Recovery Meditations: April 6th

~ Courage ~

It takes a lot of courage
to show your dreams to someone else.

Erma Bombeck


I remember first starting my Twelve Step program. I had lots of expectations and dreams, but I couldn't talk to anyone about them. I thought my dreams were stupid and that nobody there really cared about who I was or what I wanted to achieve.

This is a big problem with all of us compulsive overeaters. We all have hopes and dreams of losing our impulse to eat all the time, and of losing our excess weight. Thinking we're not worth anyone's time keeps us strong in our addiction.

As we work through the Steps and learn to trust our new family of choice, we get the courage to begin to open up and share our dreams and hopes. We all find our hidden courage by praying and trusting our Higher Power. We find the courage to tell people about ourselves and trust that nobody will put us down for our past or for the future we dream of achieving. Our dreams have no time limit; they don't have to happen immediately. They may happen immediately, or it may take a long time of struggling, but as long as we have hope and courage, they will become a reality in Higher Power's time.

One Day at a Time . . .
I remember that we learn that, together, things become much easier. As we share our experience, strength and dreams with others, they will help us learn how we can work with a special program and plan. With Higher Power and our recovery friends, our courage grows stronger, and we find we can and will succeed.

~ Jeanette ~

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I spent decades dreaming.........wishing for a slim body, for life to be perfect, for friends & family to be what I wanted them to be.  I didn't realize that these thought processes were leading me to overeat compulsively.

When I found OA, I realized I was not alone with my disease. I finally found a way to beat my disease into remission, with a special program & a plan.  I learned to rely on God and my fellow OAers to develop the courage to live joyously, without the need for excess food to cope.

Courage comes in many forms, I've learned.  For me, it is more courageous to say No Thank You to that slice of cake than it is to put myself in harm's way for my children.  It is far more courageous to take a leap of faith, putting my life in God's hands and relying on Him to guide me along my journey.

My hopes and dreams are not irrelevant. I am a child of God and as such, valuable & worth treating with respect, love & kindness.

For today, may I continue to exhibit the courage required to stay on track with my program.  May I have the willingness to reach out to others, and share my experience, strength and hope for a better life.