I took the first three Steps every day . . . . It began to work—and seems so simple now!
My OA story began 40 years ago. I walked into my first Overeaters Anonymous meeting in February 1984, desperate, curious, and unaware of what I was getting myself into.
I’m fairly certain I was born a compulsive overeater. I always thought I needed more, and a normal meal just wasn’t enough. I found out later that I was trying to fill a bottomless hole that food could never fill. I had struggled with weight all my life. After ten years of marriage and a small son, it was only getting worse. I had failed at every diet and lost hope of ever succeeding, so when I came to OA, I was skeptical that yet another weight-loss program would be any different.
I heard the word God and nearly ran out the door, but I stayed and listened to the leader talk about hope. When I heard my story in her words, the seed was planted.
At first, I treated it like a diet. That didn’t work. I thought that if I just kept coming back, the magic dust would miraculously sprinkle me with abstinence, but it didn’t happen. And it was hard to get to meetings 30 miles (48 km) away, but I did for many years despite the fact that I just couldn’t get abstinent.
When meetings were hard to find (there were no virtual meetings at that time), I was forced to take a break from OA. It never left my mind, though. I had lots of literature and tapes from conventions so I still felt connected to the program. Then, a meeting became available so I went and felt at home again. Unfortunately, this was just when Covid started, so the meeting went virtual. I hesitated because I wasn’t sure I could learn the new technology, but I did. I started attending meetings originating from everywhere, and I heard how people were succeeding just by surrendering to something greater than themselves. I knew about the God thing, but I’d always thought I could do the program without the spiritual part. Predictably, the three-legged stool kept falling over.
I began acting as if I believed until I could find the Higher Power of my choice. I took the first three Steps every day to remind myself: 1) I had a food problem, 2) I needed a Higher Power, and 3) I had to turn my life over to that Power. It began to work—and seems so simple now! I had to have an open mind and be willing to trust in a higher power.
I was able to receive the gift of abstinence, and I now have a year and a half of continuous abstinence, the longest I have ever had in 40 years of OA. I know the disease is still lurking around, waiting for me to have a weak moment. I have to focus each day on staying abstinent and taking the steps necessary to keep me in recovery. To lose abstinence now would be devastating.
I am so grateful that I stayed for the miracle and that I now have a sturdy, three-legged stool.
—Anonymous, Illinois USA
