I would like to talk on behalf of Traditions One and Two. Beginning in April of 1946, in the Grapevine, Bill Wilson began to expound on what he called “The Twelve Points to Assure our Future’’. These became known as the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, and eventually, our own adopted Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous. The First Tradition states “Our …
I was introduced to OA in 1987 following outpatient therapy for binge eating, overeating, and bulimia, so I was already armed with a food plan and an understanding of the First Step when I “jumpstarted” into the program. The miracle of abstinence led to a new spiritual life, and OA saved me from the insanity of my disease. I was …
We recover together or not at all. This is the “we” in the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.OA is not an “I” program. I tried the “I” program. It was all I knew; wasn’t I supposed to apply mywill to problems and overcome them? But my food issues were impervious to my efforts. I wasstuck. And I stayed stuck until …
Do you have a well-defined food plan? I do. Who helped you define your food plan? We had a suggested food plan in those days (1978)called Blue Sheet (it was on blue paper). I found balance in that plan and a guide to follow forthis defiant compulsive overeater. As time passed the amounts changed slightly and I found thisplan became …
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”― Lao Tzu It’s all in the approach. I have traveled through most of my life expecting things to go a certain way. My way. And there was nothing more infuriating …
There it was. I had done the first three Steps with my sponsor and we both knew what was coming next. He knew it was going to be a big step in my recovery, but to me it looked more like a pending emotional breakdown. Turns out he was right. I had built a pretty good system of denial and …
The first thing I ever identified with in the Big Book was the chapter “We Agnostics” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., pp. 44–57). I loved everything about it and still do. I love that the title says “We.” I love how the chapter is compassionate and understanding and does not talk down to anyone. When I first read it, I felt …
