I began to write about 2020 this morning, recapping blow by blow, all of the challenges, triumphs and tribulations.  B.O.R.I.N.G.
 
Let’s talk about the progress, people places and things that made an amazing difference.
 
Rigorous honesty played a huge role and still does.
 
Development of a Higher Power, a God of my own understanding was critical to my healing, my awareness, my learning how to handle life relying on a power greater than myself, and will always be key to my peace and serenity.
 
I surrendered day one in the program, and because I did and could, did 90 meetings in 90 days.  It gave me great momentum.  It gave me amazing relationships and opportunities to serve in OA. 
 
My HP hooked me up with a sponsor, so perfect for me and my journey, there are not words.  I am grateful for her experiences, strengths, and hope, her time and her beautiful ability to listen and make me feel like I am the only important thing to pay attention to in the world each time we visited. 
 
I found that ideas of service in OA come in quiet messages from my HP and because I’m abstinent, willing to go to any lengths, I took on some tough roles and grew in handling discomfort with a little more grace than I could ever imagine.  I did something absolutely mind blowing, with HP’s help and direction, built a much needed OA website for Montana.  I also found that service builds me up – makes me feel amazing – like I’m bouncing on pink clouds!  Whoopie!  I love feeling useful.
 
This year has had it’s triumphs, and it’s real hardships.  I heard something on the news today, and because of OA I can have hope that it could be a real thing.  We got some wounds this year, for sure.  But they will be healed in time.  And we, will be stronger than ever.
 
I’m reminded about  a recent challenge in an OA meeting about a disruptive member, who has gone beyond being disruptive actually and has caused real harm.  I was spinning out trying to figure out how I would save us all from this real bad actor.  All I could think of was my dear friends, and how he’s harmed them, the group, and how I needed to protect them from any further harm.  I made a reach out call, gratefully, as I was afraid to eat compulsively one night over it.  I was so very grateful my phone call was answered and my friend reminded me, it’s the group who will determine how to handle, not me.  I did eat compulsively that night, but it was a moment, and it didn’t continue for hours or days.
 
The next day I quieted my heart and mind, and sought to hear from my HP.  I am never disappointed.  I heard loud and clear:  I am powerless over people, places, and things.  I can share my suggestions with the group, and the group will decide which actions, if any to take.  HP will take care of all the rest.  And I felt peace.  Beyond my wildest dreams.  And I’ve been able to let this go ever since. 
 
That’s how recovery works for me.  I have a spiritual sickness, and compulsive eating is a symptom of that.  I also have a spiritual remedy, when I choose to seek picking up all of the many tools I utilize every day.  I had been doing so well for so long with not having any compulsive behaviors I had gotten out of the habit of picking up tools. 
 
Our fellowship is the best tool.  When I get a call from one of you, my heart sings and my soul smiles, as I know my HP sent you and speaks through you.  Thank you for being in my life.  Thank you for an amazing year.  Laurie M, gratefully, a compulsive overeater in recovery 

I’ve been wanting to sit down and write a new blog for our website for days.  I decided to sit down today, right now, and not just do it for myself, but as a service to others.
 
Christmas this year is different for many reasons.  Covid, yes.  And recovery, oh so very thankful for the ability to handle life differently.  If not for recovery, where would we be?  In a bucket, a bin, or a bag, and in utter insanity.
 
Covid has been hard.  Covid has been scary for me, for at risk people and others in general.  All of the lives lost and all of the families changed by the side effects from losing loved ones, jobs, less income, not being able to travel, etc. It’s been frustrating about why we all can’t get on board with wearing a mask and social distancing.  I don’t get it.  But because of a reliance on a higher power, I can let it go and not get stuck on trying to understand it.  And because I rely on a higher power, I can keep social distancing, not matter how fed up I am about it. 
 
Covid allowed me to get back into recovery and years from now, that is probably exactly how I will remember 2020.  It’s had it’s downs, a lot, but it’s had it’s ups too right?  Yes Christmas will be different this year because of Covid and also because of recovery.  Thank God for zoom! 
 
Because of recovery, I am so less sad and stressed.  I feel joy and peace in abstinence and in love from our fellows.  I’ve shared twice recently at meetings about how much I miss my family.  It’s not Covid that’s changed our dynamics, but politics and difference in beliefs.  Every time I’ve been able to share about Christmas and family, I just lose it.  I bawl and my blood pressure just shoots way up.  Thankfully, less and less.  I look @ the zoom screen, see all the love, and my blood pressure begins to go down.  I have many sisters in our program, some with the same beliefs as me, and some not.  But they don’t discard me because they don’t agree with me.  We are called to be kind and tolerant to all.  And that is our code.  No matter how much I love my family and respect our differences, I can’t make them be kind to me or tolerate our differences.  My higher power, helps me to accept the things I can’t change.  I have to ask him often during this season, sometimes 25 times each day, and I’m totally fine with that.  Because every time I do, I find peace and love beyond my wildest dreams.  Seriously.  I will never get tired of this amazing help and relief. 
 
I am able at times to focus on all the love I do have, and let go of the love that I want but don’t have.  I have peace about my sister who was killed about 6 years ago.  That is a gift from working the 12 steps to the best of my ability, working with a sponsor, and a conscious contact with my Higher Power.  I have the love of my sister in Missouri, my kids, my grandkids, my sweetheart fiancé, all of my recovery sisters, and my logical (as opposed to biological) family members here in Billings. 
 
Recovery this year is my biggest and best gift.  I get to feel good about myself and be useful to others.  It just doesn’t get any better than this, although we are lacking snow, lol.  I love you guys.  I hope this blog touches you, encourages you in some way, and maybe even inspires you to share your experience, strength and hope too.
 
I want to leave you with a note from my very first sponsor in Al-Anon I’m guessing 17 years ago now.  I’ve gratefully stayed in touch with her.  Pat N has always been a beautiful example of what a life in recovery can look like, service, freedom, and ever so positive uplifting and encouraging.  With her permission:
 
Blessings to You at Christmas
 
2020:  A year that many of us would swear we want to forget.  But later, we may realize that this was the year we learned how resilient we could be.  And how patient, how accepting, how hopeful.
 
Perhaps our too-confident selves will no longer presume that the plans we make can be easily achieved on our own schedule.
 
Perhaps 2020 was the year we learned to pray again, earnestly, for the health and safety of people, world-wide, those we knew and loved, and those we’d never met.
 
Perhaps our thoughts of gratitude flew to those workers and givers who selflessly served all in need.  Perhaps we donated time or money to help in their causes.
 
Above all—2020 was the year we remained ALIVE despite Covid, when 300,000 of our American friends and neighbors—and millions of our worldwide fellow humans departed this life.
 
Resolution:  We must live 2021 in a state of grateful wonder, full of energy to do good for people we love, and for people we’ve yet to meet.
 
That kind of enthusiasm and wisdom just fills me up.  Recovery is life changing, so this Christmas is wonderfully different.  Recovery offers hope and I’m going to choose to focus on that hope and to feel the love of our program and of our fellows.  Thank you for being part of my journey in recovery and thank you for taking the time to read this.  Take what you like and leave the rest.  Laurie M.