I heard a speaker recently at my home meeting that talked about how he was led to OA. His mother has been a member in recovery for over 40 years, and he recalled how, when he was younger, his mom would get and make phone calls early in the morning with fellow OA members and was always talking to these strangers. He also shared about this large wicker basket filled with various OA books and pamphlets that had a prominent place in their home. He met and got to know so many of his Mom’s OA friends and how nice and kind they were. And he talked about how peaceful and happy and more loving his Mom became as she continued to work this “strange and wonderful” OA program that he didn’t really understand.
But over the years, as his own compulsive eating got worse and worse, and he got bigger and bigger and more miserable and out of control with his eating, he remembered how the program changed his mom for the better. So, when he hit his own bottom, he plunged in and gave OA a try. He struggled in the beginning, but the modeling that his mom provided for him all those years and how it worked for her, he was able to keep going. And he recently celebrated one year of abstinence for himself. He’s now more peaceful himself and has been able to get through some difficult life situations so much better.
As I listened to him tell his story that night, it helped me again realize how important it is to just keep working our program and keep our commitment to our own recovery, because others are watching and listening. And we never know how our actions can impact a fellow compulsive overeater. So keep on keeping on!
– Evelyn S.