Good Meeting...

[BigSis]

Had a great meeting Friday night. I was trying to figure out what it was that made it so special, and I think it was just the sharing from the heart. There were four of us, and two were struggling hard.

One, I had sort of seen coming. Our gal had been using the Atkins diet – the first diet she had ever tried. And it was working well. She had lost over 30 pounds, her blood sugars were normal and she was feeling great. Then she went to see her doctor, and he got excited about the possible damage of all that protein on her kidneys. She shared a month ago that information, and something about the way she said it made me think… uh oh. And this month, she was desperate… all the weight was back, she was feeling badly, the blood sugars were likely out of whack – but she had been refusing the test herself. Not a good sign.

The other gal shared for the first time that she believed she was addicted to sugar. Her words SO echoed mine… didn’t know if she could accept never having sugar again. Could not imagine living each day with no sugar… what is the point? Not wanting to even live, if she could never have sugar again. Boy, that one struck home… I had those same thoughts for MONTHS before I was able to attempt a 3-day sugar fast.

Today, I am still doing a 3-day sugar fast. Sort of my version of “one-day-at-a-time”.

I had a slip last month – which I posted about. But getting back on track was quick and important to me. In some ways, I am glad it happened – it helped me understand the importance of diligence.

I travel about 70 miles for this meeting, and will be organizing a weekly version of it nearer to my home. I think we will need to identify as OA, though as far as I can tell – we are one in all but name. I suppose I need to get a service manual to be sure – but since nearly everyone who attends are already members of other 12-step programs, we sort of run by default.

I felt very regenerated after this meeting – and entirely grateful to be surrounded by such unconditional love. I am allowed to accept this program at a pace that suits me, and lovingly held up as I figure out how to apply the ideas of the program.

Like many of my other groups, I often wish everyone could experience this sort of thing. But if my Alanon has taught me NOTHING else, I have learned that we get to our destinations exactly when we are ready, and not one minute before.

Today, I am focused and committed and feeling good about living in the world in the body I am wearing. I do still suffer from that “magical” thinking – that I want to take a pill or have a procedure and have no more worries about my eating and my weight. But I am on a path and today I am not worrying about the conclusion of the story… I (hopefully) still have many chapters left to experience!

[pedagogue]

That is great BigSis.....it is nice when we get reminders like that about where we are, and where we want to go.

-p

[Neagrm]

Thanks for telling us about your meeting BigSis. That's great it is so supportive. Sounds like you are really committed to the meetings and are getting a lot out of them. You are using the program to help your self and giving back at the same time by showing up for the others.

It's great to hear about your motivation. I hope some of it rubs off on me!

[Nina Kay]

Thanks BigSis, for sharing about your meeting with us. I used to get that out of the OA meetings that I attended. I do so miss going to the meetings, but I'm not at a place where I can go right now. The meetings made a world of difference in my recovery program from compulsive overeating. I do wish that everyone here would have an opportunity to be a part of OA and really take advantage of it. I hope that someday I will be able to return to OA, it's just so out of the question for me right now, but I'm so glad that you are there and getting the benefits and sharing them here. Keep going and supporting, as you always do here too.
(((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))

[ladyamalthea]

Where can I get more info about OA? I need to find something like that to go to. Thanks!

[ladyamalthea]

never mind, I found it