Growing up, I had few relationships outside of my family. I rarely had more than one or two close friends, and even those relationships were troubled. I didn’t know about boundaries, and I was driven by selfishness and fear. I was most often a people pleaser, but I would also hurt people who cared about me by behaving recklessly, sure that I was only hurting myself.
After working the Steps, I started to see how dishonest, careless, and manipulative I had been. I learned to be vulnerable and sincere. Now, I regularly tell my friends that I love them. Incredibly, I have more loving friendships than I can count on both hands. I still take missteps, but today I have a solution for that. I can make amends when necessary and ask God to remove my selfishness and fear and forgive any dishonesty.
Incredibly, I have more loving friendships than I can count on both hands.
After working the Steps, I started to see how dishonest, careless, and manipulative I had been … Now, I regularly tell my friends that I love them.
Regular inventory, prayer, and meditation help me stay present and put my friends’ interests before my own, so I no longer dominate every conversation. Instead, I ask others about themselves and I listen. I still have a lot of growing to do, but as long as I continue Step work, I continue to improve and stay free from compulsive eating.
