REGION ONE OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
  • Home
  • Newcomers
  • FIND YOUR INTERGROUP
  • FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS
  • Meetings During Covid-19
  • 2023 WSBC
  • Board Blog
  • Board Calendar
  • Contact & Liaison List
  • Documents
  • Donations / 7th Tradition
  • Events
  • Journals
  • Links
  • RECOVERY RESOURCES
    • Newsletters
    • Podcasts / Speakers
    • Resources for Specific OA Populations
    • Sponsorship
    • Virtual Sponsorship
  • SERVICE RESOURCES
    • Intergroup Renewal
    • PIPO - Public Info / Professional Outreach
    • Speaker List
  • Privacy Policy
    • Board Blog

WHAT IF TODAY WE WERE JUST GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING?

4/4/2022

3 Comments

 
Picture
I arrived at Overeaters Anonymous (for which I am eternally grateful) 37 years ago in a crisis of compulsive overeating, weight gain, and compulsive bulimic behaviors. After six years, I became cleanly abstinent and have been abstinent, one day at a time, since. 

Along with issues of abusing myself with food, I came into OA with my glass half-empty, feeling victimized, and resentful about everything.  I am grateful for people at the meetings who had to deal with a newcomer full of deficits, and loved me anyway. I now have a 30 year journey behind me of working the OA 12 Step program, and the OA 12 Step program, working for me.

I started hearing a lot about gratitude in the OA rooms. At that time though, my complaint was “What do I have to be grateful for?” and I’d give a long list of how I was victimized in my life.  I didn’t want to hear anyone else’s gratitude either. Instead of being happy for them, I was jealous. Needless to say, I wasn’t a very happy camper when I arrived at OA. 

I am not that way now. I see now how I have a great life, even at times “beyond my wildest dreams.”  It has taken a 37-year journey in OA to get to the life of gratitude I live now. Early on in program, I did need to recognize the abuse I had suffered as a child and seek healing in other 12 Step groups and therapy, reading self-help books.  This process is not for wimps—I’ve found that it’s a gutsy and courageous and intense life choice to change and recover.  I became willing only after trying all easier, softer ways. 

This is a pitch for gratitude. Mine rolls out easily now. I’m noticing more that it seems to be the top assignment in sponsor-sponsee check-ins to make a daily gratitude list.  Whether gratitude comes easily, or after a long journey as in my case, I count gratitude as a promise of working the OA program. 

Carrie A. - Region One​

3 Comments

MY PLACE OF PEACE

6/7/2021

3 Comments

 
Picture
This morning, I woke up feeling sad, close to tears.  Why?  I don’t know; I can’t identify anything that’s happening in my life that would bring me to sadness.   As I tried to figure out my feelings, a lot of old and recent hurts and resentments started to flood my brain, and I knew that I had to change my thinking immediately. 
 
Step One: I admit that I am powerless over food and this feeling and my life has become unmanageable. 
 
Step Two: I believe that only a power greater than myself can restore me to sanity. 
 
Step Three: I’m deciding right now to turn my will and my life over to the care of God, as I understand God.  
 
I prayed:  "Dear God, tell me what to do next."  And I got my answer.  I knew that I had to go to my physical place of peace and let God be within me. 
 
My place of peace, the place that always bring me closer to God, calms me, and allows me to immerse myself in the present, is a bird sanctuary quite close to my home.  As I walked the paths, I heard God in the birds, in the ruffles and ripples of the creeks that run through the sanctuary, and in the wind in the trees.  I felt the presence of God, and as I lifted my eyes to the mountains, I knew that I am indeed loved by God.  I knew that everything is just as it should be at this precise moment. 
 
I was refreshed and ready to face the sadness head on by reaching out to another compulsive overeater and tackling the service commitments I’ve made to my service groups, family and friends. 
 
And I am at peace.  I am smiling.  I know that I’m okay and God not only has my back, but also my present and my future. 
 
 
Paula Z. - Region One 

3 Comments
    Follow us on Facebook!

    BLOG POSTS ARE THE EXPERIENCE, STRENGTH AND HOPE OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS AND DO NOT REPRESENT OA AS A WHOLE.

    Search Blogs

    All
    7th Tradition
    Abstinence
    Acceptance
    Action
    Advice
    Amends
    Anonymity
    Anorexia / Bulimia
    Big Book
    Body Image
    Carrying The Message
    Change
    Character Defects
    Choices
    Commitment
    Diversity
    Feelings
    Fellowship
    Food
    Food Cravings
    Gratitude
    Higher Power / Spirituality
    History Of AA
    HISTORY OF OA
    Holidays
    Honesty
    Hope
    Integrity
    Isolation
    Joy
    Life On Life's Terms
    Literature
    Love
    Meditation
    Meetings
    Perfection
    Perseverance
    Priniciples
    Professional Outreach
    Progress Not Perfection
    Promises
    Public Information
    Recovery
    Relapse
    Relationships
    Resentments
    Self Esteem
    Self-esteem
    Self Will
    Self-will
    Serenity Prayer
    Service
    Shame / Guilt
    Slogans
    Social Situations
    Sponsorship
    Steps / Steps In Daily Life
    Tools
    Traditions
    Trust
    Unity
    Weight
    Willing
    Willingness
    Willpower

    Blog Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    November 2018
    April 2018
    September 2017
    July 2017
    December 2016
    June 2016
    January 2016
    July 2015
    May 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    July 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    September 2013
    June 2013

Region One Overeaters Anonymous, P.O. Box 23235, Tigard, OR  97281    USA 
webmaster@oaregion1.org                     Copyright 2022