A Wellspring of Hope
Newsletter of The Recovery Group


February 2004
Volume 6, Issue 2



ser*en*dip*i*ty ~ (noun) First appeared 1754:
the faculty or phenomenon of finding
valuable or agreeable things not sought for.


PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO:
SerendipityNewsletter@yahoo.com
with a Subject of 'Letter to the Editor'

PLEASE SEND Serendipity ARTICLES TO:
SerendipityNewsletter@yahoo.com
with a Subject of 'Serendipity Article'

TO VIEW Serendipity ONLINE, PLEASE VISIT:
The Serendipity Archives

THIS MONTH'S
FEATURED ARTICLES

From Our Editor
Founder's Corner
Announcements ~ New TRG Administration
The Recovery Group - Administrative Highlights:
- TRG Administration
- Recovery Loops
- ODAT Loops
- Discovery Loops
- Foreign Loops
- Meetings
- Special Services & Writings
- Website
From Our TRG Sponsor Program
Letters to the Editor
February Loop Spotlights:
- WTS
- WTS_STUDY
- WLS (Weight Loss Surgery) ODAT
- Yellow Brick Road
From The Recovery Group Members
Recovery Writers' Series
From the Literature
Recovery Meditations Calendar
The Recovery Group Online Meetings
Overeaters Anonymous Contacts
Recovery Group Contacts
Serenity Prayer





~ FROM OUR EDITOR ~

Hello, Serendipity Friends,

Welcome to the February issue of Serendipity, our 51st! What a milestone this newsletter marks! The very first issue was published in December 1999, a vision of Mari, the founder of TRG. This newsletter of The Recovery Group was born with the name of "Serendipity", mostly because it was one of Mari's favorite words, as it closely reflected her own recovery life. As she wrote in that first issue: "When serendipity occurs, things just happen. It's a phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for ~ things not planned for ~ wonderful things not at all expected. It's as though God, as we understand Him, looks down upon us and creates a set of dominos and flicks His two fingers together, and blessing after blessing finds us. Our recovery home is because of serendipity. Our loops. Our meetings. Our website. Our studies. Our writers' series." Personally, I am honored to be a part of continuing the "serendipity" of The Recovery Group; just one small blessing among the many which Mari's vision has allowed God to send our way over the years.

This month is a milestone in another respect: it is the month of Mari's retirement from TRG. We will all miss her, and the special energy she had to bring such a monumental vision to fruition, helping in the recovery of so very many people. She will, hopefully, be settling back to smell the roses, her favorite flower. She has earned this rest, and we wish her nothing but the best in her retirement. She has trained many Trusted Servants in her "time", and should have nothing to fear about leaving her "baby" in the hands of others. We wish only that she enjoy her well-earned rest. We will miss you, Mari, but we will never forget you!

Further on in this issue, you will read about the revised organization of the TRG administration. Mari made sure this was set up and in place before she stepped down. The machinery is already well-oiled and running smoothly. Dreena and Dodee will be our primary administrators, with other trusted servants fulfilling a myriad of functions to see that the many diverse areas of TRG are covered.

Finally, I would like to announce that I have recently been blessed with a wonderful assistant editor! Her name is Faith; she knocked at Serendipity's "door" a couple of months ago. She comes to us with special qualifications which I intend to put to good use! You can read her "bio" in the "From the Recovery Group Members" section, a bit further on. She has been learning the ropes, and helping me do some odd-jobs as she learns, but she also has some wonderful ideas, which we hope to be implementing in a "soft" and "gentle" manner in upcoming issues. Keep your eyes open for some new things!

Well, it's time for me to stop writing now, and let you get on with reading this month's gift from TRG to you. I hope that when you've finished it, you'll be going away having benefitted in even some small way.

So, in the spirit of this month's holiday of St. Valentine's Day, I wish you all Love as we walk the road to recovery together.

     Marty
     Editor, SERENDIPITY
     Newsletter of The Recovery Group





~ FOUNDER'S CORNER ~ THE MONTH OF LOVE ~


Dear Friends ~

February is one of my favorite months. Because I live on a semi-tropical island, I don't have to worry about it being cold ... the craziness of the holidays is over ... and everywhere you turn there are hearts. It's the month that makes us think about all the different kinds of love there are and why each kind is special; and important. It also makes us realize there is nothing in our world more important than being able to give love ... and receive it.

I love you. Our hearts speak to each other because we share something that has affected our lives significantly. When one compulsive eater tells another they have love for them, we know what that means. We ARE each other and are all tethered to a ubiquitous but indescribable *thing* we only know as hope. And that is why we're all here.

As you know, I have chosen this month to retire ~ the love month. You will read elsewhere in this issue about those who have been elected to lead the Recovery Group in the future. I know you will join me in praying that those who will be giving service to TRGAdm and the seven TRG Divisions will enjoy the privilege of working with all of you as much as I have.

Our community is blessed beyond measure and, while I will miss my work here, I know for absolute certainty that God holds all of us in the palm of His hand as we carry our beloved Twelve Step message to others.

Happy February, Loopies.

@-}-}-}------
Love in recovery,
Mari


~ THE RECOVERY GROUP - ADMINISTRATIVE HIGHLIGHTS ~

It is with great pleasure that I announce the following people as those who have volunteered to give special service to TRG. The people listed below have been elected to head up an administration that will ensure that all TRG members have a wonderful cyber-place in which to seek the recovery they desire.

Looking over all aspects of TRG is the able team of Dodee and Dreena, as TRG administrators (TRGAdm@TheRecoveryGroup.org). Assisting them, more in the background, are two wonderful TRG advisors, John and Patt, each of whom has many years of TRG experience. They will help, as needed, with any questions or problems which come the way of the administrators.

Because TRG encompasses such a wide variety of loops and activities, the responsibilities for it have been divided into seven divisions, and many have stepped forward to give service in the leadership of these divisions. Further on in this issue, you will read about the divisions, in more detail.

Here is the list of our newly-elected TRG leaders:

TRG ADMINISTRATION (TRGAdm@TheRecoveryGroup.org)

TRG ADMINISTRATORS

Dodee
Dreena

TRG ADVISORS: John and Patt
TRG DIVISIONS
RECOVERY LOOPS: Dodee and John
ODAT LOOPS: Penny and Nancy
DISCOVERY LOOPS: Dodee
FOREIGN LOOPS: Isabella
TRG OA MEETINGS: Jeannine and Terri
TRG SPECIAL SERVICES: Dreena
TRG WEBSITE: Gary



~ THE RECOVERY GROUP ~
ADMINISTRATIVE HIGHLIGHTS

TRGAdm@TheRecoveryGroup.org

~ FROM THE TRG ADMINISTRATION ~

The Recovery Group Administration is the hub of activity for all of the Recovery Group. January found the Recovery Group implementing many changes in administration which will assure our community of progress in the future.

As TRG's founder, Mari, goes into retirement, Dreena and Dodee are taking over as the new TRG Administrators, and will oversee the seven new divisions of The Recovery Group. To facilitate this, there is now a TRG Administration Team, which will lead these new divisions, which encompass the different areas of TRG. The divisions are the Recovery Loops, the ODAT loops, the Discovery Loops, the Foreign Loops, the TRG OA meetings, TRG's Special Services and the TRG website. The TRG Administration Team includes the leaders of these divisions and some additional Trusted Servants, who will help, as needed, to ensure the smooth running of TRG.

Contact: TRGAdm@TheRecoveryGroup.org

~ FROM THE RECOVERY LOOP DIVISION ~

The Recovery Loops are Twelve Step general sharing loops. We have been blessed this month with many new members and a whole new flock of Trusted Servants. Recovery Loops range from very small with low mail volumes to support groups with over 500 sharing their experience, strength and hope with one another.

'Anorexia & Bulimia' continues to be a vital loop, with almost a full slate of Trusted Servants to care for it. 'Newcomers' and 'OA Friends' have some positions open. 'Meditations and Recovery' is available for members to share on the meditation of the day. In '90 Meetings in 90 Days' you can make a commitment to attend 90 meetings in 90 days and write about them each day. 'Relapse and Recovery' has some recovery power to share.

On the St. John's Side, the Big Book study started over on Jan 1st. It has wonderful sharing on it. Working the Steps (WTS) is on the 5th Step, and will have a new study starting over on April 1st. HOTJ is a loop for people who have or had over 100 pounds to lose.

Isabella is the Coordinator for the Foreign Language loops, which include Italian Journey to Recovery, French and Recovery, German and Recovery, and Spanish and Recovery.

http://www.theRecoveryGroup.org/trg.html
Contact: RecoveryLoopsAdm@lists.TheRecoveryGroup.org

~ FROM THE ODAT LOOP DIVISION ~

The ODAT Loops are Twelve Step Special Focus loops where we share with others who have similar interests. One of our many loops is '2004Abstinence'. It began last year (as '2003Abstinence') with many new members committing their abstinence daily and sharing their experiences as they strive for daily abstinence. The ODAT loops are as diversified as the people who belong to the Recovery Group. Loops such as 'Relapse and Recovery' and 'Strong Recovery', 'Silver Recovery' and 'TeensODAT' are among the many to be found here. Our main focus is the Twelve Step Program of recovery, but in these loops we can share with others who also understand and identify with our special needs.

http://www.theRecoveryGroup.org/odat/
Contact: ODATAdm@lists.therecoverygroup.org

~ FROM THE DISCOVERY LOOP DIVISION ~

From the Yellow Brick Road to recipes in the Discovery Kitchen, the Discovery loops offer a place for compulsive eaters to have informal sharing about their program with each other. This Division of the Recovery Group welcomes your suggestions and comments as we proceed through 2004.

Dodee is the new administrator for the Discovery Loops, which include The Yellow Brick Road, Recovery Kitchen and Archives, Kids in Recovery, COKids and Exercise. If you have invented recipes to add some variety to your food plan, or if you want to see what others have eaten following the same food plan as you, please visit the Recovery Kitchen. Kids and Recovery is a loop for children with eating disorders. COKids is an organization of parents of children with eating disorders, while Exercise and Recovery is a loop for compulsive eaters who like to commit their daily exercise and share about it with others.

http://www.theRecoveryGroup.org/discovery/
Contact: TRGAdm@TheRecoveryGroup.org

~ FROM THE FOREIGN LOOP DIVISION ~

We are fortunate to be able to give service to four language groups other than English: German, French, Italian and Spanish. Except for the Italian group, we also offer Yahoo Groups to people who speak those languages; the Spanish group is quite large. We are currently investigating what it would take to "mirror" as many OA resources as possible to these language groups. For example, some already have meditations in their languages. (Thank you to all the Trusted Servants of these loops for your special service to these groups!)

~ FROM THE TRG OA MEETING DIVISION ~

We take great pride in our online OA meetings. We appreciate OA WSO making it now possible for all our meetings to be listed as a courtesy on their website with one contact, one meeting doorway, and we anticipate maximum growth during 2004.

TRG's online OA meetings continue to be held every three hours, around the clock at 3, 6, 9 and 12 AM and 3, 6, 9 and 12 PM Eastern time. Since January, the meetings have been following the WTS study as topics for the meetings. The first week of January coincided with Step One, week two with Step Two and so on. We have had great attendance and such wonderful sharing. Please remember, we still need leaders so sign up today! If you would like more information on what might qualify you to be a meeting leader, please contact:
MtgAdm@lists.TheRecoveryGroup.org. Read more about meetings, below, in this newsletter.

To see if there is a time available that fits your schedule, please go to:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/meetings2004.html

http://www.theRecoveryGroup.org/meetings/
Contact: MtgAdm@lists.TheRecoveryGroup.org

~ FROM THE TRG SPECIAL SERVICES DIVISION ~

The Recovery Sponsor Program added several new sponsors in January, Serendipity presented its 50th issue and the Recovery Meditations added 30 brand new meditations to the 225 it already had. The series on the Thirty Questions has been completed, and Odyssey is in its second year tracing the exciting life of one its members. This man once weighed over 700 pounds and has lost over half his body weight. Odyssey is his journal of recovery, and is sent each Thursday to all Recovery members.

http://www.theRecoveryGroup.org/trg.html#services>
Contact: TRGAdm@TheRecoveryGroup.org

~ WEBSITE ~

The Recovery Website is approaching 350,000 visitors. Hope you'll stop by often and read a few of our 600+ pages. Check out the survey of 1400 compulsive eaters and see what percentage of them are overweight and by how much ... and much more. And if you want to hear some music that will make you feel like dancing, go to Discovery at: http://recovery.hiwaay.net/discovery/

http://www.theRecoveryGroup.org/



~ FROM TRG'S SPONSOR PROGRAM ~

Dear Friends,

As you know the first quarter of Working The Steps Online began in January making this a very busy month for the Sponsor Program.

Here is an overview of ways to find your sponsor:

There are a number of different ways to get a Sponsor. Here are some of them, which we have put in a reasonable order.

1. Attend a face-to-face meeting of OA and find someone who has what you want.

2. Join a TRG support loop and read the shares. As you find yourself looking forward to the shares of certain members, write him/her privately and establish a dialogue. It may be that you have found a match for a sponsor.

3. After you have been on a home loop for a while, write the loop and let them know you are seeking a sponsor, and let the members know what kind of sponsor you're looking for and what kind of sponsee you'll be. You will receive replies, and you may find your sponsor among them.

4. The Recovery Sponsor Coordinator regularly sends out the Sponsor Directory to all members of the Recovery Group. Look it over and write several and see if there's a match; there may be.

5. Write to the Sponsor Coordinator at: Sponsors@TheRecoveryGroup.org and request a copy of the Directory and Biographies. Be sure that you let her know which home loop you're a member of. After you have had a chance to review the members of the directory and their biographies, write several and begin sharing back and forth with them.

6. Attend online meetings on IRC in #Recovery and meet other compulsive eaters in real time. Perhaps you will meet your sponsor there.

7. Write RecoverySponsors@YahooGroups.com and let them know you are seeking a sponsor. This is a restricted list, and no one is on it except those TRG members who are actively taking sponsees. By sending a letter telling about your TRG loop membership and a little bit about yourself and your needs, you may receive several replies from sponsors and choose from among them.

8. Join WTS and begin working the 12-Steps-in-12-Weeks Step Study. These studies begin on the first day of January, April, July and October. We have a Sponsor Coordinator whom you may write and request a temporary Step sponsor from the WTS Sponsor Coordinators, or by directly writing the list of sponsors at: WTSStepSponsors@yahoogroups.com. You do not have to be a member of this list to write them.

9. If you are seriously interested in getting a sponsor, one of the above ways should produce good results. Even after that is done, and you and your sponsor are developing this important relationship, The Recovery Group has a loop called Sponsors and Recovery, available to discuss sponsor/sponsee issues. It may be that a Sponsor is having difficulty with a sponsee and needs to share anonymously about that with others. Receiving input representing the viewpoints of both sponsors and sponsees can help resolve issues. The same is true with a sponsee. Perhaps they need to ask a question about something their sponsor is doing and want to get input from others. Sponsors and Recovery is just the place to do that. To maintain anonymity, please do not use personal names of either sponsors or sponsees.

There is even more information at:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/sponsors.html.

Sponsors are members who are willing to share their recovery with those in the fellowship who still suffer. They renew and reaffirm their own recovery by working with others.

Love and understanding can flow between sponsor and sponsee because of the fact that they are both compulsive eaters. Neither is above or below....we are all equal in the fellowship.... both newcomer and those who have been here a long time. This is really cool. :)

With love and great JOY in service,

   Patt and Cate, TRG Sponsor Coordinators
   The Recovery Group Sponsor Program Trusted Servants

   Contact: Sponsors@TheRecoveryGroup.org
   www.TheRecoveryGroup.org



~ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ~



~ Please consider submitting a Letter to the Editor. ~


~ FEBRUARY LOOP SPOTLIGHTS ~

WTS

WTS is a quarterly study of the Twelve Steps of Overeater's Anonymous in twelve weeks for COEs who are serious about recovering from this deadly disease. WTS begins the year in January with Step One and finishes twelve weeks later with Step Twelve. The WTS leader sends out essays, questions, discussion subjects and shares relative to the 12 Steps to those COEs who have joined for that study. These members actively work each Step with their personal sponsor, the WTS Study Leader and one another, by posting their Step work to the loop, encouraging the other members as they do so.

There are four such WTS studies through the year, with new studies starting in January, April, July and October.

To find out more about WTS, please visit:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/wts/index.html

To join:
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?SUBED1=wts&A=1

WTS STUDY



WTS Study is a companion loop to WTS, Working the Steps, which is described above. The text and questions submitted by the WTS Step Leader are also posted to the WTS Study loop so that WTS Study members can read and contemplate them, but there is no active posting of responses on the WTS Study loop.

The WTS Study loop exists for the exclusive purpose of working the Twelve Steps as they apply to compulsive eating.

For more information about WTS STUDY, please visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WTSStudy/

To join, please send a blank email to:
WTSStudy-subscribe-request@lists.therecoverygroup.org.



WLS ODAT



The WLS (Weight Loss Surgery) loop is a Twelve Step based loop offering support to COEs who have had (or are considering) surgery to obtain the physical recovery we seek, as well as the spiritual and emotional recovery which we feel is only obtained by working the Twelve Steps. Some of our members have already had the WLS, some are scheduled to have it and some simply want to learn more about it. The surgery itself is neither recommended nor discouraged in our loop since we feel that such a decision is strictly between the COE and his/her doctor.

To find out more, please visit:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/odat/wls/ or
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WLS_ODAT/

To join, please send a blank email to:
StrongRecoveryODAT-subscribe-request@lists.therecoverygroup.org.




THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD



The Yellow Brick Road is a loop like no other. There are no coordinators, no guidelines and no restrictions on membership. Its members are mostly men and women with food disorders of one kind or another, but there are civilians here also. The Yellow Brick Road is a spiritual loop that offers you fellow travelers on your spiritual journey. You may argue with them, debate with them, dislike them or love them. They may inspire you, bore you, disgust you or excite you. Its members, from all over the world, will be composites of The Tin Man, Glenda the Good Witch of the North or Dorothy. Some will remind you of The Scarecrow, The Lion or the Wicked Witch of the West. You may discover yourself here ... not who you think you are, but who you really are.

To learn more please visit us at:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/discovery/yellowbrickroad/, or
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/TheYellowBrickRoad/

To become a member of this merry band, send a blank email to:
TheYellowBrickRoad-subscribe-request@lists.therecoverygroup.org





~ FROM OUR RECOVERY GROUP MEMBERS ~





~ ABOUT FAITH ~


(Editor's note: Faith is Serendipity's new assistant editor. Please welcome her with open arms!)


"My name is Faith and I'm a COE/Bulimic, gratefully recovering one day at a time. I'm blessed to be the parent of a loving, beautiful six-year old daughter. In my spare time I enjoy painting, sketching, creating mixed-media works of art, writing speculative fiction, crocheting for charity, watching Pre-Code era, foreign and independent films, and listening to jazz/blues.

My road to recovery has been a long and familiar one. For more than ten years I have lived in denial, alternately convincing myself that all I needed was a bit more willpower or worse yet, ignoring my problem altogether, even though I knew that there was in fact a serious problem. About two years ago, I found my way into an Al-anon meeting. It was in that fellowship that I learned about OA. After much contemplation and and many online meetings, I found my home here at TRG in the Pagan ODAT loop about three months ago."





~ A HOTJ STORY ~


"Hi, I'm Mary, a compulsive overeater and the Coordinator for The Recovery Group's HOTJ - Heavyweights On The Journey to recovery. I want to tell you my story.
During my childhood, when was I growing up, there was always lots of food around and I never gained weight. When I did start gaining, I was doing it to show my mother, who had a controlling personality. My father, who I always thought had a dry sense of humor, was verbally abusive. I didn't see him for four and 1/2 years because of his verbal abuse about my weight.

I came into OA on June 5, 1999 weighing 311 lb. at my top weight. I had been diagnosed with degenerative disk disease in my lower back and my doctor did not even have a brace for me to wear. What got me here was that Memorial Day Weekend when I had a severe headache. I ended up in the ER twice that day. Saturday, I was sitting in my friend's apartment watching TV and my right arm started shaking. I called my doctor and he asked if there was a history of stroke in my family. When I told him there was, he told me to get to the hospital, right away. Nothing was found. A week later I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my neck, with a slipped vertebrae. I have it everywhere but my hips and elbows. I am always in some degree of pain with my back.

I lost the weight (101 lbs.!), but took my will back and went into a full blown relapse for nine months. I then got a sponsor, and slipped and slided for another six months. At the time, I was involved with my neighbor, who moved in with me. It was a bad situation, but I wasn't going to listen to anyone. He was doing drugs and denying it. Two years ago this month, my landlord stopped the police from raiding my apartment since he knew I didn't do drugs. If he hadn't, I would now be in jail. He evicted my roommate, and moved me to where I am living now. I made amends to him and to my friend for the way I had acted.

Today, I have let go of 113 lbs. I can walk up the hill, on good days. I have 22 months of abstinence, and 20 months off sugar, as of January 20. I am actively doing service. I am currently the Chair for my Intergroup. When I came into this program, if someone had told me that, in this time frame, I would be the Intergroup Chair, I would have thought they were nuts! I came to know that I could do it after I had chaired a Step-a-thon.



Well, that is it for now. It works if you work it.
Mary S."


~ RECOVERY WRITERS' SERIES ~

~ Recovery Inspirations ~

In this column we bring you shares from Recovery Meditations, Odyssey, Danny's "Letters To God", Journey to Recovery, Reflections, The Promises and many others. This month we continue to bring you selections from "Odyssey, A Personal Journey", the journal of a man who began his journey to recovery at the weight of 725 pounds. He has shared his extraordinary journey with us, and we are grateful recipients of his experience, strength and hope. (Note: if you wish to read all of his Odyssey, the entire collection can be found at: http://www.therecoverygroup.org/odyssey/index.html.)




Hi all,

I recently did my first "outside" program where I told a bit of my story. My 30 minute talk ended up being 45, but no one seemed to mind much. There were laughs and tears, and lots of hugs afterward as people came up to me to say how much they could relate to my story. It was very satisfying to know what I had to share was of some value.

This was my first "overnight" away from my home in many, many years. Sleeping in a regular hotel bed for one night proved uncomfortable after the initial 3-4 hour nap I took the first night, falling asleep at about 7:30pm and missing my evening snack at the facility. I toyed with the idea of going out for something at the nearby convenient store, sure I could find something appropriate, but decided that missing one snack would not be fatal, and testing myself at that point would not be wise. I had not done enough preparation for the "just in case" situations... and sure enough I had one. What I will do next time is make sure I have something with me in case what I had planned to do doesn't happen. Fortunately my mind set was such that I didn't spend the next day trying to "make up" for the meal I missed, I just forgot about it and moved on. New behavior for sure.

I was able to spend about 1.5 hours with the therapist that I saw while at the center, and it was great to visit with her. While most of the staff had changed, I did see one very important person who was instrumental in getting me admitted two years ago, and got a quick smile as she came out to see me, and didn't recognize me right away. She asked if she could help me, and I said, "Yes, you can give me a hug!". The moment of recognition was wonderful, and we shared a long heartfelt hug, then sat and talked for a few minutes before she had to resume her duties. It was very gratifying to see her joy in the changes in me.

Shortly after the program ended, my wife and I drove home, 2 hours in the rain, and I collapsed in my chair sore and tired from so much activity. It took me two days to fully recover, but it was well worth it.

I went for my walk the next day even being so tired, and have continued to do so, getting up a little earlier because it's once again starting to get hot in Florida earlier in the day now.

I have been cutting down a stand of Australian pine trees in my back yard, and it's starting to really show the progress now. I have regained about 30' of "yard" so far, and have all the small offshoots cut. I am now ready to down the medium sized ones. Also started trimming back the Downing Jasmine bushes that have been taking over the front yard, and climbing up the Orchid tree, so hopefully when that tree blooms again, it will once again fill the front corner of our property.

The vegetable garden is looking good; someone is putting it in as a cooperative garden so we'll be having fresh veges soon. :-) The back yard is filled with plants waiting for placement; it looks like a veritable Garden of Eden back there now...very uplifting to look out and see that each morning as I walk past heading out for my walk. God is good!

My program is continuing to be the focus of my life. My sponsor came over on Sunday and we worked on some step work together... she is great at pointing out to me the changes she sees, usually which I do not... so it's a humbling thing for me. It makes me so grateful to be working this program and to have a sponsor who loves me enough to be honest and open with me. She came to my talk with my wife and afterward she gave me a big hug and said, "I really love you!" She is such an inspiration to me. She works a very strong program, so I know if she thinks I'm doing okay, I'm doing Great! :-)

Challenges of raising a 12 year old had gotten to a very tenuous point again, so more stringent boundaries have been placed, and seem to be doing the trick. My tendency is to be too lenient, too inconsistent, and too over-indulgent, a bad combination for setting good limits.. And she suffers because of it, so this week has been going remarkably well in comparison. I pray for continued guidance and strength to remain vigilant with this. I try to remember she is only 12 and not ready for much still... I am trying to instill in her a desire to "want" to learn, to have a passion for something, which she does of course; it's just that reading all day doesn't seem to be enough to me... ;-) Sigh, oh well, that's MY perception; it will all work out, I trust.

My weekly OA meeting is tonight, someone is telling their story, so should be enlightening.

I continue to have the reprieve from my food compulsion, a joy to be sure. I am truly grateful for that and thank my HP daily for the gift.

I'll keep taking myself into the light of this program; it gives me the reassurance I need to continue doing the daily work of this plan of living.

Stay Strong!

love and hugs,
me
"Odyssey, A Personal Journey"



~ FROM THE LITERATURE ~




~~THE TWELVE STEPS ~ STEP TWO~~

Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves
could restore us to sanity.



~~ THE TWELVE TRADITIONS ~ TRADITION TWO ~~

For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.



~~ BIG BOOK QUOTE ~~
BIG BOOK READING
"It was only a matter of being willing to believe in a Power greater than myself. Nothing more was required of me to make my beginning. I saw that growth could start from that point. Upon a foundation of complete willingness I might build what I saw in my friend. Would I have it? Of course I would! "
AABB, page 12

THOUGHTS...by Myrlene (Big Book and Recovery Group)
Last month I told you about my not having a God because the one I had been brought up with was punitive and punishing. Therefore, for my whole life , until I began to study the Big Book, I did not have a God to talk to or rely on like everyone else seemed to have. When I saw Bill W's friend tell him, "Why don't you have your own conception of God?", it suddenly hit me that I could do that, too. I stood in the sunlight at last!! This BB passage was also for me.




~ RECOVERY MEDITATIONS ~


~ February Meditations Calendar ~
(http://www.therecoverygroup.org/meditations/february.html)





~ THE RECOVERY GROUP MEETINGS ~

THE RECOVERY GROUP ONLINE MEETINGS

The doorway to the meetings is at the top of the page at http://www.TheRecoveryGroup.org. All you have to do is click it, and you'll be in the meeting room. The times are 12 noon, 3PM, 6PM, 9PM, 12 midnight 3AM, 6AM, and 9AM. These are Eastern times, and all meetings are held in #Recovery on IRC with a doorway located here: http://www.TheRecoveryGroup.org.

CAN YOU SPARE AN HOUR A WEEK?

We need your help for a wonderful line-up of online meetings. We will be working on a schedule of meetings every three hours around the clock every day, and are well on our way to meeting that goal. This will make it possible for those in time zones around the world to participate both as leaders and attendees. Will you help by volunteering an hour or two or three a week? It's easy, it gives you a good feeling by helping others, and it's fun!

Prospective meeting leaders must be actively working the Steps to the best of their ability and belong to at least one Recovery Loop. Although abstinence is not a requirement, many find that being abstinent allows them to better focus on the meetings. Further guidance is given after a prospective leader contacts the Meeting Admins at: MtgAdm@lists.TheRecoveryGroup.org.

We hope as many of you as possible will write us back and let us know if you can help. Please don't be shy ... meetings are easy and rewarding to lead.

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SEND TO:
MtgAdm@lists.TheRecoveryGroup.org

Yes, count me in. I'd like to lead a meeting at the following times:

___________________________________________

Name _____________________________________

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For AOL members, there is a direct link to #Recovery: #Recovery on StarChat.Network. AOL users need to first go to the Meeting website and look at the special instructions for AOL users before they can fully participate in the meetings or they can go to: http://www.starchat.net/aol.php.

#Recovery is the meeting room for Recovery Group. There is a doorway to #Recovery on the Recovery Group website, www.therecoverygroup.org. The meeting room can be directly accessed by going to either of these sites:
http://www.starchat.net/recovery or
http://www.starchat.net/chat/?chan=recovery.

Another way to reach the meeting webpage is directly, at:
http://www.therecoverygroup.org/meetings/index.html.

You can find other helpful information, including on-line meeting protocols at:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/support/meetings.html.

If you wish to offer your time to lead a meeting, please send an email to:
MtgAdm@lists.TheRecoveryGroup.org.
We will get back to you as quickly as possible.



~ OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS CONTACTS ~

Overeaters Anonymous
World Service Office (WSO)
6075 Zenith Ct. NE
PO Box 44020
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
USA

Telephone 505-891-2664
Fax: 505-891-4320
 http://www.overeatersanonymous.org/index.html
E-Mail Address ~ info@overeatersanonymous.org

"I put my hand in yours ...
and together we can do what we could never do alone."
~ Rozanne, OA CoFounder ~





~ THE RECOVERY GROUP CONTACTS ~



"In the deepest part of a compulsive eater's soul . . .
Is the realization that recovery begins when we find one another."


~~ The Serenity Prayer ~~

Grant us the SERENITY to accept the things we cannot change;
The COURAGE to change the things we can;
And the WISDOM to know the difference.


What we could never do alone ~
We can do together.

One day at a time, ~
One step at a time.




Disclaimer


The Recovery Group and our newsletter has as its mission and purpose that of carrying the message of recovery to those who suffer from the disease of compulsive eating. We are an anonymous organization and follow the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous; however, we are not affiliated with that group. Your articles, announcements and information are welcome. All opinions in this newsletter represent only the opinions of the writers and not necessarily that of The Recovery Group or OA, Inc.

The Trusted Servants of Recovery

Volume 6 Issue 2 © Copyright 2004 THE RECOVERY GROUP All rights reserved.