Willingness is the key to my recovery. In the morning, I read On Awakening and pray the Third and Seventh Step prayers. I also ask specifically for willingness to do the next right thing throughout the day. I am strong willed and I don’t always have the willingness to do what is right when what is easy appears to be an option. There are also times when I am not sure what I should do next. In either circumstance, I can pray ,”please grant me the willingness to do the next right thing.” My Higher Power is always ready to give me the willingness I need to stay in recovery and be abstinent. I ask and it is given to me.
I’ve been graced with thirty-six years in program and twenty-nine in abstinence. Actually, it’s more accurate to say that I’ve been blessed with 10,585 one-days-at-a-time of abstinence. The Alcoholic’s Anonymous Big Book on page 85 says” It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.” Substitute food for alcohol and compulsive eating for alcoholism, and it gets my attention to do whatever is necessary to stay in fit spiritual condition.
I have a rigorous plan each day to maintain this fit condition. The items have changed over the years, but my commitment has been to “going to any lengths” to do the discipline. Two of my daily reminders of fit spiritual condition are:
I’ll end with gratitude for the Twelve Step way of life, and yes, after 36 years in program, much of my life is beyond my wildest dreams. Carrie A. I heard it called 'God', as a toddler of three
and during my childhood, it was inside of me I sat in the church pew, I prayed to the sky I sought out some 'big guy', but I didn't know why upwards and skyward, they said good children go but should you be bad, you will go down below so what did it mean then, to be good or be bad? I soon came to realize, it was thoughts that I had I fought those thoughts often, inside my own head but could never control, those things that I did rot full with trouble, I stumbled through years ever with something, to drown out my fears was always a crutch, that I used as a power I drank or I gambled, or I ate by the hour nothing external, could help set me free nor was it willpower, it was inside of me a gentle voice whispered, It won't kill the pain but off in the darkness, the food called my name I ate and I ate, and I pushed that pain down but one day I heard it, that comforting sound It offered to guide me, to free me from strife and with no strings attached, It rebuilt my life but what should I call you? I questioned that voice I'm of your understanding, so my name is your choice I have been called father, and some call me God others say H.P. one even said Claude of my own understanding? I glanced at the sky if I get to choose, I'll call you 'big guy' so I trusted that power, that was greater than me I had tried it alone, but had never been free the first step, he said, you need to surrender and in the next two steps, a faith you must render step four and step five, are a moral house cleaning where voicing your harms, is a chance at redeeming in step 6 you become willing, to turn things around to accept you are powerless a new start you've found by step 7 you find, you're less likely to stumble a new person inside, as you learn to become humble at times you've harmed others, or family and friends in steps 8 and step 9 you can make amends in step ten you review, the day that has passed making amends, leaving things in the past then it urged me to listen a message was there to find the solution you reach out in prayer step 12 is of bringing, that message to others those who still suffer, your sisters and brothers to keep what you have, that peace and that calm you have to serve others, and pass it along so I live in recovery, one day at a time that life of the past, I have left it behind I live for the moment now, hour by hour that 'big guy' walks with me, as my higher power Diane D "The age of miracles is still with us. Our own recovery proves that." p. 153 BB
I opened my email this morning and one of the first emails had the subject line, "start your new years resolution early," and went on to talk about the importance of self care and taking positive steps towards better health. Of course, one of the positive steps the email recommended was that I sign up for this particular weigh and pay company's plan that would miraculously solve my weight problem. I thought about that subject line "New Years Resolution." How many New Years, Mondays, mornings did I resolve to start a diet and stay on it? I am not sure I can count that high. I absolutely admit that I am powerless over food. For me, that means that I simply cannot take even one bite of these foods. It also means I cannot afford any attempts to control my food on my own, or any other human, will power. Making a resolution is appealing because it is an attempt to take back control over my food. I am grateful that HP whispered this fact to me and I didn't trip too far down that fairy lane of make believe. The only solution that has worked for has been following the 12 steps of Overeaters Anonymous. The first step is admitting that I am powerless over food. Rather than making resolutions, I ask God for the willingness to do His will today and for the willingness to follow an abstinent plan of eating for this day. That is what works. I am so grateful for this program and for those of you who walk this path with me.
Lisa S. - Region One In recovery I get to live life differently
In recovery I like myself more and more and more and more In recovery I feel useful In recovery I can be kind, even to people and places I don’t agree with In recovery I’ve learned the value of self-love and self-care In recovery I get to feel peace In recovery I get to know hope In recovery I can grant myself and others grace In recovery I have learned a humbleness In recovery I truly have lost interest in self things, and gained interest in my fellows In recovery I have so much more energy to do all the fun things! Out of recovery, I’m always mad at myself and everybody else Out of recovery I berate myself for mistakes for days Out of recovery I am spiritually sick Out of recovery I am physically sick very often Out of recovery I am of no use to my community Out of recovery I am very self-centered Out of recovery I am miserable, frustrated, lonely and tired I like myself in recovery. I’m going to keep working the steps and applying the principles embodied in them so I can continue to grow as the person my Higher Power has helped me to become and so that I may carry the message. Laurie A |
BLOG POSTS ARE THE EXPERIENCE, STRENGTH AND HOPE OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS AND DO NOT REPRESENT OA AS A WHOLE.
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