All 2010 OAsis Newsletters

8/3/2019 All 2010 OAsis Newsletters

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2/70

Prior to coming into the Overeaters

Anonymous Fellowship in 1976, my life

was one of total procrastination. As my

compulsive overeating progressed, so

did my procrastinating. Accomplishing

anything at all was a struggle.

My children were eleven and twelve

years old when I came into OA. I always

had piles of their clothes that needed

to be ironed or mended, but Id end up

ironing what was needed the morningof the school day and often bought new

clothes to avoid fixing a hem or replacing

a button.

I was restless, irritable, and discontented

all the time, yet I continually took on addi-

tional projects at church and work, never

knowing how to say no. If I did say no,

I feared I wouldnt be liked. The more proj-

ects I took on, the more I procrastinated.

The more I procrastinated, the more

frustrated I became. The more frustrated

I became, the more i compulsively ate.

Always the same cycle that I couldnt get

off.

The Wrong Glasses

I arrived at work this morning, put on

my glasses and started trying to read

my computer screen and some correspon-

dence on my desk. I started squinting and

thought, Who moved my computer? So,I moved my computer closer to me. Then I

began trying to read the correspondence

in front of me. Why cant I focus on the

page Im trying to read? I thought as I

struggled to see the words before me.

After about ten minutes my head started

to hurt, my vision became blurry and my

eyes started watering. Why cant I see this

morning? I was becoming more and more

exasperated.

With that last thought, I removed my

glasses and looked at them. To my surprise

as my focus started to clear, I realized I

had on an old pair of glasses. I quickly

located my news glasses and put them on.

Hooray, my vision had returned!

I have found that living outside of the

principles and guidelines of Overeaters

Anonymous is like putting on the wrong

glasses. Life begins to lose focus. The

problems associated with not following

the twelve steps may not become appar-

ent immediately, and the compulsivebehavior may appear gradually. The

urges to eat inappropriately may seem

manageableat rst. However, at some

point I have to take o the old glasses

and remember what life was like AFTER I

came to OA. Once I realize I am powerless

over this disease, I quickly put on the

new glasses. Clarity begins to return until

sanity is restored.

Today, I choose to follow th e twelve steps,

open my eyes, take o my old glasses andput on the new glasses for a refreshing

and renewed vision for my life in OA.

Donna H.

Tulsa Green Country Overeaters Anonymous

Trust in yourself. Your perceptions are

often far more accurate than you are

willing to believe. Claudia Black

2

Then I came into OA. It didnt take m

long to become abstinent, and han

in-hand with my abstinence came

the beginning of my recovery from

crastination. I remember clearly wh

a button popped off a sweater and

sewed it on immediately. I felt so go

about that simple task. I also began

say no when asked to do things tha

I didnt have time for. I had come to

realize that my self-worth wasnt ba

on doing whatever was asked of m

As I learned to take care of myself, t

no when appropriate, to put first th

first, and to work the twelve steps,

procrastination and my other chara

defects are slowly disappearing. It is

difficult to put into words the gratit

I feel towards my Higher Power and

Fellowship of Overeaters Anonymo

The best way I know today is to sha

with whomever God puts in my pat

Elyria,

(from Abstinence, pg.; 156

Without Delay


3/70


Whats the matter with

them? If they really wanted

to abstain, they would.

Furthermore, what hap-pens to those who illness

has returned, the ones who

are regaining weight (or

who have never lost any)?

Are we full of guilt and

shame? Do we lack a sense

of self-worth? Do we expect

no mercy and acceptance

at the hands of our fellow

members?

Its easy to accept a

member who is abstaining

and losing weight and

staying on a fairly even

emotional keel. But this is

no test of our program; it

requires no struggle and

sacrice on our part, no

practice of compassion and

patience.

The real test comes when,

despite our best eorts, a

baby or friend continues to

react violently or to break

abstinence repeatedly or togain some weight.

We need to remember

that were all here because

OA is our haven, a place of

last resort. We have nobody

but each other and no

place else to go. Therefore,

for one overeater to make

another overeater feel guilty

or ashamed is the greatest

tragedy of all. If we judge

one another or make each

other feel, in any way, theway we felt in the outside

world, we have destroyed

what we believe in and

defeated our own purpose.

Let us reexamine what

Shakespeare meant when he

said, The quality of mercy is

not strain ed. Its rather like

elastic--expanding with

giving and taking, cont

ing with being withheld

Mercy is an expenditurof attitude, not of time

money. It is twice bles

blesseth him that gives

him that takes Isnt tha

remarkable? In this hec

and unsure world, the g

and receivers of mercy

feel only joy and sereni

resulting in a sense of s

worth beyond imaginin

Incidentally, for those s

struggling with weight

the willingness to acce

mercy oered is a sure

toward peace of mind.

In the natural scheme

things, some of those n

maintaining will regain

weight and some of th

now trying and retryin

will abstain and mainta

their normal weight. Th

emotionally upset will

even out and some fair

stable will have emotioslips. But none of this i

important as the spiritu

growth we attain by be

merciful with one anot

no matter what our phy

or emotional state of b

may be.

Mercy is an attribute

God Himself

July/August

(from Lifeline Sample

The QUALITY OF MERCY

is not strained...it is twice

blest...it blesseth him that

gives and him that takes...it

is an attribute to God Him-

self.

Beautiful words, arentthey? These are the thoughts

incorporated in the We

Care signs at many of our

meetings. Yet, do we really

understand the meaning of

mercy? Do we make the

spiritual sacrice necessary

to practice this attribute

toward each other?

The dictionary denes

mercy as compassionate and

kindly forbearance. It isnt

easy. It requires the very bestwe have to oer. It means

letting go of resentment,

anger, fear and the like. It

means reaching out and

saying, I accept you and

care about you, no matter

what you look like now or

how you are acting now.

Its not always dicult

to forgive past actions

on the part of others (or

ourselves, too), but forgiving

and caring while we and

other OAs continue to be

human...well, thats the realtest of progress with our

program.

What about the member

who maintains normal

weight but continues to have

severe emotional slips? Do

we not frequently pull away

in fear or impatience? How

do we treat the member who

comes to OA and is unable to

lose any weight? How do we

treat the member who has

been at normal weight andthen returns to overeating?

Do our phone calls slacken

o as these hapless members

break abstinence over and

over? Do we smile with our

mouths and avert our eyes

when we see them at meet-

ings? Do we say to ourselves,

Compassion and Kindly Forbearance


4/70

4

Experience 50 years of worldwide unity at OAs 2010World Service Convention ( WSC). Its theme, Now

Playing: 50 Years of OA Recovery, reflects the joyfound in the physical, emotional and spiritual jour-ney to recovery in OA. Join members for fun andfellowship at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel inLos Angeles, California USA, August 26-29, 2010. Goto the World Service Convention page on the OAWeb site for more information or join the Conven-tion email list at [email protected].

Hotel reservations are now open! The World

Service Office (WSO) does not make lodging reserva-tions, so be sure to reserve your room. Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel

5711 W. Century Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90045 USA1-800-445-8667 (US/Canada)1-310-410-4000 (Local/International)

Group Code: WSC

URL: www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/ersonalized/LAXAHHH-WSC-20 100809/index/jhtml

Lodging rates (rates do NOT include taxes,currentlyat 14.065%)

Single/Double Occupancy: $129 USD per night Triple/Quad Occupancy: $139 USD per night NOTE: The lodging rate does NOT include meals.

Reservations must be made by August 1, 2010. Therates are available from August 19, 2010 throughSeptember 1, 2010.

Need a roommate? Contact the WSO at 505-891-2664 or [email protected]. The WSO will

provide you with a list of OA members interested isharing a room. It is the responsibility of the OAmember to contact others on the list and makearrangements with the hotel.

Accommodations require a credit card to guarantee a room. If you do not have a credit card to hold

your reservation, a deposit may be required. Pleasecontact Hilton LAX (1-310-410-4000) for instruc-tions.

Cancellations must occur 24 hours before thearrival date to avoid a charge for the first-nightsroom cost.

Watch for registration information in the JanuaryA Step Ahead or online at www.oa.org/world-service/convention.php. Registration begins inJanuary. Registration forms, a schedule of eventsand workshops, and service opportunities will be

available at that time. Questions? [email protected].

Dont miss this opportunity to strengthen yourprogram and friendships.

Celebrate OAs 50th anniversary in style

50 YEARS OF OA

RECOVERY

Los Angeles, CA

August 26-29, 2010


5/70

Tulsa Green Country Overeaters AnonymousNext Intergroup Meeting

Saturday

January 9, 2009

9:45 a.m. at OA Oce

The OA Tulsa Intergroup i s a

service body of Overeaters

Anonymous that carries themessage of OA to greater

Green Country. This group

is comprised of a Board,

Standing Committee Chairs

and Meeting Reps. Monthly

meetings provide members

with such services as:

Website

Literature

Meeting Lists

Retreats

Workshops

Community Outreach

******************

January 16

OAs Birthday (third

Saturday of January)

******************

12 Week Relapse &

Recovery Workshop

Starting January 18th

Mondays at 6pm

First 3 meetings are open, the

rest are closed

Where:

Southern Hills Baptist Church

56th & Lewis

Contact - Linda T. 625-5094

[email protected]

******************

Unity Day

February 27, 2010

Church of the Resurrection

******************

2010 State Convention

July 17, 2010

Hardesty Library

The Church of Resurrection

has been reserved for the

evening ofJuly 16th. The

new theme is Summer Camp

2010: A Way Out Adventure.

World Service Business

Conference

April 26 May 1, 2010

Theme: Half a Century -

One World of Growth

Hotel Albuquerque at Old

Town800 Rio Grande Blvd. NW

Albuquerque, NM 87104

505-843-6300 or

1-800-237-2133

Reservation deadline is

April 2, 2010.

******************

The Datebook calendar that

used to be part ofLifeline has

now moved to the OA Web

site. The link is at the top right

corner of the home page:

http://www.oa.org/datebook.php

******************

WEB The web has been up-

dated with literature pertinent

to OA. Group information is

welcomed on the web.

******************

LISTEN TO A PODCAST:

http://www.oa.org/podcast/

Podcast #16: To the Man Who

Wants to Stop Compulsive

Overeating, Welcome.

******************

A Step AheadNewsletterA Step Ahead is a free quarterly

newsletter for OA members,

groups and intergroups. It

provides information aboutissues important to the

Fellowship, including descrip-

tions of new and approved

literature and specialty items,

news from the WSO, and help-

ful information such as the

Lifeline Monthly Topics. A Step

Aheadappears online every

quarter, usually in January,

April, July and October.

Make a Date

Extreme remedies are very appropriate for

extreme diseases. Hippocrates

Go to meetings. Read the Big Book. Get a sponsor.

Go to any lengths.

All that? When will I have time for my life?

Make time. Compulsive overeating is a killing

disease.

But Im not that bad.

No, not yet. But this illness is progressive; it getsworse, never better. Abstinence is a new life, not in

theory but in practice. It means following sugges-

tions, listening to someone who knows more than I

do about living abstinently. It means reading:

Rarely have we seen a person fail who has

thoroughly followed our path.

If I want abstinence, and a better life, I have come to

the right place.

For today: I have taken the first step.God help me to stay on this new path

toward physical, mental and spiritual

recovery.

(from For Today, pg. 203)


6/70

2010 IG Board/CommitteesPriscilla L., Chair 402-8183

Sally D., Vice-Chair 430-8922

Karen B., Treasurer 492-7606

Judi P., Secretary 728-3186

Linda T., Rep/Delegate 2 625-5094Karen B., Rep/Delegate 1 492-7606

Donna H., Web 628-0381

Donna H., OAsis Newsletter 628-0381

Linda T., 12 Step Within 625-5094

Pat A., Literature 250-1981

Vacancies:

Public Information & Public Outreach

Young People

Challa, Pop/Water

Ask-it BasketHow would you respond to a fellow OA member who told

you what and how to eat, and who said you werent abstinent if you didnt

follow a particular plan of eating?

www.oa.org/services-for-members/service-body/ask-it-basket-

and-archive.php6

January 2010

OAsis Newsletter


7/70

Service in OvereatersAnonymous has taught me

many things. Perhaps the

most important is that I can

love and respect someone

with a dierent point of

view. We are members of the

same Fellowship; we share

the same compulsion. We

are both trying to do what

is best for OA, and we can

agree to disagree.

Through OA Ive learned

that we can have dieren

viewpoints on an issue

without jeopardizing our

friendship. Just because

someone disagrees with

doesnt mean that person

doesnt love me or want m

friendship. I dont have to

take it personally. Our gr

conscience decides an iss

If I dont agree with the dsion by group conscience

I can nevertheless learn

to live with it. I trust that

others also have the goo

OA as a whole in mind, a

I can learn something. I c

learn that not only are th

other views than mine, b

that they may be right

(from Voices of Recovery, pg. 58

****************

****************

his willingness to actn faith, then, was theey to Step Two.The Twelve Steps and

welve Traditions of Over-aters Anonymous, pg. 17.

cting on faith meansanding without myefenses to protect me

nd assuming that myigher Power will do theght thing for me, willive me what I need if nothat I want. Acting onith means believing myigher Power will alwayssten and encourage mehen I am in a situation which I have to take

sks. My Higher Powerill walk with me through

he scary situations and

ill be with me to the endhen the trials are over.hats acting on faith.

rom Voices of Recovery,

g. 9)

******************

Unity does not meanuniformity. In OA welearn we can disagreewith other people onimportant issues andstill be supportivefriends.--The Twelve Steps and

Twelve Traditions of Over-

eaters Anonymous, pg. 115.

Meditate On ThiA man wrapped up in himse

makes a very small bundl

-Benjamin Frankl

Tulsa Green Country Overeaters Anonymous Monthly Newsletter

February 2010

OAsisNewsletter

Were on the We

www.tulsaoa.or

Step 2ame to believe that a Power greater than

rselves could restore us to sanity.

om Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 9)

Tradition 2

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.

(from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 119)


8/70

Going through my collection ofiterature recently I came across

a pamphlet put out by a localntergroup: A Food Plan for

Recovery. I smiled, rememberingwhat it was like when I came toOvereaters Anonymous in June

of 1975.

accepted that food plan thenbecause I was desperate andt was my last hope. I was told

that unless I listened to what mysponsor said and followed thatfood plan to the letter I woulddie. I listened and I followed, Itook the rst three steps, wasstepped up and graduatedto sponsorhood after only one

month in OA. I lost more than110 pounds in ten months.

The years passed, attitudeschanged, meetings came andwent, I took more steps andwas working them. So I thought.Then the boom fell, the roofcaved in, my life passed beforemy eyes. Also, the sugar, thestarches and the garbage passedbetween my lips, on come the

pounds: 10, 20, 40, 60. How fastcould I gain? I was insane, I waspowerless and my life was againunmanageable. It was worse thanbefore. I couldnt stop. I woke upsaying Today is the rst day ofthe rest of my life, got into mycar and drove to a stop n shopstore where I stocked up for thedrive to work. I was powerless

2

and I admitted it as I stuedmy puy cheeks.

I fought the obsession. Icouldnt go on a diet becausethat was not recovery; it was

only a diet. I talked at lengthwith friends and with God.Finally, through prayer andmeditation, I knew that onlyGod could make me whole.God told me what to do: Goon a diet and turn your willover. So very simple. I neededto lose weight and I needed tolose my obsession with food.

I had to trust again. I had togive my life over to a HigherPower without reservation. Ihad to understand that beingpowerless over my food obses-sion meant that the power todeal with it had to come fromoutside myself. That powercame from God. God not onlygives me the power to diet theweight o, but restores me tosanity.

The key word here is give. God

gives me the power. God wont doit for me; others in the program

wont do it for me. Only I can do it

for me, with Gods help. God does

not live my life; I do. From God I

receive the strength, the serenity

and the way to live it. I have the

choice to follow that way or to

live my own way.

The Power to Carry It OutThe OA program is founded upo

solid ground. The principles set

before us are hard to live by, bu

if I follow them to the best of m

ability they will give me a life of

beauty and serenity.

I must be honest with myself,

with God and with others, for a

lie will surely trip me up and

cause me to fall. I must be unse

ish, for by giving my gift to othe

I keep it for myself. I must use th

steps to clear my path of emo-

tional impediments (hate, ange

resentment, jealousy, greed), fo

that is the only way I cancontinue my progress on the

road to happy destiny.

God has given me another

chance: A life of peace and

harmony wherein I may eventu

ally recover from my obsession

with food.

I do not need a food plan for

recovery. I need a food plan tolose weight. For recovery, I need

God , the twelve steps and the

fellowship of Overeaters Anony

mous.

Lifeline Sampler, April 1981,

pg. 125-126


9/70

We realize we know only a little. God

will constantly disclose more to you

and to us. Ask Him in your morning

meditation what you can do each

day for the man who is still sick. The

answers will come, if your own houseis in order.

But obviously you cannot transmit

something you havent got. See to

it that your relationship with Him is

right, and great events will come to

pass for you and countless others. Th

is the great fact for us.

To the Newcomer:

Abandon yourself to God as you unde

stand God. Admit your faults to Him

and to your fellows. Clear away the

wreckage of your past. Give freely of

what you nd and join us. We shall be

with you in the fellowship of the spirit

and you will surely meet some of us as

you trudge the road of happy destiny.

May God bless you and keep you--unt

then.

Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 164

Last summer we started reno-vating our bi g, old house. Id

been in OA for three years, hadlost eighty pounds, and wasenjoying a clean abstinence,one day at a time.

I was excited about getting anew kitchen and bathroom.The old ones were dark andcramped, and I longed to knockdown the old walls, put in lotsof beautiful new windows, andbring in some sunshine andfresh air.

During the construction Istruggled with my eating. Itwas hard to stay abstinent, I ra-tionalized, because my kitchenwas all torn up, and I couldntcook properly. The stress of theexpense of the project and theunexpected delays and compli-cations made it hard for me tomeditate and exercise.

When it was completed thehouse was beautiful, and Iwas twenty pounds heavierand desperate to nd a wayback to the serenity I had onceenjoyed.

As I struggled, my HigherPower reminded me of the

windows I had needed in myhome. I realized that I need toopen windows, one day at atime, to work my OA programas well.

When I call my spons or, it feelsas if Ive opened a window andlet in the fresh morning air.When I take time to read OAliterature and meditate, thewarm sunshine of understand-ing shines on my face.

Whenever I go to a meeting, Ifeel like Im opening a windowthat lets me see where Imgoing and where Ive been.

I used to feel that working myprogram was indeed work. Butnow it's as easy to me as open-ing windows--and how muchjoy, strength, and comfort I getfrom living with sunshine andfresh air! I realize that I want touse the tools of the program--my beautiful windows--everyday.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Abstinence, pg. 139

Opening Windows The Great Fact


10/70

The ABCs ofOA Workshop!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2010

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Church ofthe Resurrection

4804 S. Fulton -- Tulsa, OK

Activities will include:

Page 132 Saturday morning meeting,

OA Unity moment, speakers,

Ask It Basket, potluck and

bring items for a raffle

Contact: Priscilla 402-8183 formoreinfo.

$5 suggesteddonation for workshop

Potluck: Bring a lunchdish to share

(or $5 donation for lunch)

4


11/70


Next Intergroup Meeting

Saturday

February 13, 2010

9:45 a.m. at OA Office

The OA Tulsa Intergroup is a


Anonymous that carries the

message of OA to greater

Green Country. This group is

comprised of a Board, Standing

Committee Chairs and Meeting

Reps. Monthly meetings provide

members with such services as:

Website

Literature

Meeting Lists Retreats

Workshops

Community Outreach

******************

12 Week Relapse &

Recovery Workshop

Starting January 18th

Mondays at 6pm

First 3 meetings are open, the

rest are closedWhere:

Southern Hills Baptist Church

56th & Lewis

Contact - Linda T. 625-5094

[email protected]

******************

Unity Day

February 27, 2010


(See page 4 for more informa-

tion)

One-Day Country Retreat

Saturday, April 17, 2010

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Country-house of Linda T.More information coming soon.

******************


July 16-17, 2010

Summer Camp 2010:

A Way Out Adventure

Friday Night, July 16

Pot Luck Supper & Speaker


Saturday, July 17

Hardesty Library

******************


Conference

April 26 - May 1, 2010

Theme: Half a Century - One

World of Growth

Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town800 Rio Grande Bl vd. NW


505-843-6300 or

1-800-237-2133


April 2, 2010.

******************

Make a Date

Strong Meeting Checklist

The Strong Meeting Checklist is part of OAs 2008-

2013 Strategic Plan. It is not enough to make the

public aware that OA exists and can be a solution to

compulsive eating; meetings have to be strong andmust function effectively for people to stay for the

miracle and for OA to continue to grow and be

there for those who need it in the future. Consider

doing an inventory of your OA meeting using the

checklist.

1. Does the meeting start and end on time?

2. Are all attending, including newcomers,

greeted and made to feel welcome and

accepted?

3. Does the meeting focus on OA recoverythrough the Twelve Steps and Twelve Tradi-

tions?

4. Do we offer our own experience, strength

and hope, sharing the solution we have

found?

5. Is the group contributing financially to all

levels of OA service as per our Seventh Tradi-

tion?

6. Are sponsors available and identified at

the meeting?7. Does the group practice anonymity by

reminding members not to repeat who is seen

or what personal sharing is heard at a meet-

ing?

8. Does the group follow a meeting format?

9. Is only OA-approved literature on display

and for sale?

10. Are group conscience meetings held

regularly?

11. Are all service positions filled, and isrotation of service practiced?

12. Is the meeting information readily avail-

able and the WSO informed of all meeting

details and changes so that newcomers and

visitors can find our meeting?

13. Are cross talk and advice-giving avoided?

(from the OA website, www.oa.org, Group Support)


12/70





Linda T., Rep/Delegate 2 625-5094

Karen B., Rep/Delegate 1 492-7606





Challa, Pop/Water

Vacancies:


Young People

6

February 2010

OAsis Newsletter

Keep coming back.It works if you work it,And youre worth it.

Submissions for the OAsis Newsletter are always welcome.

Please send your insights, quotes, funny stories, success stories,

wisdom, encouragement, etc., to [email protected].

Have a Happy Valentines Month.


13/70

A person doesnt have to be

abstinent to be welcome atOA meetings...In fact, manyof us have kept coming backto OA despite problems withabstinence and have foundthis to be the key to our

recovery.

--The Twelve Steps and

Twelve Traditions of Over-

eaters Anonymous, pp. 130-

131.

I am thankful that OAdoesnt base its member

requirements on weight,

but only on a desire to st

eating compulsively. Som

times I could only show u

at a meeting and contrib

to the Seventh Tradition.

I cried, nodded, and tried

to act as if everything wa

okay, even though I was

falling apart emotionally

By the grace of my God amy courage not to leave

rooms, something mirac

lous happened over time

heard the message of th

long-time abstaining me

bers. It didnt happen th

one day I did everything

OA suggests, but slowly

I started to ask the right

people profound questio

This eventually led me to

the one person who was

willing and strong enougto overcome every obsta

I put up to resist recover

works, no matter what.


****************

Meditate On Th

The more diculties one has encounter, within and without, th

more signicant and the higher inspiration his life will b

Horace Bushn

Tulsa Green Country Overeaters Anonymous March 2010

OAsisNewsletter

Were on the Web

www.tulsaoa.org

Step 3ade a decision to turn our will and our lives

er to the care of God as we understood

m.


We now say yes tohis Power, decidingrom here on to followpiritual guidance in

making every decision.The Twelve Steps and


efore OA I was an expertn the art of losing

eight. I knew how toose the weight and lose

quickly. Somehow,ach time I lost weight,always found its way

ack to me. In working arogram of recovery inA, the weight has had

o come o much moreowly; Ive experiencedelayed gratication. InA I have to allow time

or my emotions and

piritual growth to catchp with the dierence inody size. I need to earny weight loss a day attime, and turn my everusive goal weight over

o the decision of myigher Power. Throughorking an OA program,

am able to let go ofhe weight gracefully,nd today, letting go ofeight is a by-product of

my spiritual growth. By

maintaining consciouscontact with a powergreater than myself. Iam nally able to feel atpeace while abstainingfrom compulsive eating.

(from Voices of Recovery,

pg. 72)

*******************

Tradition 3

The only requirement for OA membership is a desire to

stop eating compulsively.



14/70

When I came into Overeaters

Anonymous I wanted absti-

nence more than anything, and

of course I wanted it right now.

went to meetings those rst

few months and complained:

Why couldnt I achieve absti-nence? I must be no good to

anyone at all if I couldnt even

quit eating compulsively. Why

did it work for others and not

me? Wasnt I good enough?

An OA friend explained that we

are in the process of growing,

of nding abstinence, of learn-ng about ourselves. It is unreal-

stic to expect instant success.

Recovery is many-faceted and

takes time, lots of time.

learned that I had to be will-

2

ing to be willing: willing to

be abstinent, willing to

admit my powerlessness,

willing to hand my compul-

sions over to my Higher

Power. I prayed, Lord, give

me a willing spirit. Afterdoing this daily for a week, I

woke up one morning and it

was like a light clicking on in

my head. I knew that today

was the day. Since that day,

through the grace of God, I

have been abstinent. It was a

gift. All I had to do was

receive it. God actually tookthe cravings, the uncon-

trolled compulsions away.

The next step for me was to

realize that the rst three

steps of the twelve steps are

actually tools for me. They

What To Do about Powerlessness

are like a technical manual

or a how-to instruction

guide.

Each day I admit I am powe

less over food, my husband

my kids, the past, other

people, my feelings, plus

anything that is botheringme on any given day. I was

even addicted to diet sod

One day I realized that I wa

powerless over it. When I

admitted that to God, the

compulsion was removed.

I was also compulsive abou

getting on the scale. Whenadmitted my powerlessnes

over that, God took it way.

What an adventure step

three is--giving it all to God

I am so thankful for the

things Im learning because

Overeaters Anonymousexists.

Lifeline Sampler, August 1981,

pg. 127


15/70

What is Abstinence?

caught my eye in Lifeline.When I read the article Idiscovered that it wasnt asummary of OA abstinencewisdom--it was an invitationto submit my own definition.So I suggested to the othermembers of my group thatwe get together and shareour ideas. It turned out to bea wonderful experience forall of us.

We discovered that absti-nence is about living, choos-ing, accepting, admitting, af-rming, turning it over, andtrusting God to take care ofthe results.

Abstinence is enjoyingGods food the way it smeant to be enjoyed. I tseating healthy food with aprayerful, surrendered atti-

tude. We allow ourselves tobe satised with the amountof food we need, insteadof the amount we want orthink we need.

Living life abstinently isparticipating fully insteadof self-isolation. Its beingfree of shame, mortication,and self-condemnation. It sreplacing negative self-talkwith positive armations,

many times a day, in manyways. Its being at peacewithin ourselves, knowingwe have done our best. Wend that there are no goodguys or bad guys. We donthave to agree with or pleaseeverybody. We dont have toget involved in debates overwhos right and whos wrong.We can speak our minds andfeel at peace. We dont haveto control the other persons

reactions to what we say ordo.

In abstinence we canlearn to feel good aboutourselves. We can love andaccept ourselves just aswe are. Our freedom fromcompulsive overeatingrests in the hands of eachindividual s Higher Power.We live in a daily miracle.We trust our Higher Power

to take care of us, even if weget hungry.

We learn that each of us isa special and unique part ofGods picture. We begin totreat ourselves in a dierentway. Our illusions drop-away and we get in touchwith reality. We learn to feelthe feelings, face the pain,and deal with it. We discoveran inner strength that tells

A Way

of Life

us that we are worthwhile in spiteof what others have told us in thepast.

We begin to realize that it is achoice between life and death.Abstinence means choosing lifeand compulsive overeating leadsto death.

Honesty becomes our way oflife. We can tell the truth and trustour perceptions. Our wonderfulqualities become apparent to us awe accept them and cherish them

We exercise our right to be hereour right to be respected, andour right to be listened to and un-derstood. We no longer allow our-selves to be victimized by others.

This miracle of abstinence is amessage of recovery. It allows usto extend our hearts and handsto those who still suer. When weare abstinent, we can be truly bepresent for other people who arein pain.

Ukiah, California

Abstinence, pp. 6-8

Abstinence is about

living, choosing,

accepting, admit-

ting, affirming,

turning it over, and

trusting God totake care of the

results.


16/70

Recovery in the Country

Spring RetreatApril 17

th10am 4pm

Location is 27172 West Highway 33, Sapulpa. Take the Turner Turnpike to Exit 211, turn righton Highway 33 and go 5.5 miles West. White house on the left. About 30 minutes from Tulsa.(For additional directions call Linda T. 625-5094)

Cost: $20 includes lunchRSVP with payment by April 11th to Karen B. (492-7606 /[email protected])Lunch is provided by our personal chef/caterer Pat. A. (contact her if you have food

allergies or special needs 250-1981)

Morning: Sponsorship Workshop

After Lunch: fishing, pedal boating, nature walks, porch sitting, horse petting, kiteflying, horse shoes, ping pong or indoor boards games

Bring: lawn chairs, live bait (if you fish-we have a few rods), kites (if you want to flyone), inside games, paper & pen


17/70



Saturday

March 13, 2010







comprised of a Board, Standing




Website

Literature

Meeting Lists

Retreats

Workshops

Community Outreach

******************



10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Country-house of Linda T.

Information on page 4

******************


July 16-17, 2010

Summer Camp 2010:

A Way Out Adventure




Saturday, July 17

Hardesty Library

******************


Conference

April 26 - May 1, 2010


World of Growth

Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town

800 Rio Grande Bl vd. NWAlbuquerque, NM 87104

505-843-6300 or

1-800-237-2133


April 2, 2010.

******************

Abstinence Is...

...the ability to control anger and

settle differences without resorting

to food or comfort.

...the willingness to pass up immedi-

ate pleasure in favor of the long-

term goal.

...the ability to stick to a commit-

ment despite heavy opposition ordiscouraging setbacks.

...the capacity to face unpleasant-

ness, discomfort or frustration with-

out complaint or collapse.

...the ability to make a commitment

and stand by it. Lack of abstinenceis exploring endless possibilities

and giving up too soon.

...keeping your word and coming

through in a crisis.

...the art of living in peace with that

which we cannot change, the cour-age to change what we can and the

wisdom to know the difference.

---Edited and reprinted from Spirit and Hope

newsletter, Land Between the Lakes Intergroup,

January 2000

Make a Date


18/70











Challa, Pop/Water

Vacancies:


Young People

6

March 2010

OAsis Newsletter




Have a Happy St. Patricks Day and Month of March.

Keep coming back.

It works if you work it,And youre worth it.


19/70

Walking hand in hand withour friends and our HigherPower, we are now exploringthis world, using the great

spiritual principles embodiedin the Twelve Steps as the map to guide our way.

--The Twelve Steps and

TwelveTraditions of Overeat-

ers Anonymous, pp. 106.

What a wonderful way to

think of our program: as a

map to guide us as we live

each day embodying the

physical, emotional, and

spiritual aspects of our lives.

The Steps and Traditionsthe path that takes us on

this journey, outlining th

elements as a car tograph

would, illuminating and

guiding our way.

From the First Step, in w

I admit my powerlessnes

to the Twelfth Step, in w

I practice these principle

in all my aairs, I know

what action I must take t

continue my recovery. Honice to know that others

are stepping the Steps an

walking hand in hand wi

me. Above all, I know tha

Higher Power is there be

all of us as we continue o

the road of recovery.

For today, may I continu

following the OA map as

step forward each day o

the road of recovery.


****************

Meditate On Th

Whatever you vividly imaine, ardently desire, sincerebelieve, and enthusiastica

act upon...must inevitabcome to pas

Paul J. Mey

ulsa Green Country Overeaters Anonymous April 2010

OAsisNewsletter

Were on the Web

www.tulsaoa.org

Step 4ade a searching and fearless moral

ventory of ourselves


By trying to controlthers through manipu-

ation and direct force,

e had hurt loved ones.When we tried to control

urselves, we woundp demoralized. Evenhen we succeeded, itasnt enough to makes happy.The Twelve Steps and


When eating compulsively,focused on othereoples problems. It

ook the focus o me andreated a false sense ofower. People couldntanage their lives withoute. Fixing other people

ave me a false sense ofecurity, much as the hugemount of food seemed tour all my fears. I believed

hat this power made

eople admire, respect,nd appreciate me.owever, I did not admire,

espect, or appreciateyself.

he insanity was in tryingo play God for everyone

se, then bowing to theod of compulsive over-ating when I was alone.

Today, neither food norcontrol keeps the fearsaway.

For today, I choose not to

do for others what theycan do for themselves. Iseek Gods will, make suremy aairs are in order, andturn the outcome of mylife and others lives overto my Higher Power.


pg. 22)

******************

Tradition 4

Each group should be autonomous except in matters

aecting other groups or OA as a whole..



20/70

Asking for help sooner has

been one of the slowest lessons

for me to learn. I know I have

resources: the group, the read-

ings, the phone. I know that

when I turn my needs over, I

will receive a response in Gods

way, in Gods time. So why do I

suer until Im in tears?Last month I left Santa Fe,

New Mexico, to live in a new

log home in an Idaho forest.

Great serenity, I thought. No

yard work, I imagined. But

neither serenity nor lack of yard

work was the reality. Wildres

raged on three sides of my

home. Seven hundred reght-ers were camped three miles

away, and a helicopter port was

half a mile north. I attended

daily re information meetings.

Forest rangers, reghters and

people from local police agen-

cies visited me daily to tell me

2

how the res were moving.

Twice I received instruction

in evacuation procedures.

I had to clear 100 feet of

rough, rocky earth on all

sides of my home. I worked

11 and 12 hours a day with

weed whackers, cutters,

rakes and my bare hands.The dense smoke blacked

out the sun by midafter-

noon. Even the dogs

coughed. I drove with my

headlights on at all times.

Three weeks of this full-

time, hard labor combined

with isolation got to me. One

afternoon, I broke down andcried. My mind slid immedi-

ately into a pity pot. I was

exhausted, the re was near,

and I was convinced I would

lose my home. Where are

the men in my life? I asked.

Where is my sweetheart, my

God Bless the Samaritans

son, my brother? I cant ke

it up. This is man work!

Taking a breath from so

bing, I got a hit: Turn itover. Ask your Higher Pow

to take the fear away. Ask

help. So I did. I released th

need. I gave it up.

At that moment, I heard

truck approaching. It was

ranger. He saw me workin

stopped and walked dow

to meet me. I was wiping tears o my cheeks when

said, Do you need any he

out here? I said yes.

The ranger replied, I w

have 20 Marines here in 3

minutes. They came and

30 hours of work in less th

two hours.

When I hit bottom andcleanly and clearly ask HP

take my problem--be it a

concern, food or fatigue--

always receive an answer

The OA program requires

action, which can be simp

sincere words.

God bless the rain that

now falling. God bless thedivine teaching I received

God bless each of my OA

friends. And God bless th

Marines.

Lifeline, July 2002, pg. 16

Taking The

SPIRITUAL PATH


21/70

When I was tired and couldntconcentrate, I used to fall backon an armation toward life thattook the form of simple walkingand deep breathing. I sometimestold myself that I couldnt do eventhis--that I was too weak. But Ilearned that this was the point atwhich I could not give in withoutbecoming still more depressed.

So I would set myself a small stint.I would determine to walk a quar-ter of a mile. And I would concen-trate by counting my breathing--say, six steps to each slow inhala-tion and four to each exhalation.

Having done the quarter-mile, Ifound that I could go on, maybe ahalf-mile more. Then another half-mile, and maybe another.

This was encouraging. The falsesense of physical weakness wouldleave me (this feeling being socharacteristic of depressions.)

The walking and especially thebreathing were powerful arma-tions toward life and living andaway from failure and death. The

counting represented a minimumdiscipline in concentration, to getsome rest from the wear and tearof fear and guilt.

As Bill Sees It, pg. 92

For TodayPg. 305

I came to OA because I wantedto get well more than I wantedto eat. That is the steady purposethat directs my life today. I placefreedom from compulsive overeat-ing before everything else becauseI do not want to return to the lifeI had without it. Before OA, theonly tranquility I knew was toanesthetize myself with food, anindulgence for which I paid dearly

the rest of the time. Nothing couldsave me from the mental and emo-tional anguish and confusion ofbeing fat, feeling guilty and hatingmyself for lack of control.

Today I am not confused aboutwho I am and what I am doing.I am a compulsive overeater,relieved by the grace of God fromthe obsession, and recovering tothis place I call home.

Walking Toward

Serenity

Nothing contributes so much

to tranquilize the mind as a

steady purpose.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Going Crackers I attended my first OA meetingabout a month ago. I received my

books and listened to other overe

ers tell me about themselves. It

sounded so easy. I left my first

meeting feeling on top of the wo

had admitted I was an overeater.

The next day, after reading OA

materials, I made my abstinence c

I included several foods and habithat triggered my overeating. I wa

the road to recovery. I already kne

about HP. I had been down that ro

before with another program and

believe in God and know He cont

everything. I know what to do an

how to do it.

I attended every OA meeting I

could, read literature and prayed.

made amends to people and spre

the word. Abstinence was fun. I ha

lost as many pounds as I had hop

but at least I weighed less than wstarted.

I had gone more than three we

without chocolate, other than an

occasional diet bar, which my fo

plan allowed. I had eaten no othe

sweets, except the animal cracker

that are on my plan, and no secon

helpings l I had followed my abst

nence circle perfectly. I was praisi

God and feeling proud.

Then my abstinence ended. I ha

been nervous and upset about

people and things that were nonmy business. It was not my place

anything about them, and I could

anyway. It was finally lunchtime, a

was very hungry. I ate my sandwi

but once I started eating I could t

of nothing else. I wanted more, so

a bag of animal crackers. I prayed

asked God for help, then reached

another bag and another and ano

Before long, I had gobbled down

or seven bags.

I felt bad, but not bad enough t

quit. I rationalized that I had alrea

messed up, so I might as well enjo

Finally, all the bags of cookies we

gone. What had I done? I immedi

asked God to forgive me, to take

problems and help me start over.

Continued on Page 6


22/704

Recovery in the Country

Spring Retreat

April 17th 10am -- 4pm

Location is 27172 West Highway 33, Sapulpa. Take the Turner Turnpike to Exit 211, turn right on Highway 33and go 5.5 miles West. White house on the left. About 30 minutes from Tulsa (For additional directions call

Linda T. 625-5094)

* Cost: $20 includes lunch --RSVP by April 11th to Karen B. (492-7606 / [email protected]) or mail in attached form. Lunch is

provided by our personal chef/caterer Pat A.(contact her if you have food allergies or special needs

250-1981)

* Morning: Sponsorship Workshop

* After Lunch: fishing, pedal boating, nature walks, porch sitting, horse petting, kite flying, horse shoes,ping pong or indoor board games

* Bring: lawn chairs, live bate (if you fish - we have a few rods), kites (if you want to fly one), inside

games, paper and pen

Registration for Recovery in the Country

April 17, 2010

Name:

Phone:Payment:

Mail to:OA OfficeKaren BedaFountain Plaza4815 S. Sheridan, Ste. 111

Tulsa, OK 74145


23/70

******************


Saturday

April 10, 20109:45 a.m. at OA Office


ervice body of Overeaters




omprised of a Board, Standing




Website

LiteratureMeeting Lists

Retreats

Workshops

Community Outreach

inda T. will report on the

Region III Assembly at the April

G Meeting.

******************



0 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Country-house of Linda T.

nformation and Registration

orm on page 4

******************


July 16-17, 2010

Summer Camp 2010:

A Way Out Adventure




Saturday, July 17

Hardesty LibraryTulsa

******************


Conference

April 26 - May 1, 2010


World of Growth

Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town800 Rio Grande Blvd. NW


505-843-6300 or

1-800-237-2133


April 2, 2010.

SERVICE WITH A SMILE

Navigating the Rough Spots

In 1997, I submitted an article to Lifeline describing

my 10 years of abstinence (Sixties Jeans, March 1998, p.

13). On January 1, 1999, I celebrated 12 years of abstinence

and the release of 100 pounds. That earlier article focused

mostly on food, abstinence and the joy of physical

recovery. The peace and serenity in my life increase the

longer I am abstinent. I heard one of our former WSBCchairs say, Abstinence is the most important thing in my

life, without exception I believe this because if I were to

use food when feelings attack, I would be putting food in

Gods place.

As the years pass, I find it harder to recall the pain of

excess weight. To maintain my abstinence, I attend three

meetings every week; pray throughout the day; have a

sponsor and sponsor others; read and study OA and AA

literature; and serve OA at the group, region and world

service levels.

The literature tells us we must help other compulsive

eaters. This sounds like hard work. Recently, someoneshowed me this quotation on page 159 in the Big Book

(3rd ed.): These men had found something brand new in

life. Though they knew they must help other alcoholics if

they would remain sober, that motive became secondary.

It was transcended by the happiness they found in giving

themselves for others. I can honestly say I have reached

that stage in my recovery. Many of my closest friends are

recovering or struggling members of the Fellowship. In

moments when I do not have true peace and serenity in

my daily life, I must look at my program and see what I

am neglecting to do.

Life is not always easy, and the daily working of myprogram prepares me for the rough spots in the road. I

recently had a serious medical scare. As others have

instructed me to do (for example, see Still Abstinent-

-Even Through Cancer, Lifeline, January 1999, page 8), I

told my sponsor and prayed about my situation. I shared

at meetings, including that I had not eaten over the

problem and did not intend to eat over it. This is

miraculous because before my OA recovery I would fill a

wastepaper basket with snack wrappers over a report

deadline.

The problem has resolved itself without medical

intervention, but I pray that if it had gone the other way, Iwould have remained abstinent. I pray I will be abstinent

and in constant contact with God to my last day. This is a

spiritual program, and God is doing for me what I could

never do for myself. If I open my mind and heart to My

God, I believe the promise on page 164 in the Big Book

(3rd ed.) will come true for me: God will constantly

disclose more to you and to us. Thy will, not mine, be

done.

Anonymous, Atlanta, Georgia USA

Lifeline, July 2002, page 21

Make a Date


24/70











Challa, Pop/Water

Vacancies:


Young People

6

April 2010

OAsis Newsletter




Keep coming back.

It works if you work it,

And youre worth it.

Continued from Pg. 3

Then I tried to make excuses. I didnt do

anything wrong; it was part of my

lunch.But that didnt justify bingeing on

the cookies. I had let the cookies have

control. I forgot about God and was

enjoying the pleasure, so I thought.

Now I know how easy it is to lose my

abstinence. I lost my three weeks plus ofabstinence over some stupid little cook-

ies. I let my emotions control my actions.

I didnt have to lose my abstinence, but I

did.

All I can do now is start over and take

one day at a time.

Lifeline, July 2004, pg. 20


25/70

Tradition Five says theach group has butone primary purpose-to carry its messageto the compulsive oveater who still suersoften wonder what imessage is. This quotion clearly denes itme. It is my responsib

ity to carry the messaof the Twelve Steps aTwelve Traditions priciples. I can share myproblems with my spsor or a trusted friendIf I focus on at leastone of the principles,I ensure that I recovethat I share my recovwith newcomers, andthat I contribute to th

health and well-beinof my group.

(from Voices of Recovery, p. 130

****************

Meditate On ThI claim to be a simp

individual liable to err like another fellow mortal. I ow

however, that I have humilienough to confess my erro

and to retrace my steps

Mahatma Gand

ulsa Green Country Overeaters Anonymous May 2010

OAsisNewsletter

Were on the Web

www.tulsaoa.org

Step 5dmitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exactature of our wrongs.

om Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 45)

As we complete Ste pive, we may feel many

motions, among themumility, elation, and

elief.The Twelve Steps and

welve Traditions of Over-aters Anonymous, p. 51.

fter I completed Stepve, many of my fearsiminished, my attitudeshanged, and my deectsoubled me less. Simply

haring my defects with austed condante caused

hese changes in me. Ielieved that the darkerde of my emotions gavee little in common with

thers. After Step Five,felt more a part of thisorld. For the rst time, I

ould see the struggles ofthers and nd compas-on in my heart for them.

We were not better ororse than each other.idnt we all deserve theenet of the doubt?

had much work to do,ut others had drawn the

oad map, and I becameilling to ask for direc-ons. Without the barrierf shame, my path didnteem quite so desolate oronely.

God, grant me thewillingness to see myimperfections as ameans of getting closerto oth ers an d to You.


p. 80)

******************

Tradition 5

Each group has but one primary purpose--to carry its

message to the compulsive overeater who still suers.


H onesty, hope, fai th, cou r age, i ntegr i ty ,

wi lli ngness, hu mi li ty , self-di sci pli ne, love,

perseverance, spiritual awareness, service,

u ni ty, tr u st, open-mi ndedness, r esponsi bi l-i ty , acceptance, equ ali ty , and fellowshi p:

These Twelve-Steps and Twelve-Tr adi ti ons

pr i nci ples, r ather than ou r pr oblems,

shou ld be the focu s of ever y OA meeti ng.

--The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeat-

ers Anonymous, pp 147.


26/70

The approach of Mothers Day isnot a joyous time for me. I haveworked through recovery manytimes and nally had a wonder-ful healing about six years ago.So, why only a few weeks beforeMothers Day this year did Ihave a meltdown at work? I maynever know that answer, butI do know that God providedme with a wonderful sponsorwho helped me walk through adicult time.

I called my sponsor franticallyone morning because I was to-tally out of control emotionally,

crying and unable to deal withthe trauma to my heart andfearing the loss of abstinence.I couldnt work this way and Ifeared the embarrassment ofcreating a scene in front of mycoworkers. My sponsor calmlystated that if I had already dealtwith this incident before, then I

just needed to shut t he door onit. It seemed like such a simplesolution. She suggested an ex-ercise that had worked for her,

so after hanging up the phone,I tried it. I sat in my oce andclosed my eyes. I mentallypicked up an imaginary box,lled it with all of these emo-tions and feelings, closed thelid on the box and then tossedit through an imaginary

door. In my mind, I slammed thedoor shut, pulled a huge keyfrom my pocket, put it in thelock and with a clink (I couldalmost hear it in my mind)locked that memory behind thathuge door. Then I threw the keyaway.

I am amazed at how freeing thatexercise was to my emotionalstate. The relief occurred almostimmediately. I was able to drythe tears, compose myself, stand

up straight, open the door to myoce and go on with my day.

When the emotions and turmoilin my spirit return and threatento ruin my serenity, I know whatto do. I realize that Moth ers Daywill always roll around everyyear, but now I have a tool to useto help me stay on course. I canonly guess at how my day wouldhave unfolded if I hadnt calledmy sponsor. Thank God for OA

and thank God for sponsors!

Anonymous from Tulsa OA Member

For Today

A Mothers Day

Dilemma

For TodayP. 322

If a sense of separatenessis endemic to the humancondition how much morekeenly do compulsive overeaters feel their apartness!People eat occasionally forpleasure, to be sociable, tocomfort themselves, to pasthe time. We who are food-obsessed try long and hardto be like normal eaters, on

to nd that we cannot limitourselves to the occasion;our eating goes on and on,past need, past sociabilityand past sanity.

Recovery in OA is basedon the recognition that weare not -- and never can benormal eaters.

For today: Yes, I am dierenfrom those of my family,friends and colleagues who

are not compulsive overeaters. But there are thousandof people like me in Overeaers Anonymous.

The deepest need of

man is the need to

overcome his separate-

ness, to leave the prison

of his aloneness.

Erich Fromm


27/70

ABSTINENCE from compulsive over-eating is the single most important

thing in my life. Without it, I do not

enjoy other people, places or things. At

237 pounds and abstinent I felt good

about myself. I could see the good

within me. At 138 pounds and not

abstinent, I saw only a fat person who

had no right to her own opinions.

Before OA, I believed thin people wereright and fat people were wrong.

Needing to feel accepted to stay alive, I

presented myself as a doormat; but I

became livid when anyone stepped on

me. Self-condemnation made me see

condemnation in the eyes of those who

meant the most to me. What put me in

that frame of mind? My inability to stop

overeating.

Night after night I went to bed crying,

Tomorrow I wont do it anymore.

Mornings, I woke up determined to

control my uncontrollable craving. And

each day, glutted with a heavy meal, I

sat in front of the television, tears

running down my face, simultaneously

wanting to stay in my chair and get up

and look for something to eat that

would nally ll me up.

I decided death was preferable to my

3

living hell. I quit trying to stop

overeating. Id had three phlebitis

attacks, and now I invited a fourth.

I did not believe in God. How could

I? God had not ordered my life the

way I wanted. As a little girl I prayed

to be like my thin sister, but it never

happened. I asked to be loved, but I

felt unlovable, and my wonderful,

vital, generous mother died. I asked

for a husband and children, but I was

left single and childless. I had

opportunities to marry, but those

sweet men failed to arrive on white

horses wearing Prince Charming

suits.

If you existed, I screamed at the

God in whom I did not believe, you

would do something. Help me!

As my disease progressed, I felt

increasingly worthless. My saintlylove for humanity turned into insane

jealousy or intense hatred. My

pent-up rage was unleashed on all

who were brave enough to come

near me.

In my growing isolation, I thought

my condition was unique. I believed

I was the only one who cried while

eating, the only one who always felt

stued but never full, the only one

who bolted my food because I w

terried someone would catch m

eating.

I was lucky. At my rst OA meeti

the speaker told my story, even

using words and phrases I thoug

had originated. When I heard he

describe my agony, and saw her

serenity and happiness, I felt the

return of an old emotion: hope. seemed God was saying, You as

for it. Here it is.

My God, I gasped, you are ther

Panic set in. I had been kicking m

Higher Power in the teeth for ye

and now God was holding out a

hand to me. I was terried.

That night I asked the speaker to

my sponsor. When I disclosed my

feelings about being so dieren

she told me, If we dont stop feeunique, we wont get well.

I went home and I didnt eat. I w

to bed. I had nightmares. God ha

oered me a chance and I didnt

think I could accept it. How coul

stay abstinent the rest of my life

when I couldnt stop eating for e

one hour?

I called my sponsor, who told me

Abstain for as many minutes as

can, and before you eat, call me. only have to abstain today. Don

think of tomorrow. Dont even w

about the next hour. Just dont e

for as long as you can, then call m

Ill be here all day.

I wasnt alone! I gave her my foo

plan for the day and she gave m

job to do: Read the Just for Toda

card.

That day, seven years ago, I walk

outside to the crisp air, brilliantsunshine and to a one minute at

time, one hour at a time, one day

a time miracle: abstinence. Since

then there have been many mira

for me in this program, but that

the beginning of the greatest

miracle of all.

Lifeline, June 1982, pp. 202-203

A Disease of

ISOLATION


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4

The OA Promise

I put my hand in yours, and together

we can do what we could never do

alone. No longer is there a sense of

hopelessness, no longer must we each

depend upon our own unsteady

willpower. We are all together now,

reaching out our hands for power and

strength greater than ours, and as we

join hands, we find love and under-

standing beyond our wildest dreams.

Region 3 2010 Spring Assembly Report

for Tulsa Green County Intergroup

by Linda T. , Region 3 Representative

April 10, 2010

I attended the Region 32010 Spring Assembly in

Salt Lake City March 12,

13, & 14th. The following

are highlights of the

Assembly.

1. Handouts for the 50th

Years of Recovery in LA in

August plus information on the

commemorative Book Marks (which IGs could sell for

fundraising).

2. Cruise tickets and flyers (drawing will be Idea Day)

3. Intergroup Buddy Pairs (purpose is to get people to

R.3)

4. Region 3 Bylaws have been changed to require one (1)

year of abstinence for delegates;

5. SOP, Stragetic Operational Plans (until 2013) for

Region 3 handouts.

6. IGs are requested to hyperlink to meetings on

www.OA.Org rather than have a separate set of data.

7. Region 3 may be hosting websites in the future at no

charge?!!!!

8. Chain of Concern Group, IG, Region 3 Steering,Board of Trustees

9. 2010 Fall Assembly is in Tempe, August 13-15.

10. 2011 Fall Assembly is in Denver

11. 2012 Spring & Fall are open. Money maker for local

IG. 50% of profit.

12. 2013 WSO Convention will be in Cleveland.

13. Speaker funding is available for IGspeaker does

not have to be from Region.3.

14. Tulsas contribution to Region 3 was $132.31

(Monday night)15. New Region 3 Treasurer. The donation form is on

Region 3 website with new address.

16. PSA, Public Service Announcement, for radio has

been very successful. A PSA for TV will be available this

fall to purchase.

17. I volunteered for the 12th Step Within Committee

and accepted the chair position.

What is Twelfth-Step-Within?

The purpose of Twelfth-Step-Within, also called TSW, is

reaching those within the Fellowship who still suffer by

sharing information and ideas that generate recovery.

Areas of TSW include carefrontation, sponsorship, and

membership retention. People need a safe place and

caring environment to move forward in recovery.

Carefrontation is a loving way to reach out to those

within our program who still suffer. We must remember

that recovery is contagious---relapse is not. Progress in

OA is not a moral issue. We need to love each other

enough to risk being rejected. A sponsor is someone

who is working the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions o

Overeaters Anonymous to the best of his or her ability

and who has what you want. Sponsorship is TSW work.

By encouraging sponsorship, we encourage recovery. A

primary purpose of TSW work is to encourage members

to keep coming back no matter what.

The TSW Chair is a member of InterGroup responsible

for TSW activities such as the Relapse & Recovery work-shops, the Sponsorship workshops, the 12 Step Within

Day ( December 12th), and sends email reminders on

the 12th of each month to reach out to others in the

membership. The term for this position is two years.

Individuals who lead these TSW workshops, sponsors

others or simply reaches out to someone in the program

are the heart of the TSW program.

References: Twelfth-Step-Within Handbook, OA,

2008 Program Inspiration at www.oa.org


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2010 OA

Oklahoma State Convention

Camp Happy Destiny

Forregistration&

moreinfo:

www.tulsaoa

.org

orcall

KarenB.

(918)492-7

060

Focuswillbeonthe

Principles,Toolsand

Promisesofthe

Program.

Savethedate&

register!

Kicks

offwith

Potluck&

Speake

rMeeting6

pmonF

riday7/

16

AtChurc

hof

theRes

urrectio

n

Workshops9 to 4 Saturday at

Hardesty Library

July16&

17

Tulsa,O

K


30/70






Donna H., Web 628-0381Donna H., OAsis Newsletter 628-0381



Challa, Pop/Water

Vacancies:

Secretary


Young People

6

May 2010

OAsis Newsletter

Submissions for the OAsis News

letter are always welcome. Pleassend your insights, quotes, funn

stories, success stories, wisdom,

encouragement, etc., to

[email protected].

The Tools of Recovery

A plan of eating

Sponsorship

Meetings

Telephone

Writing

Literature

Anonymity


Saturday

May 8, 2010


The OA Tulsa Intergroup is a serv ice

body of Overeaters Anonymous that

carries the message of OA to greater

Green Country. This group is comprised

of a Board, Standing

Committee Chairs and Meeting Reps.

Monthly meetings provide members

with such services as:

Website

Literature

Meeting Lists

Retreats

Workshops

Community Outreach

******************


July 16-17, 2010

Summer Camp 2010:

CAMP HAPPY DESTINY

Friday Night, July 16Pot Luck Supper & Speaker


Saturday, July 17

Hardesty Library

Tulsa

******************

Make a Date


31/70

I would like to request a scholar-ship for the convention.

Tulsa Green Country IG offers up to 3

scholarships based on funding avail-ability. Scholarships awarded:

1. First come, first considered.

2. Must be regularly attendingmeeting member of a TulsaGreen Country group.

3. Member may only receivescholarship every 3 years.

4. Recipient agrees to help with

set-up and clean-up onFriday and Saturday.

5. Scholarships are approved by

IG Chair and Vice-Chair.

6. The scholarship recipientsanonymity is maintained byIG.

You will be contacted at the phonenumber on your registration form ifyour scholarship is approved.

Saturday All Day

Hardesty Regional Library8316 East 93rd Street

Saturday All Day

Hardesty Regional Library8316 East 93rd Street

Scholarship Request


32/70

If youve never been to summer

camp, heres your chance. At Camp

Happy Destiny, youll hear more about

the road to recovery from eating com-pulsively.

Camp begins on Friday night at 6

pm at Church of the Resurrection (see

map on other side). Well start with a

potluck supper followed by a speaker

meeting around 7.

If you cant join us on Friday night,

be sure to come for the workshops on

Saturday the 17th at Hardesty Regional

Library. Well begin gathering at 9 a.m.

with the program beginning promptly at

9:15 a.m. with a warm welcome and

the Camp Destiny Pledge. Youll meet

your camp mascot and learn the camp

song.

The day will be filled with work-

shops on OAs Promises, Principles, and

Tools. There will be time for Q & A af-

ter lunch.

Lunch is on your own (lots of res-

taurants nearby) or stay in and brown

bag it with others who stay at Camp

Destiny for the noon meal.

Camp Happy Destiny

F

S

C

Z

E

RID

R

A

S

Dn

Id

Friday Night: Dish to share

Saturday: Notebook & Pen, lunch

Pop and bottled water will be availablefor purchase

What not to bring:

No food/drinks with red dyepleaselibrary rules.

No children

P

Sh

Fr

Le

Sa

Se

Brth

What to Bring

Refund Policy

1. 50% refund if cancelled prior to 7/1.with no refunds after that date.

Send your registration to:

Tulsa Green Country OA Attn: Karen B.

4815 S Sheridan, Suite 111Tulsa OK 74145


33/70

I joined OA to lose weight

and keep it o--something I

had never managed in all my

years of dieting. I believed

that only morbid obesity

kept me from having a

perfect life. I knew if I could

get it right, I would have no

problems.

Many surprises awaiteme in OA. I learned I had

been using compulsive

overeating to ignore dee

problems that would hav

overwhelmed me withou

the extra food. I discove

I had many more problem

than I knew. OA member

told me I would have to

deal with my problems t

get better. They said life

would never be perfect-

-and neither would I.

These truths could hav

discouraged me. Instead

they freed me to be hum

to make mistakes, and to

again. The glowing faces

members in recovery and

their warm encourageme

gave me hope that I, too

could recover if I worked

the Twelve Steps. I am no

recovering. My wonderfu

new life is better than alfantasies of perfection.


p. 312)

Meditate On ThWe ask Him to remove our fe

and direct our attention to whHe would have us be. At onc

we commence to outgrow fear

AA Big Book, p.

ulsa Green Country Overeaters Anonymous June 2010

OAsisNewsletter

Were on the Web

www.tulsaoa.org

Step 6Were entirely ready to have God remove all these

efects of character.

om Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 53)

Although we m ay not

ealize it at rst, ourommitment to embracehe needed changesn ourselves has givens an extraordinaryower to deal wi th lifeshallenges

The Twelve Steps and

welve Traditions of Over-aters Anonymous, p. 58.

recognize many of myharacter defects when Ieact strongly to seeinghem displayed by othereople. When I noticeharacter defects inthers and realize that Iill practice them myself,

ven though I dont wanto, I know I need Godsmbrace. For me, therst stage of Step Six

to accept that I haveeaknesses and to knowhat God embraces meonetheless.

rom Voices of Recovery,

153)

*****************

Tradition 6An OA group ought never endorse, nance, or lend the

OA name to any related facility or outside enterprise,

lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert

us from our primary purpose.

(from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 153)

When we nd ourselves or our OA groups

embroiled in problems of money, property, and

prestige, we have a clue that we might have

involved ourselves in matters which would be

better left alone. We cause these kinds of prob-

lems when we take on outside responsibilities or

promote outside causes, di verting our groupsattention and resources from OAs primary

purpose of carrying the OA message.

First things rst is another slogan which sums

up tradition six. In OA we learn to focus on our

primary purpose and exclude from our groups

everything which might interfere with our ability

to carry the OA message.

--The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Over-

eaters Anonymous, p. 159.


34/70

SERVICE WITH A SMILE

Before I found the rooms of OA, I hadspent more than 20 years bingeing in

secret. Just before I attended my rst

meeting in January 2000, I was bingeing

until I was in pain at least three times a

day. In OA, I was graced with many

miracles. I lost more than 40 pounds in

my rst six months in program, but was

still obsessed with food and unable to

stay abstinent more than one or two

months at a time. At rst, I could be

abstinent for a month, binge for a day

and go back to abstinence. But this is a

progressive disease, and soon my slips

became relapses. My last relapse lasted

three miserable months. Thank God I

kept coming back.

In July of 2003, I was in an OA meeting

and feeling depressed. I had awakened

at six that morning so I cold binge in my

bedroom while my houseguests slept

downstairs. My shame was worse

because my houseguests were people I

had Twelfth-Stepped several years

2

before. I had gained back some of

the weight I had lost and had no

idea how to stop eating. I was sitting

in that OA meeting thinking that I

might as well leave the program

because I would never get back on

the path.

Then it was my turn to read. I was

given the last paragraph of theEleventh Step in The Twelve Steps

and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters

Anonymous book. I almost choked

up while reading because that

paragraph seemed like a direct

answer from God. I read that it

wasnt my job to nd the path. I just

needed to pray and turn it over to

God, and God would do the rest.

Immediately after the meeting, Ispoke to my food sponsor and

confessed that I had been bingeing

and trying to keep it secret from her.

I felt better, but still didnt know how

to get abstinent. The next day God

gave me my answer. I had less than

24 hours of abstinence, and God

sent me a newcomer who neede

OA. After listening and sharing w

the newcomer for a long time, I

invited her to attend a meeting w

me. At that moment I was given

gift of obsession-free abstinence

I feel that God sent me a stron

message about the importance

service. When someone asked m

be her sponsor, I said yes immed

ately, even though I had only thr

months of abstinence. I used to

think I had to have some huge

amount of time under my belt to

service, but God showed me tha

want to keep this precious gift, I

must give it away. I give it away wgreat joy because the newcome

God sent to save me when I mos

needed it is someone I shared th

program with years before. I

thought my Twelfth-Step eorts

been rejected, but the seed I

planted blossomed at the right t

to pull me out of the prison of fo

compulsion.

Today, I stay on the path one mo

day by calling newcomers, takin

calls from my sponsoree and sha

the OA message with others.

L.M., Silver Spring, Maryland USA

Lifeline, July 2004, p. 21.

One MoreDayon the

PATH


35/70

I have often tried to follow thatadvice, but it seldom broughtsolutions to my problems. It isdicult to get in touch withfeelings, hold them up andexamine them in the light ofsobriety and abstinence. Butwhat a dierence it makes! Thegreat phantoms of misery vanishunder such scrutiny, not becauseIve given them a coating ofoptimism, but because I workedmy way through to the source ofmy unhappiness.

I know that I cannot do italone. I need this program, myfellow OA members and myHigher Power with me everystep of the way. Only with thathelp am I able to deal with my

diculties and turn over whatI cannot handle. Serenity isletting go and letting God.

For today: Am I taking advan-tage ofal l the help OA oers intrying to get at the root of myunhappiness? Many choices areopen to me: I can ask someoneto sponsor me, go to a meeting,write an inventory or take stepsve through nine.

(From For Today, p. 50)

The Criminal and the Princess

As I grew in the program I dis-covered I was wrong about nothaving any character defects.In fact, they far outnumberedthe physical defect of 65 excesspounds I carried when I arrived.So I wrote the inventory I didntthink I needed to write andshared it with another person.

That brought me to step six:Were entirely ready to haveGod remove all these defects ofcharacter. How do I know whenIm ready, I wondered and whatdo I do to get ready? I found twoanswers: act as if and practicemakes per fect. The ancientChinese tale of the criminal andthe princess applies here.

Once upon a time there was aprincess in search of a husband.

She wished to marry the manwith the most beautiful face,one that radiated honesty, gen-erosity, kindness, patience andgentleness.

Hearing of the royal quest, acriminal with an ugly face thatreected cruelty, dishonesty andhatred schemed to deceive theprincess into marrying him. Hecommissioned an artist to makehim a most wonderful maskand, wearing it, he appeared

before the princess. Putting onan amazing performance, hemanaged to fool her completely.She made up her mind to marryhim. The engagement wasannounced and the weddingdate set for one year hence.

For a whole year the criminal

had to wear his mask andplay the part of the princessbetrothed. At rst it was mouncomfortable for him to ackind and generous, and to bhonest, patient and gentle.But little by little he began tbehave in this manner out ohabit.

As the wedding date drewnear, the criminal realized hideceit would soon be discovered. He decided to be honewith the princess and told hethe whole story. Angry, shebanished him from the palac

But rst, she said, removyour mask so I can see yourface.

He knelt humbly before hand removed the beautifulmask. The princess was asto

ished.Why did you go to all thatrouble to have a mask madexactly like your own face?she asked. The criminal hadbecome the kindly man hehad practiced being.

In the same manner, mycharacter defects are slowlybeing removed. I was dishonest, so I practiced telling thetruth and I became an honesperson. I was fearful, so I pra

ticed putting my trust andfaith in God, and my fear waremoved. I was gluttonous, sI practiced putting down thefood, and abstinence becama way of life.

The more I act as if, themore I am changing fromwithin to truly become thekind of person Im practicingbeing.

Lifeline Sampler, July 1982, p

Back of tranquility lies

conquered unhappiness.

David Grayson

Good humor is a tonic for mind and

body. It is the best antidote for

anxiety and depression. It is a

business asset. It attracts and keeps

friends. It lightens human burdens.

It is the direct route to serenity and

contentment.

Grenville Kleiser

Be Optimistic...look on the

bright side.


36/70

The WSBC 2010 Wrap-Up Report and Forum Notes are now available on the OA Web site.

2010 Wrap Up Report - http://www.oa.org/pdfs/WSBCWrapUpReport10.pdf

2010 Forum Notes - http://www.oa.org/pdfs/2010forum.pdf

PLEASE NOTE

The Final Conference Report will be posted online in early August.

REGION III Pr

All 2010 OAsis Newsletters

Documents

Transcript of All 2010 OAsis Newsletters