For Today: November 12th

There never were, since the creation of the world, two cases exactly parallel.
Lord Chesterfield

When I am tempted to give advice to newcomers, expecting them to work the program my way, let me remember that each person is different, with different experiences and background.  Sometimes the only thing we have in common is our disease.  I gladly share what works for me, but if a newcomer resists my suggestions, I let go of my notions of what is right and wrong.  I encourage and support a person's decision to try another way.

For Today:  There is only one hard and fast rule in sponsoring: to let those I sponsor know that in OA they have freedom of choice in what they will eat, how much they will weigh and how they will work the program.

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There are many ways to achieve abstinence.  My food plan isn't necessarily the food plan for YOU.  As long as a person is willing to accept some sort of food plan, then he will flourish within the program of OA. 

At meetings, I sometimes hear a whole bunch of reasons why the person 'can't' stick to their food plan.  When we make excuses, we are not fully embracing the principles of the program.  OA is a program of honesty & truth..........not excuses.  The group meetings I used to attend were filled with people who had more excuses than they had commitment and/or understanding of what abstinence truly means.  A person who's been around OA for years & years and STILL hasn't found abstinence is not working her program, in my opinion.
I quit attending those meetings because I couldn't sit back and hear the same old & tired stories..........I need to find inspiration at a meeting..........words and stories that keep ME going. 

Is that selfish? Maybe yes, maybe no.  As a member with long term abstinence, I can't sit around a meeting room and hear, over and over again, how abstinence is 'not doable'.  I need to hear that abstinence IS doable, and how we must go to any lengths to achieve it.

OA meetings are all different; it's important for me to find one that I feel comfortable with, and where I fit in.  I am not there to give advice..........but I AM there to take what I need and to give something useful BACK. 

AA meetings are not filled with tons of excuses; AA meetings are filled with joy, hope, laughter and real sharing.  I hear of struggles and ways to overcome those struggles.  I draw inspiration from AA meetings and leave there refreshed & rejuvenated.........

In the rooms of 12 step meetings, we take what we need & we leave the rest.  For today, I pray to stay connected to my fellow OAers in an honest & REAL way.  The truth shall set me free, and anything in between will keep me sick and practicing my disease of excess.