FOUNDER'S CORNER

Happy New Year, Dear Loopies,

As we say goodbye to a significant year for The Recovery Group, we say hello to an even greater one in 2006. More and more we are going to focus on what brings us all here together - the desire to quit compulsive eating. While there are programs which are almost akin to fat serenity, we here at TRG cannot do that if we are to remain a credible organization. The solutions to our food problems will be found in the Twelve steps and it will be these solutions which will be the main topics of all the loops, meetings and programs of our community.

Four events begin on Jan 1. It is the first day of the 2006 WTS Working The Steps study. With a deep love for the Steps and the Big Book, Shlomo S. brings us once again a "different" kind of study ... a workshop. We hope you'll get a sponsor and join us. It is also the day we are announcing the 2006 Trusted Servants of the Recovery Group and you will find the list in your mailboxes as soon as the Recovery Intergroup votes them in. Our OA Newcomers Loop begins the first Orientation session of 2006 today and we welcome 12 Speakers who will each speak on a different topic for 12 weeks after which those ready will graduate to a Home Loop. And finally, the Big Book will launch an exciting new way of presenting the Big Book Study. Each chapter of the Big Book will be presented once a week for 12 weeks and The BB Leader's shares will be highlighted on The Recovery Website for all to read and enjoy.

You can read more details about all of these in this issue of Serendipity.

Thank you for being a part of our Community.

Happy New Year To All,

@-}-}-}------
Love in recovery,
Mari

I use certain elements in the environment as external "chimes" to remind me to reconnect to reality.... which usually means getting out of myself and being present for another person or experience. I first heard of this technique when I was learning about meditation. A randomly rung chime or gong reminds those meditating to focus and not become lost in stray thoughts.

Some of my favorite "chimes" are autumn trees in flaming salmon orange (my first chime) and the act of standing still and taking a breath, consciously focusing my attention on them. I use the latter with my staff mostly because I am so frequently physically and mentally on the go. If I become aware of a problem or someone comes to me with the need to talk, I will stop often, touch their arm, take a deep breath and say, "Tell me, I am listening!" Some of the staff who are particularly perceptive have turned the tables on me. They will ask me to stop and take a deep breath so I can get into the "Tell me, I am listening" space.

God, reading this, I sound like some kind of dervish!!! I'm not. Usually, I am very aware of others and easily available for them, but I do have a backup plan and this is it!

Of course, we addicts have many issues and I can often use meeting the needs of others to be reason to avoid spending time in my own head with my own problems. Every coin has a flip side and some of our coins have a third, I think!!! LOL!!!

Happy celebrations to everyone of whatever spiritual persuasion!!!

Love,
Helen

As the 11th year of The Recovery Group begins, we would like to look back at a few of the many things that have taken place this past year.

More lists have been added to our home as they were requested and a need for them has been demonstrated. More meetings are now available, including two a week for OA Newcomers. Meanwhile, the OA meetings "around the world ~ around the clock" continue to flourish. OA Newcomers list now has guest speakers to help newcomers learn about both OA and the services offered here at TRG while being supported by others just beginning their journey of recovery. "Oldtimers" are also there to share their ESH.

The year ahead looks to be just as busy. The division heads have been very busy recruiting and filling the coordinators positions for all of our lists. "Working the Steps" (WTS) has all of the leaders positions filled for 2006...and great leaders they are! More new lists are being discussed, new service positions contemplated. It looks as if another exciting year is on the horizon.

We would like to thank all of you who are a part of The Recovery Group. You are the reason this home remains for all of us who need a place of understanding as we deal daily with our disease of compulsive eating.

In loving service to all,
Dodee, Nancy and Audrey, Administrators

~ MEET Karen G. ~

Karen G comes to us from NY state and tells me that it was the cold weather, in part, that drove her to the internet in search of a way to keep those pesky, winter pounds from "creeping-up" on her.

"During the warm months I get a lot of exercise from being outside. During winter, however, I have a tendency to burrow into my home and not even go to the gym. Before I know it, I have gained 10, maybe even an extra 20 lbs. through the winter months in addition to my regular extra pounds."

"For years I tried lots of diets, lots of exercise, and even a couple of diet centers, but my success never lasted very long. Finding this site was totally a new experience for me. I came, looking for a diet. What I found was much more. For the first time, I was thinking about non-food issues, and realized that there was much more behind my eating than what I had suspected. Suddenly, it all started to make sense, and I was looking at fixing the problem in a whole new way, and with a whole new attitude."

"I have a tendency to be very willful. I did not know that when I started. Since coming to meetings, however, I have seen how I created a lot of the problems associated with my compulsive eating, and have made strides in paying more attention to my needs, and my family's needs on a physical level. I have also begun to come out of my shell and realize that talking about it helps a lot, as does finding people who understand. It is now something that I can talk about with my children (ages 9 and 14) and husband. (Something that I was always too ashamed to do, before.)

"It is so wonderful to be able to sit down with my family and discuss what our food choices are. I do not want my children to go through what I have gone through with excess weight and a lack of self-esteem because of it."

"Who wishes to be rigorously honest and tolerant? Who wants to confess his faults to another and make restitution for harms done? Who cares anything about a Higher Power, let alone meditation and prayer? Who wants to sacrifice time and energy trying to carry A.A.'s message to the next sufferer? No, the average alcoholic, self centered in the extreme, doesn't care for this prospect - unless he has to do these things on order to stay alive himself." 12&12 p. 24

~ FROM THE TWELVE-STEP LITERATURE ~

~~ FROM THE AA BIG BOOK ~~

THE TWELVE PROMISES

"We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity. And we will know peace.

No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.

That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain insight in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook will change.

Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that

God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves."
    c. 2001, AABB, page 53

MY SHARE...

I decided to do the PROMISES as the last Big Book article for the newsletter this YEAR! (Unbelievable already!) These are the promises given us by years of constant recovery from thousands of people. All we have to do is a Simple Program, but NOT Easy. It is TOO easy for us to slip back into our old habits and I know all too well how that goes.!! It takes study every day, praying and meditation to LISTEN to our Higher Power/G-d's Will for us.

I have the bad habit of feeling very serene and self-confident and then slacking on the study and meetings that brought me to that point! I say this as an awareness for others following in my footsteps. I am presently starting again what we call the Waltz Step. Going back to Steps 1 -2 -3.

I "know" this program works. I've already been there and felt the effects of some of the Promises. But I have to keep reminding myself again that I am NOT G-d, and that I have to quit taking Control of everything!

It is a constant process, ODAT (One Day At a Time)! It is my promise to you that you will feel the wonderful new effects as you work through the Steps. You have to remember that weight loss is not the main part of this Study. It is Mental as well. Trying to Change the bad habits of a lifetime, but this time with a Higher Power's help. Also with the help of all the ones in the The Recovery Group.

Our slogan speaks well - it says, "Together we can do what we could Never do alone!! "

Many Blessings on your Path To Recovery,

Much Love in Recovery,
    Myrlene (Big Book and Recovery Group)

Shlomo's Introduction:

"I joined the program 10 years ago and have been active in OA ever since working the steps, giving service, leading step work shops and sponsoring.

In all my time at OA, I was never without a sponsor and always gave service which I will continue to do for the rest of my life. I was also active in TRG, gave service and led a step study in 2002.

This program literally saved my life since I was very obese and had all kinds of diseases as a result of my constant binging.

The Doctors didn't give me much time to live unless I lost the excess weight and I tried but could not. I tried dieticians, physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, hypnosis and self hypnosis pills, alternative medicine like acupuncture, homeopathy, all kinds of energy healings, spiritual groups, whatever. You name it I tried it. All except surgery. I knew it would not work for me since I already understood that for surgery to work it should be done on my mind and no one knew how to do it, not even all kinds of spiritual groups and classes, and self help methods. Nothing worked.

The only thing that worked at last was the 12 step program. So here I am to share how it works for me."

Marilyn: "Shlomo, how do you see the WTS Study facilitating recovery? (Especially for those who are relatively new to the program)"
Shlomo:

"The earlier one begins working the steps the better."

WTS gives a time frame for the work and this is important since procrastination is one of the most prevalent character defects. One is encouraged to work with a sponsor, which is essential since one cannot work the steps alone. Participating and sharing with others gives encouragement to carry on."