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ANCHORS OAV A N C O U V E R I S L A N D I N T E R G R O U P
O V E R E A T E R S A N O N Y M O U S
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8 3 R D Q U A R T E R
In this EditionWorkshops &RetreatsV.I. Meeting List Creative RecoveryHOW-OARecovery BeyondMeasureSummer Retreatwith Sheila J.
VIIG Committe Elections Nov. 10
Stay tuned to www.oaviig.org for theposting of vacant Vancouver Island Inter-group Board and Committee Memberpositions that are coming up for electionNovember 10 in Victoria at the VIIGmeeting at 1947 Cook Street 11:45am. Please share this information at yourmeetings.
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The opinions expressed in Anchors OA reflect those of the individual writers and not those of OA as a whole. Take what you like and leave the rest. We reserve the right to edit and it isunderstood that all copy may be reprinted and edited by other OA groups without permission.
How has OA changedyour life?
Share your story ofrecovery.
Submission deadlineDec. 1
A balanced relationship
with your sponsor orsponsee from WSO
https://www.oaregion1
Workshops,Retreats & Conferences:A great way to strengthen your recovery!
January 18-20, 2019 59th OA Birthday Party Los Angeles, CA. https://www.oalaig.org/oa-birthday-party/
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Did you attended theSeptember 15 OA Day in
Nanaimo?
We'd love to hear what youtook away from the
workshop.
Did you find a new sponsoror did you decided to
become one?
Write a couple of sentences,or an article.
Share any way you'd like.
Send your emails [email protected]
October 26-28, 2018 OA silent retreat Pecos, New Mexico https://www.oadenver.org
Vancouver Island Intergroup Meetings All members are welcome October 13: Skype 1pm November 10: Victoria, 1947 Cook Street 11:45am *Elections* December: No Meeting http://www.oaviig.org
October 19-21, 2018 Region 1 Convention Spokane, WA. https://www.oaregion1convention.org
Celebrated the third weekend in November, this day
encourages OA members worldwide to begin or reaffirm their
abstinence from compulsive overeating.
November 17-18 — IDEA: International DayExperiencing Abstinence
Cortes Island No regular meeting but contact Denise (250) 935-6601 for an impromptu meeting Duncan: Thursday: 7:00 pm New Life Church, 1839 Tzouhalem Rd. Contact Orlando (250) 732-6450 Call to confirm location Nanaimo Monday: 5:30-6:30pm, Steps & Traditions Study 3151 Barons Rd. Contact Raelyn (250) 753-7241 or [email protected] for meeting info Thursday: 6-7pm Southwinds Nanaimo OA 285 Prideaux St. Room 305 Contact Janice (250)714-0400 [email protected] Saturday: 7–8 pm Into the Light 3151 Barons Rd, VIHA Mental Health & Addictions Services [email protected] for meeting info Parksville Tuesday: 7:30-8:30 pm Step & Tradition Knox United Church, 345 Pym St. Room 5 Contact Lorri B. (250) 248-2582 Friday: 12-1 pm Topic Meeting Knox United Church, 345 Pym St. Room 5 Contact Jan (250) 586-1615 Port Alberni Wednesday: 6:30-7:30 pm Alano Club, 3028 2nd Ave. Contact Jane (778) 898-1496 Port Hardy No regular meeting but contact Anne (250) 230-1673 for an impromptu meeting
Victoria Monday: 7:15-8:15 pm, Step Study Franciscan Friary, 1076 Joan Crescent Contact Lauren (250) 415-7178 TUESDAY: 5-6 pm, H.O.W. #103–904 Hillside Ave. Press code 4784 Contact Joy (250) 386-4784 Tues. Wed. & Thurs.: 12-12:45 pm St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Kirk Hall,680 Courtney St. (ring the bell) Contact Lorraine (250) 386-1238 Thursday: 7 pm H.O.W. Everyone Welcome Meeting, Cafeteria Room1814 Victoria General Hospital Contact Julie (250) 388-4161 [email protected] Friday: 5-6 pm H.O.W. 3027 Henderson Rd. Contact Loretta (250) 592-6705 Saturday: 10:30am-12pm Love in Action &Newcomer Meeting Sorry, no pets, babies or children pleaseVictoria Health Unit, 1947 Cook St. Contact Patty C. (250) 386-1192 Sunday: 1:30-2:30 pm H.O.W. 102 Meadow Park Lane WEST SHORE, phone ahead Contact Julie (250) 388-4161 or Lorraine (250) 386-1238 Sunday: 5-6 pm H.O.W Near Jubilee Hospital phone ahead Contact Jayne (250) 598-7707
Vancouver Island OA Meeting List
For 2018 meeting updates go to http://www.oaviig.org/meetings.html
Updated Sept. 12, 2018
Email meeting changes [email protected]
Creative Recovery
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Send your creative recoverysubmissions [email protected]
Bev Anne from Nanaimo is an avid photographer and has a deep appreciationfor the 12 Step prayers and slogans. Combining these two passions, shedigitally creates these inspirational images for herself, friends and family. We'll be seeing more of Bev Anne's work in Anchors OA!
Having an OA Birthday (or one that just passed) let usknow so we can share your OA milestone!
Sign up for the WSO News Bulletin for the
latest OvereatersAnonymous information
https://www.oa.org
Rose of Nanaimo 32 Years Abstinent June 24
CONGRATULATIONS!
Creative Recovery
Ashley from Nanaimo, is fairly new toOvereaters Anonymous and is 38days abstinent on September 16.She has been using art to help hermaneuver through the difficult times,instead of using food. This is Ashley's first painting and Ihope we get to see more of herartwork in future issues!
"I have been attending OA for about 9-10 months. Coming into my first meeting I didhave some idea of what to expect from a friend. I have a tendency to deeply connectwith the emotions of people in the room. Sometimes that is a blessing, sometimes astruggle. In that first meeting I immediately felt the openness and caring spirt in theroom- I felt so at ease with people I hardly knew. That is how this experience hascontinued for me- caring and supportive people who have answered my questions,offered hugs and shared their stories. I am now in the midst of working my steps 8-10and am feeling better than I have in years. My mental, physical and spiritual healthhas improved dramatically. I never thought it would be possible to be in this space Ihave arrived in. I can see how making connections and sharing this program will continue to uplift me.What a joy it will be to see others experience the peace I am finding. That is why Ihave decided to start sponsoring. I don’t know all the answers but I know I never will.All I know is that I have been given a gift and sharing that gift will increase my abilityto work this program and live an abstinent life. I am nervous about accepting my first sponsee but I know I will have support. Fromday one people have been happy to chat, guide and share. So I can draw on thosefoundational core values in OA to guide me in this next step." - Heather T. Victoria, BC
In September, Jane from Port Alberni facilitated a workshop onsponsorship in Nanaimo. During this workshop, Jane read a paragraphread written by Heather T. about taking on her first sponsee.
Victoria has 5 HOW-OA meetings a week and I'd love to hear from someHOW members about their experience with the program and how H.O.W.
has helped with your recovery. You can write an article or send a few sentences about your experience to
The requirements for a HOW group are the sameas for an OA group. Members meet to practice theTwelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of OA. All whohave a desire to stop eating compulsively arewelcome in the group. No member is required topractice any actions in order to remain a memberor to have a voice (share at a meeting). As a group,they have no affiliation other than OA. A group maybe formed by two or more persons meetingtogether as set forth in Article IV, Section 1 of theOA Bylaws.
What are the requirements for a HOW group?
The HOW Program FAQS about HOW-OA Groups Honesty, Open-mindedness, and Willing
Some OA members and groups choose to work their programsthrough OA-HOW. It is considered a subgroup of OA by many,known for its adherence to food plans and its disciplinedsponsor/sponsoree approach. Whereas the OA program offers onlysuggestions and allows for individual flexibility, the OA-HOWmethod usually provides a set structure to follow. Both programspractice the Twelve Steps for personal recovery, but the philosophyregarding abstinence is different.
What is a HOW group?
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December 12 — Twelfth-Step-Within Day(annually on 12/12)
A day to focus on carrying the message toOA members who are in relapse or still
suffering from compulsive eating.
oahowphonemeetings.com how-oa.org/about
Followthese links
for moreinfo
copied & edited from oaseatosky.com/
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Recovery Beyond Measure
In a few days, I will celebrate 38 years of recovery in OA. Today my goal is health, sanity,& wellness, not a size 8. Physically, my body has been a normal size for many years. G-dhas removed the compulsion for what I call “the hard stuff”—the stuff you see at thegrocery checkout counter. I have reached a deep level of acceptance and surrender. I was obese from ages 12 to 16. I joined a pay and weigh program, lost 50 pounds (23 kg),and never regained that weight. But I became obsessed with numbers, perfection,measuring, weighing food and how many pounds I gained or lost. By the time I was 24, Ifelt crazy. I could not stop eating. I had crossed the invisible line that separates normaleaters from compulsive overeaters. Today I use the word “recovery” instead of “abstinence”; I know abstinence refers to morethan the physical aspect of the program, but my warped brain still equates it with dieting. Ibelieve my recovery began at my first OA meeting in 1977. I measure what I know is true:the day I attended my first meeting and that I never left. G-d started working in my life. I got a sponsor & I kept coming back. A year into theprogram I had what I considered perfect abstinence, with a weighed & measured foodplan. Then I had a horrible sugar binge and couldn’t stop eating. I was bingeing and dieting,wearing a size 8. My weight was the measure of my self-worth. I was insane, but I washonest at meetings and kept coming back. I was so deeply damaged by weighing,measuring, and perfectionist dieting that I had to develop a radical new mindset. I had an epiphany on the bus one day: All food comes from G-d, and everything G-dmakes is good, so no food is intrinsically bad. No foods are forbidden. It is my choice toabstain from certain foods because I don’t like how they affect me when I eat them. Suddenly I understood that when I eat certain foods, it harms my spirituality. Myconnection to my Higher Power is blocked. Those foods trigger my characterdefects. I cannot be of service if I am filled with self-loathing, resentment, and anger. This is what works for me today: I don’t weigh food or myself. My clothes and my size aremy guide. Today, at age 62, I am a well-proportioned size 14. I work out at the gym five tosix times a week as part of my physical plan of action. Every day I pray, “G-d, please help me today. Help me choose the right foods to eat, theright words to say, and the right actions in all my relationships. Let me be of service in yourworld.” My best service is one-on-one, sponsoring and sharing in meetings. Today I live by thePrinciples of the Twelve Steps, which is how I believe G-d wants everyone to live. — Hope K., Elk Grove, California USA
Copied from http://www.oalifeline.org
A spiritual principle is associated with each of the Twelve Steps
The Principles in the Twelve Steps
Step One: Honesty Step Two: Hope Step Three: Faith
Step Four: Courage Step Five: Integrity
Step Six: Willingness Step Seven: Humility
Step Eight: Self-discipline Step Nine: Love for others Step Ten: Perseverance
Step Eleven: Spiritual Awareness Step Twelve: Service
Spiritual Principles in the Twelve Steps
What does Spirituality mean to you? Share this through images, writing or any way you chose.
Give service by sharing your Experience, Strength and Hope
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Summer Retreat in Nanaimo with Sheila J. by Alex
http://www.oaviig.orgFind Vancouver Island Intergroup online at
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When I arrived at the retreat and heard that Sheila J would be hosting, my heartskipped a merry beat or two! I had the joy of experiencing Sheila's no nonsense,yet hysterical style of sharing back in Alberta. She ascended upon our snowycity and blew us all away with her sharing! We kept muttering her name for eonsafter she left! Like an elusive superhero that swooped in and saved the day! What I love most about Sheila is her dedication to her recovery and heranointing with chronic slippers. She truly tells it as it is, but there's a lot oflaughter that lightens the darkness from her past. As she shared there was anodding head or two to confirm our related experiences and combined pain. What I got most out of the retreat was a great template to follow on a dailybasis that will help me reach a life of happy, sane, joyful recovery. This is what she has her sponsees send her daily, and I have adopted this andam experiencing some incredible results! Make outreach calls daily 10 things you're grateful for 3 things you did right Meditate Read 2 pages of the big book and write 15 mins on it. Food eaten for the day If you're struggling I would suggest this daily practice. It may seem like alot of work, but what I have experienced is that I seem to have more freetime on my hands now! How strange is that?!?! Fellowship and faith are vital to our fellowship and recovery and Sheilaepitomizes all that and a bag of chips! Oh sorry I mean bag of choppedveggies!!! Look out for Sheila J as she may be coming to a city or town near you soon!