Fall Begins!
September/October 2023
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HAPPENINGS AROUND
CONNECTICUT

Event Recordings & Podcasts:
Did you miss any of our Workshops? Click here for event recordings and podcasts available on our website!
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Happening Now:
In-person meetings are happening again - here are a few:

-New Britain MON/6:30 PM *(NEW)
-Cromwell MON/6:45 PM
-Danielson WED/6:30 PM
-Windsor WED/7:00 PM (Hybrid)
-Avon WED/7:10 PM *(NEW)
-Litchfield THURS/7:00 PM
-West Hartford SAT/9:30 AM

*Please note that the Lakeville and Vernon meetings have closed. To get the most up to date meeting information, click here for the current CT Meeting List

-In addition, we're offering Newcomer Orientation Meetings
*By Request - Contact [email protected]
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Upcoming Events:
-October 13-15 - The OA Region 6 Convention IN PERSON this year in White Plains, NY! More information is available HERE (link to https://oaregion6.org/2023-convention-welcome-home/)

-Region 6 Raffle - fundraiser with chance to win: 1st prize = Convention registration/hotel room, 2nd prize = full set of convention recordings, 3rd prize = convention registration. *Click here for flyer

PREVIEW OF THE REGION 6 CONVENTION!
-50 workshops and meetings!
-New topics you’ll love!
-Familiar topics that are “old favorites”!
-Something for everyone!
-Keynote speakers!
-Step Workshops!
-Square Dance!
-Raffle baskets!
-Talent show!
-Fun, fellowship and LOTS OF RECOVERY!!!



Convention raffle tickets to win 1. Convention registration & hotel, 2. Full set convention recordings or 3. Convention registration: https://square.link/u/2wJny2sr?src=embed
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Additional Events of OA

-Sept 9: Life in the Twelve Steps - WMI In-Person Marathon - 9 am-3 pm ET - Agawam, MA, see attached flyer

-Sept 9: Trouble With Food? We Can Help In-Person Workshop 2-4:15 pm ET - Warwick, RI see attached flyer

-Sept 17: Weaving The Tapestry of Recovery - Steps 10, 11, 12 - 8:45 am-3 pm ET - In-Person (Yarmouth Port, MA) or on Zoom from 9am-12noon ET - Cape Cod IG, see attached flyer 

-Oct 13-15: Region 6 Convention (In-Person)- see attached flyer
Register now!  https://oaregion6.org/2023-convention-welcome-home/

-Nov 19: Relapse Prevention, CT workshop in person - 2:00 pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford. HOLD THE DATE - details soon!

*Zoom Security training for OA members* 
- offered by OA San Diego - check schedule on their website 
- 1st Monday/every month: Zoom Security Training- 7pm ET 1st Monday of each month offered by Nassau IG, see attached flyer



 Receiving this Newsletter from a friend? Click here to sign up to get your own copy every two months and also read some of our previous newsletters: Newsletter - CT Overeaters Anonymous (connecticutoa.org)
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Step 9: Honest Effort

What has the completion of Step Nine meant and what does it still mean to me as I practice the Principles of the Twelve Steps in all my affairs? Step Nine meant I could take action to finally make amends, apologize, and change my behavior toward those whom I had harmed or wronged in the past.
 
In Steps Four and Five, I looked very carefully at the wrongs I did to others and admitted those wrongs to myself, God, and my sponsor. The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous tells me that these people “don’t owe us forgiveness, and we don’t need it to complete step nine and recover from compulsive eating” (p. 77). It only matters that I make an honest effort to apologize for my wrongs and then amend, or change, my behavior toward others. Only then can my conscience be cleared of old guilt.
 
When I walked into the rooms, weighing 313 pounds, I had no idea why I ate like I did. Then I learned in the rooms that I ate to hide from fears, guilt, and resentments. By truly apologizing and making amends to those I had harmed, I found I no longer needed to hide from shame and guilt by using food. I believe now that if I make honest and thorough amends, God will forgive me for my wrongs. I will be washed clean and be ready to face life without old guilt haunting me and without the need for me to eat compulsively.
 
Did it work for me? Well, here I am, nearly five and a half years later, maintaining a weight loss of 145–150 pounds for more than three years. My life has completely changed, not only with respect to food, but in all areas. The promises in the Big Book have come true for me (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., pp. 83–85). But I know they will continue to do so only if I continue working the Steps on a daily basis, one day at a time.
 
-Oalifeline.org (edited)
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A Tenth Step inventory
is one day of my story.
Any harms have I done?
Did I help anyone?
Judged others, “If only . . .?”
Offered hope to the lonely?
To old grudges cling?
Or self-pity’s song sing?
My duties remiss in?
Did I talk more or listen?
Take more than I needed?
God’s will, did I heed it?
Did I sit quiet and pray?
And give thanks for the day?

-Ron P., Canada (in Lifeline)
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September & October
Steps

Step 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

"The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, 2nd edition, copyright Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All rights reserved.”

Living the Step Principles

Step 9. Love & tolerance: Practice unconditional love for myself & others. Accept others as they are, not as I would wish them to be. Take full responsibility for my actions and my feelings.

Step 10. Perseverance: Perseverance to work at growth every day in all areas of my life. Keep working at making it better, at making me better, at keeping my side of the street clean as I go rather than accumulating regrets or guilt and shame as what I’ve done.     

-Don C.
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September & October
Traditions

The OA Traditions - Am I Practicing These Principles, too?
 
Tradition Nine: OA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

-Does my group make it a point to discuss the twelve Traditions and how they apply to us? Do I take part in those discussions? 

-Do I take time to do at least a little service for OA? Or, do I expect “them” to take care of things for everyone else?

-Am I afraid to speak up when I see Traditions being ignored in my OA group or service body?

Tradition Ten: Overeaters Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence, the OA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

-Can I share my personal experience concerning diet clubs, nutrition, spiritual or religious beliefs without mentioning names or implying that OA has an option on any of these?

-In sharing at meetings, do I try to help newcomers better understand OA’s Twelve Step program?

-Can I continue to share OA fellowship and recovery with people who don’t share my options? Do I focus on our common bonds rather than on our differences? 

"The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, 2nd edition, copyright Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All rights reserved.”
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