My name is Millie, I am a recovered compulsive eater, recovered from a hopeless state of mind and body – not cured – yet have a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of my spiritual condition.
Sitting in my home, participating in an online Zoom meeting, I started reflecting on the NEW NORMAL – meaning the changes that are imposed due to pandemic we experience worldwide. Is there really a new normal for an OA member? What is new?
I reflected on the tools and my HP.
Is my HP available to me now? Yes, still available always. Here, there, everywhere. No change there. Same always.
- A Plan of Eating – yes, still available. Yes, I might need to decide enjoy the foods that are available with gratitude instead of expecting MY SAFE FOODS to be available – just like a change of season with different food offerings, THE NEW NORMAL might make it a bit more challenging to access them. HP will guide me if I trust – trust that my needs will always be met “we trust infinite God rather than our finite selves” AA Big Book pg. 68
- Sponsorship – yes, still available. Possibly more time available to sponsor – the NEW NORMAL setting boundaries for my social life. “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics.” AA Big Book pg. 89. I might be limited to meeting someone in person, yet the phone, a text message or an online chat or zoom call will give me the same opportunity – reaching out to someone in need or reaching out to my sponsor.
- Meetings – yes, still available. Not face to face, no hugs, no handshakes – yet the ample opportunity to meet by phone, text or via chat rooms or zoom. “sweeping changes in society as a whole are reflected in new customs and practices within the fellowship. Taking advantage of technological advances, for example, AA members with computers can
participate in meetings online, sharing with fellow alcoholics across the country or around the world” AA Big Book Foreword to the Fourth Edition. I have the opportunity to participate in meetings with OA friends in many places, Kingston, ON where I used to live, Florida where I used to spend my winter, NS where I have met people at retreats and many more. MY NORMAL. - Telephone – yes, still available. “My musing was interrupted by the telephone”. AA Big Book pg No problem “interrupting” someone as they about to have a date with their fridge. MY NORMAL.
- Writing – yes, still available. “In dealing with resentments we set them on paper” – AA BB pg. Yes, I might resent the fact that the NEW NORMAL cancels my local face to face meetings, yet, I have a wonderful opportunity to write these resentments and anything else out. I live in my head – putting stuff on paper in writing clears my head. And my head is my most dangerous space, I never go there without my sponsor. MY NORMAL DAILY
- Literature – yes, still available. The quotes come from the book Alcoholics Anonymous – has been there sine 1939 – long before I was born and continues to be available – part of MY NORMAL DAILY routine.
- Action Plan – yes, still available. What attainable actions can I take today? Follow a food plan, make an outreach call, pray, write, meditate, go for a walk? I remind myself that abstinence is defined as “Abstinence: The act of refraining from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviours while working towards or maintaining a healthy body weight. “. Compulsive eating AND compulsive food behaviour – no matter what life deals me, I cannot find an answer in food, food does not talk (even if I believe it does), it does not listen, it does not hear – and the fridge has no answers. The NEW NORMAL – NO – MY DAILY NORMAL. Always. “Faith without works is dead” AA Big Book pg. 88.
- Anonymity – yes, still available. Respecting someone’s anonymity in an online meeting has the same role as in a face to face meeting – refraining from cross talk, sharing what was shared, and allowing and respecting each members’ privacy – again. MY NORMAL DAILY. Always. “It is important that we remain anonymous …. We would like it understood that our alcoholic work is an avocation”. AA Big Book Foreword to the first edition.
- Service – yes, still available. I can still give back to OA by writing this article, by making a phone call, by participating o a phone or online. meeting. Yes, I might be challenged to come out of my comfort zone – but was I uncomfortable driving to a convenience store 10 km away at 2 am, because it was open? “For if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead.” AA Big Book pg. 14/15. I remind myself that it says service to others – not just alcoholics or in my case compulsive eater. Can I offer to
run an errand for my elderly neighbour Can I write an email to help resolve an issue for my parents? Can I help someone place an order online who struggles with the computer? Can I send a “thinking about you” text message to a friend in isolation? MY NEW NORMAL – but can it become MY DAILY NORMAL? Yes, I might feel challenged by the NEW NORMAL – but is it really such a new normal in reality? More like Millie resenting changes – oh well, nothing new there
– MY DAILY NORMAL?!? Time for Millie to grow up, mature and listen to God.
Always remembering: “Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man (one) that he can get well regardless of anyone.The only condition is that he trusts in God and clean house.” AA Big Book pg. 98
Millie
SOURCE: Overeaters Anonymous Maritimes Intergroup OAIGNS Newsletter August 2020
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