Newsletter of Milwaukee Area Intergroup of Overeaters …€¦ · May/June 2016—Out of the...

May/June 2016—Out of the Cocoon, a newsletter of Milwaukee Area Intergroup

Newsletter of Milwaukee Area Intergroup of Overeaters Anonymous May/June 2016

GRATITUDE

I am a grateful recovering compulsive over-eater.

I had no recognizable gratitude in my life before OA and now HOW, when I was on sugar, white flour and binge foods. My personal life was the same before OA but I was an angry, jealous, unhappy, ungrateful person. I always wanted something more, and found fault in eve-rything I had. I had my same husband, and children and I was miserable.

I don’t know when I started writing a grati-tude list and I really don’t know what prompted it; maybe recovery just wanted me to put in writing what I was grateful for. It’s been at least four years since I’ve been writing down my gratitude each day I send my food to my sponsor along with my Plan of Action.

I used to write that I was grateful for my abstinence, husband and family and health.

I included other things as well but then I decided to think about what I was grateful for the day before. That opened up more grati-tude. It helped me focus on my day before; what made me happy, what would I like to have changed. Its amazing what you can find in a day to be grateful for; someone’s smile that made that moment happy, someone opened a door for you, you had good food, good conver-sation with someone, enjoyed your walk or ex-ercise. Gratitude is endless when you’re absti-nent and working the OA program. It makes you smile!!

continued on p.6

“Blessings in Relapse”

I came to OA as a person who desperately needed to find a solution to my problem of compulsive overeating. Nothing else had ever worked for long and I was helpless and quickly losing hope. OA was just the solution I needed and I became abstinent the very day I went to my first meeting. After seven months of abstinence, completing the first six steps and losing 25 pounds, I had two very hard weeks and I fell back into binging to “solve” my problems. Falling into relapse was hard, but after two weeks of being abstinent again, I chose to look at the blessings I had re-ceived through relapse.

Through my relapse, I had a lesson about acceptance and forgiveness. I needed to accept what had happened and also forgive myself for it if I wanted any hope of recovery again. Through my relapse, I had a lesson in humility. I learned that we with the disease of compulsive overeating are all on the same level in that, regardless of how long you’ve been in the program or how long you’ve been abstinent, we are all just one bite away from relapse. Through my relapse, I learned that any amount of abstinence is a blessing and de-serves celebration. When I first tried being abstinent again, I would try to get excited about being abstinent for one day, a few days, a week, but I kept thinking, “Yeah, that’s great, but it’s not seven months.” That kind of think-ing just got me down and threatened to cripple my success. I realized that I can’t get back to seven months again with-out getting to one week first and that even one hour of ab-stinence is a victory over the disease! Through my relapse, I also learned to look at what had triggered my episodes of binging. Yes, great times of stress can trigger a desire to binge, but I also noticed a bigger common denominator: When my kids get sick, as they often do, Mama Bear, who just wants to protect them, is in danger of slipping. I now know that when my kids get sick from now on, I can’t let the stress of fevers, doctor’s visits and antibiotics allow me to slip into relapse again. At the first sign of sickness in my kids, I now know it is a red flag that as I care for them, I also know I need to care for myself, be full on in the pro-gram and be careful with each bite of food.

Continued on p.3


OA/WSO (World Service Office) General Website

Information

oa.org

For all PC, Mac, iPod users, there are free OA podcasts featuring OA speakers at www.oa.org/podcasts/. A podcast is a radio-type show that you can download from the Internet to your computer.

A link also is available at this site to get World Service Office (WSO) information including the quarterly newsletter “A Step Within.” The most recent quarterly newsletter is at www.oa.org/pdfs/asa1stqtr10bw/pdf. Spanish OA Website http://[email protected] French OA Website [email protected]

Region 5 Web Site region5oa.org

Editorial Policy

“Out of the Cocoon” is the bi-monthly newsletter of the Milwaukee Area Intergroup of Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. We welcome contributions from members that are OA-related. Material cannot be returned, nor can payment be made. All submissions must be signed; names will be withheld upon request. The editors reserve the right to make editorial changes or to refuse any article not meeting the editorial policy. Articles may not appear in the month of submission. Other OA groups may reprint without permission as long as credit is given. The opinions expressed herein are those of the writers, and not of the Intergroup or OA as a whole. (Adapted for Milwaukee Area Intergroup “Cocoon” from Central Ohio “Transformations”) See page 7 for submission information, deadlines and themes.

12th-Step-Within ~~ Available Sponsors and More Sponsors Needed

MAI Information MAI Website oamilwaukee.org

Board of Directors Chair Joy M. 414-304-5078

Vice Chair Margaret T. 262-993-5207 Secretary Kathy Wh 414 607 0217 Treasurer Kim B 262-220-6804 Region 5 Reps Lynn H. 414-281-2066 Sue W. 414-588-0255 World Service Rep Sue W. “

MAI Office 7441 W. Greenfield Avenue, Suite 12

West Allis, WI 53214 414-259-0640 Open:

Mondays, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., and Thursdays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

MAI News Available Via Email — The OA Blast!

Information about the Milwaukee Area Inter-group can be obtained via email. Please send an email to [email protected] to signup for free semi-monthly mailings of OA information including marathon/special event flyers, this newsletter and other relevant local OA infor-mation for yourself or your OA group. Your email address will never be distributed nor seen by oth-er people receiving the mailings.

MAI Meeting Schedule Third Monday of every month, 6:30-8:00 pm, at Rogers Memorial Hospital 11101 W. Lincoln Avenue, West Allis Everyone is welcome! March 2015 Income/Expense Report

Starting Balance 5,415.56 Total Income 6,595.36

Total Expense -2,738.94

*NET OPERATING BALANCE 304.42

*Does not include scholarships, retreat income, conven-tion income and tax withholdings

The Twelfth-Step-Within Committee was cre-ated to reach out to those in the Fellowship who still suffer and to address the relapse and re-covery of our members. The MAI Twelfth-Step-Within Committee maintains a list of available sponsors, temporary sponsors or first contact people so that newcomers and long-timers can get direction and support right away from a member of the fellowship. Please add your name

and phone number to the list so that you can help another member "Keep Coming Back". It is a great service to the fellowship!

If you need a sponsor, email Darlene D. at [email protected]

Provide your contact information and any specific needs you have, including the type of sponsor you are seeking (i.e. food, step, late night calls, etc.). Carol will have a sponsor call you.

May/June 2016—Out of the Cocoon, a newsletter of Milwaukee Area Intergroup 3

A Tribute to Marilyn Here is my well wish for Marilyn

Where's this? Where's that? Another event, convention packets to pack.

Literature ordered. Literature packed. All done so quick. No questions asked.

Monthly check book balanced without terror. WSO and region contributions made without error.

The office is special because of you.

No words can express enough Thanks for hanging tough.

Lynn H.

Dear Recovering Rita,

My ten year class reunion is coming up!!! I feel like I have not done

much since then. Plus I am so much heavier than ten years ago!!! Can

you help in any way?? Seeking Serenity

Dear Seeking Serenity, Ah yes the time of weddings, reunions, and

wearing less clothes or_--- summer !!!!

Just remember God and the folks at your home meeting will love

you, til you love yourself. Also, the rest of your classmates are going

to also feel the same way. You are who you are, and you are a beauti-

ful child of God. Enjoy the get-together, and dance the night away!!!

Recovering Rita

New Cocoon feature:send letters and questions to Recovering Rita

to [email protected]

Unity Day on February 27, 2016 was a day to re-member. The tone for the day was set by the reading from December 25th in For Today. “The only gift is a portion of thyself.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

The first speaker noted: “I finally gave up be-lieving that skinny equals happy…There is a higher power out there if I plug into it. My jour-ney is to be able to call people, feel free and lose weight slowly.”

She continued, “To me, unity means having a sponsor or someone to talk to every day.”

The second speaker was introduced with the July 28th message from For Today. “That is the happiest conversation where there is no compe-tition, no vanity, but a calm, quiet interchange of sentiments.” (Samuel Johnson)

This speaker emphasized, “With abstinence and the support of OA, I have the courage to live. I realize I am now much less afraid than I used to be.” This speaker’s recovery expanded to in-clude participation in other 12 Step programs as well as online meetings. He stated that he met his true sponsor at an OA Convention. “He was my drill sergeant.” Thereafter, this person began sponsoring. “Having two sponsees keeps me honest.” “I’ve noticed I am better able to live on life’s terms now. My sponsor has modeled for me the patience I need in dealing with others.”

The third speaker was introduced with the March 22nd quote from For Today. “Great perils have this beauty; that they bring to light the fra-ternity of strangers.” (Victor Hugo)

Speaker 3 entitled her presentation: “My

Journey with Negative Thinking.” “As a member

of another 12 Step program, I started being

aware of my negative thinking, BUT NEVER

ABOUT FOOD. I now call this my decades of de-

nial…What brought me to OA was not a weight

Continued p. 6

Wheel of Fortune (r,s,t,l,n,e )

_ r _ _ _ _ r t _ e _ _ l l _ n g n e s s

_ n d t _ e _ _ _ _ _ t _ _ _ l l _ _ _ e

_ _ t_ _ _ t _ _ _ l . New Cocoon feature please submit your puzzles, riddles, limericks to -

[email protected]

Prayer of the Month

Help!

Thanks!

Wow!

Anon Y. Mouse

New Cocoon feature – send your favorite prayer to the

[email protected]

Our Journey Together

Unity Day February 26, 2016

Blessings in relapse Continued from page 1

In looking at these blessings I have received through relapse, I am taking something negative and turning it into positives. I am now stronger through my relapse, instead of weaker. I am stronger than I was prior to my relapse and that in itself is a huge blessing!

Michelle R


Mystery Reporter

I was asked at the convention to be a mys-

tery reporter. Intrigued, I accepted the as-

signment, but with some trepidation. My main

concern was that I'd be having such a good

time that I'd forget about my assignment,

which actually kind of happened, but as I

thought back over the weekend, I came up

with some observations that I think were re-

portable.

What I did notice was a group of women who I

took a chair yoga class with. Some of them

had never taken yoga before but were willing

to focus and be open to learn something new.

There were smiles instead of groans which

impressed me with the attitudes of those

around me. I overheard one lady say after

the class that she planned to look for a

class like that one because she liked it so

much. Several women thanked the yoga teach-

er, seeming truly grateful for the experi-

ence they had had. All in a brief period of

time I noticed people being willing and

open, gifting others with their positive

attitudes and their expressions of grate-

fulness. I came to the conclusion that

OAers are pretty remarkable people. I guess

it works when you work it.

M.R.

Overheard at the Convention I still don't understand this "powerless" thing over food, but the first keynote speaker stated something very true to me. Compulsive overeating is like a magnet. I am made of steal while normal eaters are just wood, or something. I am made of something different than them and just get drawn back to the magnet. Everyday of abstinence, I get a little farther from that magnet. It gets easier. Yet I am still drawn to the magnet and cannot forget that. But awareness and memory of my compulsive overeating alone is not sufficient to make me stop. The big book promises a way out: a spiritual awakening, a spiritual experi-ence to produce the change. And that comes from working the Steps. That's watch what I do, pray to a higher pow-er, tell others my inventory, make amends and help others. We need a higher power and we need others. Can't do it on our own. We can be self sufficient in many things but not with this disease. At the old timer's panel discussion: There is no such thing as a bad meeting. Good things can come from the oddest sources. My hintention for going to a meeting is what I can give because invariably I will get so much more that way. I just refuse to have another re-sentment. Period. They kill.The Big Book of AA always has something that is relevant, something I can apply right now. I read two pages a day. More keynote wisdom The longer I stay in this program, the more I receive. It is not others that are the problem, I am my biggest problem. God couldn't give me recovery all at one time. I couldn't handle it. When it comes to taking others inventories, I finally see that if I spot it, I've got it! If I really don't admit that defect of character is a part of me, I cannot get help.As a people pleaser I had to learn the if you don't re-spect me, it really does not matter if you like me. "No" is a complete sentence. We are like sequoia trees. They have shallow roots to survive the dry climate but only can grow big and strong by intertwining the roots with other sequoi-as for support We too, are here to support each other. In recovery here, I can thrive in this judgement-free zone. Steps 4-9 serve as a bridge from my disease having me consciously separate from God and others to con-sciously being with God. Service just keeps me immersed in the program by connecting me with others which con-nects me to God. Cathy D

You, Me and Higher Power Convention 2016

I heard and saw my Higher Power’s subtle presence throughout Convention 2016, Together We Can. I can struggle with maintaining peace about work. Friday night of convention, I walked into a hall and saw someone whose desk is 3 cubes down from mine at work surrounded by my OA friends. What a gift that picture was; OA surrounds my work. It lifted me.

On a display board remembering former OA members, I found out people I had known well years ago had died and I had not known. I felt shaken and sad. I found an OA friend whom I had known even longer. She suggested we talk and afterward I felt better.

Continued on next page

Together We Can #38th Annual

Milwaukee Area Intergroup Convention


You, Me and Higher Power continurd from previous page

Throughout the convention, I talked with 5 people experiencing their first OA convention. How happy I was for the three newcomers with less than 6 months in program to have heard so many recovery stories! I also met someone with 29 years and another with 40 years who were glad to be welcomed to their first OA convention. What a delight to share the experience with each one!

I heard ‘saved my life’ many, many times; it works, it really does; I was hopeless and found hope; I had tried everything else, twice; they loved me until I could love myself; I was a selfish taker and now I can lovingly give; when asked to do service, it is a privilege to say yes and; every-one stated these things happened together with the help of their Higher Power.

When someone talked about missing her morning meditation and her nightly 10th step and she can become bat sh-- crazy, I identified com-pletely. I heard clearly what I needed to be doing consistently. I am now doing these things and report when completed. I have a disease and I can choose prevention where there is no cure.

And I laughed, danced and sang until they packed up the music to go home. I felt moved to help someone up the the stage steps Sunday morning and she whis-pered, “Are you Jane?” “Yes,” I answered. “My daughter, Mary did Improv with you last year.”

I sat down and it sank in, her daughter did-n’t help last year. Mary was one of the 4 friends who were willing to take a chance with me and start OA Improv! in 2009. OA Improv! had per-formed at its 8th convention the night before. Yes, I heard and saw my Higher Power’s subtle presence throughout Convention 2016. Together we can do what we could never do alone. Please keep coming back, we need one another! Jane D.

As Long As . . . . In studying the story called "The Man Who

Mastered Fear" in the AA Big Book, I was

struck by the line on page 249: "The only

stipulation they made was this: I had to make

the decision myself." As I reflected on this

statement, I wrote the following:

As long as I think I can recover on my own, I

cannot hear the message and follow direction.

As long as I rely on my knowledge alone, I

remain the slave of my binge foods.

As long as I fight recovery, I remain numbed

out and miserable.

As long as I believe I know better, I remain

shut down and isolated.

As long as I run the show my way, I remain

angry and resentful.

As long as I give you my reasons for overeat-

ing, I remain binge-minded and self-

sabotaging.

As long as I intellectualize recovery, I

don't have any.

As long as I run away and hide, I live in

isolation from the message.

As long as I let others do service, I miss so

many growth opportunities.

As long as I pick and choose tools, I live in

self-will.

As long as I am right and you are wrong, I

keep compulsively eating.

As long as I keep asking "why", I forget to

ask for help.

For today, I am grateful to be realizing that

as long as I live in my Higher Power's will,

I am given the miracle of a daily reprieve

from this disease.

Kathy Wh.

definition of the month

gratitude— the quality of being thankful:

readiness to show appreciation for and to re-turn

Next month

spirituality


Editors Note

A special thank you to all who worked very hard on the very successful con-vention, thank you to my secret report-ers and anyone who contributed to the Cocoon. Keep your articles coming.

Together we get better.

Sue W [email protected]

MAI: Intergroup in Action

New committees to start

There will be 3 new committees at MAI Inter-group. One is a newcomers meeting, to address and retain newcomers to our program. The sec-ond is a budget committee, to determine how we can get the most for our money. And third,

an office committee, looking into copy ma-chines and other office related topics.

Gratitude Continued from page 1

We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we’ve received.” He states that “we recognize that the sources of this goodness are outside of ourselves”. We acknowledge that other people, or even our higher power, if you’re of a spiritual mindset, gave us many gifts, big and small, to help us achieve the goodness in our lives.” “Gratitude encourages us not only to appreciate gifts, but also to repay them, or pay them forward.

Other scientists suggest gratitude strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, reduces symptoms of illness and makes us less bothered by aches and pains. (I personally can attest to that) It also encourages us to exercise more and take bet-ter care of our health. Grateful people sleep bet-ter, it makes us more resilient. It has been found to help people recover from traumatic events, in-cluding Vietnam War veterans with PTSD.” Grati-tude strengthens relationships, promotes for-giveness.

I could write a novel on gratitude, but I think this explains what a powerful tool this is. I personally have an auto-immune disease as well as a “smoldering” multiple myeloma that I thought was progressing but have recently found out it’s staying stable. There is some more gratitude: Eating a meal plan that my Nutritionist suggests is what I attribute my continued “good” health to.

Also, within the last couple of months my General Practitioner said “according to your records, there’s no reason for you to look and feel so good”. I truly believe this is all gratitude. I drove myself to the appointment, didn’t need a wheelchair, go about living a full, enjoyable life. Being grateful are things we have that we take for granted and don’t know it until they’re taken away from us. Then we wonder why we weren’t grateful for what we had. My OA fellowship and gratitude raises my level of daily enjoyment to a higher level. We all have “our days” but usually pen and paper and a few minutes of jotting down gratitude can knock us out of whatever is keeping us from freedom. For me, I’m usually overtired when I’m not grateful. Think about what you’re grateful for today!

!Pat M.

Region 5 and World Ser-vice

Lynn H and Sue W attended the Region5 business con-ference in Champain, IL. The main point of business is that there will only be 2 conferences a year, rather than 3, saving Intergroups money. The next conference is in July in Madison. WSO has a business conference in May. Sue W. will be attending. All agenda items previously vot-ed on will be on the floor.

Unity Day Continued from p 3

Speaker 3 entitled her presentation: “My Journey

with Negative Thinking.” “As a member of another 12

Step program, I started being aware of my negative

thinking, BUT NEVER ABOUT FOOD. I now call this

my decades of denial…What brought me to OA was

not a weight concern, but pain in my joints and body.

I had the A and A disease: “Arrogance and Ambiva-

lence” This speaker began to ask herself, “how can I

change my negative self-talk.” She found the solution

for change in For Today readings for May 27th, June

6th and Sept 21st.

Less than a year ago, she realized that the Twelve

Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anony-

mous (page 64 ) was very relevant: “Spirit is with me,

I am not alone.” She said she realized, “I can make

amends to myself.” “Step 10 has been a significant

step to e too. I’m beginning to learn how to take in-

ventory with a lighter touch which is less critical and

more compassionate. I can now remind myself of

things I do well. I’m trying to trade harsh self-talk to

compassionate self-talk. I don’t want to deny what

has happened, but I’m trying to find a more compas-

sionate way of talking to myself.”

Unity Day was a day of inspiration for all of us. As

we listened and resonated with each of the three

speakers, we were reminded again that “The only gift

is a portion of thyself.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Reported by Mona H.


$ REFUND POLICY $ for Conventions & Retreats

Registrations are non-refundable, but they are transferable. This must be cleared with the chairperson prior to the event.

BAD ATTITUDE? TRY GRATITUDE

When I find myself comparing, competing, com-plaining or criticizing, I know I need an attitude adjustment. Gratitude is the answer. When I can’t sleep, I start at “A’ and go through the alphabet, I usually don’t make it past “G”. Try it, i.e.:

A – Air, abstinence, affirmation

B – breath, being, beauty, belonging

C – creation, colors, cats, children

D – dreams, desire, dogs

E – eyes, ears, entertainment, everything

F – faith, feeling, friends, fun, forgiveness

G – grace, groups, God, goodness, gentleness, growth

H – hearing, hands, heart, health, healing, hair, happiness

I - intellect, images, ideas

Etc.

Judy W

Gift Ideas Give an OA friend or Sponsor(ee) $$ toward an MAI Convention or Retreat OR request this kind of gift for yourself.

Cocoon Submissions Info

Your submissions do not have to be on topic!

Issue Deadline Topic May/June June 1 MY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

Yes, we need and want your articles, poems, pictures news items ! Send to: [email protected] or mail to MAI Office attention Sue W. (address on p2)

My Prescription for my

Food Addiction

Eat three moderate, weighed and measured meals

Pray morning, day, night and as needed (PRN)

Connect daily with sponsor, OA friends

Attend 2-3 OA face to face meetings a week

Read OA/AA/Spiritual books 2-3 times a day, more as needed (PRN

Exercise (walk, yoga, stretch, housecleaning, yard work) 3-6 times a week

Write on daily readings

Write and share with sponsor 12 step work weekly

Do service work daily

Write a gratitude list as needed (PRN) – usually when in a negative/poor me attitude

Weigh myself once a month and report to my spon-sor

Seek professional help as needed (PRN)

Live in the principles of the program daily imper-fectly

Breathe, relax, let go and live life in the moment

I do these prescribed actions daily to relieve me of my cunning, baffling, powerful and deadly dis-ease of compulsive eating and food behavior whether I want to or not. If I try to play “Dr.” on myself, I will fail. Now I follow directives. Thanks OA and God! Kim B

OA Carol

Annual OA Re-treat

December 2-4

Sienna Center

Limited Space

A time of fellowship to explore our ghosts of past, present and future.

See flyers at meetings or online.

MORE GRATITUDE


Milwaukee Area Intergroup Calendar

May 2016 8 Joy of Recovery 1-3, see p.7 16 MAI intergroup 30 Walk the walk: talk the talk June 2016 12 - Joy of Recovery 1-3, see p.7 20 - Intergroup Meeting,6:30* PLANNING AHEAD? July 4, Marathon details coming

later

2016 WSO CONVENTION

Sept 1-4, in Boston, MA Go to www.oa.org.

2016 Reg. 5 CONVENTION Sept 16-18, in Detroit, MI

2016 MAI RETREAT Dec 2-4, Siena Center Oct.8, New Holestein/Plymouth Annual Luncheon

Regarding Marathons — Please contact the MAI Fellowship Chairs Jill L. 262-549-4452, to volunteer to host a marathon or other event. All events and flyers must be cleared through Intergroup before being publicized. This calendar is updated in every issue of the Cocoon. Please note, complete details may not be available at the time of the Cocoon printing. Check flyers available

Bus Transportation for Region 5 Convention

(Detroit, MI Sept. 16-18) Call Susan 847-710-8823

*Intergroup meetings

are held at 6:30pm at Rogers Hospital, 11101 W. Lincoln Ave., West Allis. These meetings are open to anyone who attends Milwaukee Area OA. Each group needs at least one rep at every meeting to relay information back to the individual meetings.

World Service Convention

September 1-4

Boston, MA

www.oa.org

Region 5 Convention

September 16-18 Detroit , MI

Region5oa.org See note on bus transportation

*IMPORTANT* UNOFFICIAL POLICY

If you become aware of a death of a local OA member or former member, please send any information (including funeral info) to Mil-

waukee Area Intergroup at:

[email protected]

The info will then be e-mailed to all who have requested the “OA Blast”. (See p. 2 to request the OA Blast.)

Planning Meetings for

MAI Retreat 2016

3:15, Sundays,

May 18 & June 12, 2016

Pass It On Club

6229 S. Forest Home Ave, Mke

Contact Kim B. - 262-220-6804

Watch This Space

For upcoming events Walk the walk

Talk the talk

3rd Annual Fellowship Share and Walk

Monday, May 30 10:00-12:00

Watch for flyers

Are you nuts?

Not using the steps?

Welcome

New Whitewater

meeting

Monday 12:00 PM

Congregational United

Church of Christ

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