"In all probability, we shall never be able to touch more than a fair fraction of the [compulsive overeating] problem in all its ramifications." - Alcoholics Anonymous, page xxi (last paragraph of the forward to the second edition).
Although originally written about alcoholics, this statement is so much truer for compulsive overeaters. I look at the people around me and I see so many who belong in program. I've heard it said that everyone belongs in at least one program - the question is finding their drug of choice. It takes only five minutes on any webpage to see the obsession people have with dieting and their weight. So much money and energy goes into eating disorders and their ramifications. There is so much suffering.
When I think about how many cities have next to no OA presence, I am horrified. The other week my usually packed Thursday night meeting was next to deserted. One person shared that she was horrified to see that there were so many empty seats. Just a casual stroll through a store suggests that there should be people pounding down the doors to get recovery. Yet this program is only touching a small fraction of us.
I can only stop and pause and be insanely grateful that I was chosen to be in these rooms. Really, I can only see the hand of God in moving me into OA. I never would have found my way here on my own. It took quite a few nudges to get me into the room and quite a few more nudges to get me to stay. The life that recovery has given me is so much richer than I ever imagined it could be. My feelings are deeper, my connection with my son is deeper, and my awareness of how my actions affect others is deeper.
But for the grace of God, I'd still be quietly eating myself to an early, lonely, unfulfilled death. When I see an obese person walk down the street I'm filled with a simultaneous sense of sadness (I once was told that every pound of fat is really a pound of pain) and relief that I get to be one of those people that doesn't have to let the pain rule my life and determine my future.
