Hello beloved fellow compulsive eaters:
I am in withdrawals, and it is bittersweet.
First, I am coming down to earth after having just attended the first face-to- face the Region One Assembly and Convention in four years. I was in good company; more than two hundred other compulsive eaters seeking, and finding, recovery attended the Convention. Time in OA ranged from Old Timers with over 40 years to recently arrived newcomers, the most important persons in the rooms. A goal was that everyone left the convention with a sponsor. This goal was set because it ramps up going through the Twelve Steps to do it with a sponsor. I suspect that many people left also with a new, or renewed, abstinence from compulsive eating. Being with HP’s guiding over a weekend and immersed in OA at Convention or on a retreat strengthens our recovery. I know it has for me over my blessed 38 years in OA. It is that inspirational! Come one, come all, to next year’s Region One Convention in beautiful Vancouver, Canada.
Secondly, my two-year position as Treasurer and serving on the Region One Board ended at Assembly last week. Fortunately for me, it is a gradual ending because there is a training period for the new treasurer (who is doing great by the way). One slogan I relate to is that “anything I ever let go of had claw marks all over it.” It will be good for me to practice letting go of seeing what donations are coming in or preparing this month’s financial statement. In this program I have learned I can let go and be grateful for the service as treasurer, and be eager for what is next.
I will put in my pitch for doing service at all levels of OA. I am old-school and learned to do service by being discouraged from NOT doing service. I heard that you can’t keep your abstinence unless you give it away. That is not something I want to test out to see if it is true.
I’ll end with a passage from the AA Big Book chapter “Doctor Bob’s Nightmare” Dr. Bob writes: “I spend a great deal of time passing on what I learned to others who want and need it badly. I do it for four reasons:
Carrie A.
I am in withdrawals, and it is bittersweet.
First, I am coming down to earth after having just attended the first face-to- face the Region One Assembly and Convention in four years. I was in good company; more than two hundred other compulsive eaters seeking, and finding, recovery attended the Convention. Time in OA ranged from Old Timers with over 40 years to recently arrived newcomers, the most important persons in the rooms. A goal was that everyone left the convention with a sponsor. This goal was set because it ramps up going through the Twelve Steps to do it with a sponsor. I suspect that many people left also with a new, or renewed, abstinence from compulsive eating. Being with HP’s guiding over a weekend and immersed in OA at Convention or on a retreat strengthens our recovery. I know it has for me over my blessed 38 years in OA. It is that inspirational! Come one, come all, to next year’s Region One Convention in beautiful Vancouver, Canada.
Secondly, my two-year position as Treasurer and serving on the Region One Board ended at Assembly last week. Fortunately for me, it is a gradual ending because there is a training period for the new treasurer (who is doing great by the way). One slogan I relate to is that “anything I ever let go of had claw marks all over it.” It will be good for me to practice letting go of seeing what donations are coming in or preparing this month’s financial statement. In this program I have learned I can let go and be grateful for the service as treasurer, and be eager for what is next.
I will put in my pitch for doing service at all levels of OA. I am old-school and learned to do service by being discouraged from NOT doing service. I heard that you can’t keep your abstinence unless you give it away. That is not something I want to test out to see if it is true.
I’ll end with a passage from the AA Big Book chapter “Doctor Bob’s Nightmare” Dr. Bob writes: “I spend a great deal of time passing on what I learned to others who want and need it badly. I do it for four reasons:
- Sense of duty.
- It is a pleasure.
- Because in so doing I am paying my debt to the man who took time to pass it on to me.
- Because every time I do it I take out a little more insurance for myself against a possible slip.”
Carrie A.