be up to the teens to participate and invite their friends who
have eating disorders, also, to come share with the loop. Those who
would like to volunteer for service are most welcome and will find
such service very fulfilling.
If you would like to subscribe,simply send a blank e-mail to:
TeensODAT-subscribe-request@lists.therecoverygroup.org.
If you would like to know more, or would like to refer a friend to
these pages, please use the following urls:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/special/teens.html or
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TeensODAT/
~ FROM OUR RECOVERY GROUP MEMBERS ~
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/odat/disabilities/index.html or
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabilitiesODAT/
~ Recovery Inspirations ~
http://www.therecoverygroup.org/odyssey/index.html.)
Dear Journal,
"Odyssey, A Personal Journey" ~ Part 38
My A/C unit died a week ago, but finally got it working on the eve of
July 4, had to replace the first unit within 24 hours as it only ran
for 20 hours then died. How many times have I heard, "this part never
does this, this is very unusual!".. :-) They must learn that line
somewhere in their repair courses.... cars, stereo stuff, anything I've
ever owned it seems.
The A/C guy did reduce his bill by $150 for my inconvenience though, so
that was a nice gift. I was able to get through the week without air
conditioning without letting it affect my mood, I learned to appreciate
the afternoon rain as it cooled and cleansed the air, it was quite
enjoyable in fact. I have been able to set the thermostat up a couple
of degrees and still feel comfortable now after a week in the 90's in
the house.. so that may prove to be yet another positive that came from
this experience - a reduced electric bill. :-)
The day of the 4th had some surprises: my wife was off work and offered
to fix my breakfast which I enjoyed, and it wasn't until getting ready
to send my food later that day to my sponsor that I realized I didn't
have my protein for breakfast, and the most curious thing happened, I
began to fixate on the fact that I had missed having something that I
would have had normally and began thinking about it being okay to "make
it up" by having more, or something extra now that I realized I had
missed it. This thought would just not leave me alone... even this
morning it still haunts me a bit... and the fact that I also slept
through my snack last night has made it even worse... I will not give
in to this, but I am finding it a very tenacious thought.
I just finished my breakfast, had a cereal that I don't normally have,
something my wife got for me, that she should have known I didn't
like... a puffed cereal, and in the 27 years we've been married, I
NEVER have eaten puffed cereal.. to her credit of course, she did
get a "healthy" version, no sugar, no additives, but still... :-)
I ate it anyway as it was the only thing in the house and what I
normally get wasn't available at the store last night.. I had run out
and she was doing me a favor... I AM grateful, and I did eat it,
telling myself it doesn't really matter if I like it, it fits my food
plan, and it's what I have available.. it's nourishment and that's all
that really matters.
This feeling of being "behind" in my food intake has lessened but it's
still there... I'll have to delve into that a bit I guess. Obviously
something else is going on in my head.
Spent some time discussing "Life" with a friend today, talking about
the need most of us have to want to "blame" something or someone for
all the bad things that happen in our lives. If it happens to our
family, we blame ourselves, if it happens to us, we blame others or God.
It is my view that Life just happens, there is not a "god" directing
every event, it is random by design and what our Higher Power does for
us is gives us a way to deal with that randomness. Acceptance of the
way things are, whether we can understand them or not. I have come to
believe that the "Creator" set the environment for life to exist and
then just let it unfold. Guiding us in how we deal with that life, but
not down here stirring the pot just to mess us up. It doesn't matter
what happens to me, only how I deal with what happens to me! How I grow
along spiritual lines makes it possible to accept what happens to me.
Had a few doctors appointments recently, and for the most part am in
the best shape in a long time, all blood work is great, am still
reducing my weight, almost done with the diabetes meds.. have been
reducing those steadily over the last year, and in another 3 months will
evaluate again and hopefully will be able to be taken off all together.
Resting heart rate was 52, the cardiologist was thrilled, EKG looked
great, and don't see him for another year. The colonoscopy evaluation
is in a couple of weeks, so don't know anything new about that yet,
but worry about it is not in my plans.
I continue to walk my 1.5 miles in the mornings, extended to 1.8 a few
times, and 2.75 on one other occasion... I was feeling very strong when
I started, but went through a lot of mental exercises to finish that
one. I shared on that earlier.
This morning I felt absolutely skinny when on my walk, my legs felt
strong, my wind was good, I didn't start sweating till almost 3/4 of
the way done... had a nice chat with my daughter on the walk, it was
just a great morning.
More and more the good days overshadow the not so good ones... I am
excited to get up in the mornings and I look forward to my days now
with anticipation.
Am doing some yard work getting ready for a visit from my brother, so
muscles are a bit sore, but I feel good about that. Hopefully I'll have
some energy left by the time he actually gets here. LOL He's travelling
in a 30' motor home so I needed to clear a path through my "wild" area
to get him near the electric box. It needed it anyway.. :-)
All in all, I'd have to say, Life is Good! Learning to appreciate all
the things that happen, looking for (and finding) the positives in
each situation has been a wonderful serendipity for me. Having the
clarity of thought that being abstinent provides is beyond description,
suffice to say, it is joyful!
Thank you all for being there,
Stay Strong!
love and hugs,
me
~ FROM THE LITERATURE ~
BIG BOOK READING
"The word 'God' still aroused a certain antipathy. I could go for such
conceptions as 'Creative Intelligence', 'Universal Mind' or 'Spirit of
Nature', but I resisted the thought of a Czar of the Heavens, however
loving his sway might be. I have since talked with scores of men who
felt the same way.
My friend suggested what then seemed a novel idea. He said, "Why don't
you choose your own conception of God?"
That statement hit me hard. It melted the icy intellectual mountain in
whose shadow I had lived and shivered many years. I stood in the
sunlight at last.
It was only a matter of being willing to believe in a Power greater than
myself. Nothing more was required of me to make my beginning. I saw
that growth would come from that point."
AABB, P. 12. (Note: The first paragraph was paraphrased).
A REFLECTION...by Myrl
When I started Recovery just a year ago, I had no god. I had given
up on the punitive and punishing god of my childhood and knew I could
never be perfect, as he wanted. I was so thrilled and relieved after a
lifetime of no hope that here were ideas in the Big Book that I'd never
heard of. I loved the idea of a "Creative Intelligence" or a "Spirit of
Nature". Nature is where I find my greatest sustenance.
I have clung to this idea of choosing my own conception of God!!
Finally, some Hope began to build in my life again as I became willing
to believe that this WAS a Power greater than myself. Anyone knows
that Nature is forever dying down and replenishing itself in minute
details every year. Everything has its own sytems. Each tiny plant
has its own way of reproducing and dying down and starting over the
following year. How did that happen except with a Powerful Spirit of
Nature or the Universe???
I had my starting point, and "nothing more was required of me to make
my beginning."
~ RECOVERY MEDITATIONS ~
~
January Meditations Calendar ~
(http://www.therecoverygroup.org/meditations/january.html)
THE RECOVERY GROUP ONLINE MEETINGS
Telephone 505-891-2664
~~ The Serenity Prayer ~~
What we could never do alone ~
One day at a time, ~ Disclaimer
Volume 6 Issue 1 ©
Copyright 2004 THE RECOVERY GROUP All rights reserved.
~ THE RECOVERY GROUP MEETINGS ~
The OA program offers its members a new pattern of living. One of the
basic elements of that new pattern is regular meetings and meeting
attendance. For the newcomer, living without Compulsive Overeating (COE)
is a brand new experience. All that once was familiar is changed, and
the old people, places and things that served as props on the stage of
their lives are gone. New stresses appear, no longer masked or deadened
by the food. That's why we suggest that newcomers attend a meeting every
day. No matter what comes up, no matter how crazy their day gets, we
know that a daily meeting will await them. No day should go by without
the relief which our fellowship offers.
Then there are the old timers. No matter how long we are in Recovery we
must attend regular meetings to reinforce our identity as *recovering*
COEs, and each meeting helps us get that much further away from becoming
active in our addiction again.
Meetings are a huge part of our new pattern of living.
We attend meetings for a variety of reasons: sometimes we go to meetings
to share our experience, strength and hope with newer members; sometimes
we go just to connect with our friends; and sometimes we go just because
we need a hug (even a cyber hug will do on those days.) Occasionally,
we leave a meeting and realize that we really haven't retained a word
that was said, but for some reason we still feel better. The atmosphere
of love and joy that fills our meetings has kept us abstinent another
day. No matter how hectic our schedule, meeting attendance must be a
priority.
Our meetings are held every three hours starting at Midnight EST, (12
midnight, 3AM, 6AM, 9AM, 12 noon, 3PM, 6PM, and 9PM. You can get there
through the "Blue Door" at:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/, or directly, at:
http://therecoverygroup.org/meetings/index.html.
Meeting topics each week will coincide with the step being discussed in
WTS study, which repeat on a quarterly basis. For example, in the first
week of a WTS study, the meeting topics will relate to Step One, those
of the second week will relate to Step Two, etc.
For AOL members, there is a direct link to #Recovery:
#Recovery on StarChat.Network. AOL users need to first go
to the Meeting website and look at the special instructions
for AOL users before they can fully participate in the
meetings or they can go to:
http://www.starchat.net/aol.php.
#Recovery is the meeting room for Recovery Group. There
is a doorway to #Recovery on the Recovery Group website,
www.therecoverygroup.org. The meeting room can be directly
accessed by going to either of these sites:
http://www.starchat.net/recovery
or
http://www.starchat.net/chat/?chan=recovery.
Another way to reach the meeting webpage is directly, at:
http://therecoverygroup.org/meetings/index.html.
You can find other helpful information, including on-line
meeting protocols at:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/support/meetings.html.
If you wish to offer your time to lead a meeting, please send an email to:
MtgAdm@lists.TheRecoveryGroup.org.
We will get back to you as quickly as possible.
~ OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS CONTACTS ~
World Service Office (WSO)
6075 Zenith Ct. NE
PO Box 44020
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
USA
Fax: 505-891-4320
http://www.overeatersanonymous.org/index.htm
E-Mail Address ~
info@overeatersanonymous.org
"I put my hand in yours ...
and together we can do what we could never do alone."
~ Rozanne, OA CoFounder ~
Is the realization that recovery begins when we find one another."
Grant us the SERENITY to accept the things we cannot change;
The COURAGE to change the things we can;
And the WISDOM to know the difference.
We can do together.
One step at a time.
The Recovery Group and our newsletter has as its mission and purpose that of carrying
the message of recovery to those who suffer from the disease of compulsive eating.
We are an anonymous organization and follow the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of
Overeaters Anonymous; however, we are not affiliated with that group. Your articles,
announcements and information are welcome. All opinions in this newsletter represent
only the opinions of the writers and not necessarily that of The Recovery Group or OA,
Inc.
