"First Things First"

In recovery, I often heard "Program, Family, Job" as the order for right living.

It confused me in the beginning, because nothing came before my family! Being the drama queen that I am, I would rather die then put myself before my family... Funny to say that because when I was overeating compulsively, I was on my way to a slow death AND I certainly wasn't "there" for my family!!! I didn't know what I didn't know.

For me when I got abstinent on July 23, 1988, "program" was:

*calling my sponsor at 7am

*committing my food each day

*going to committed meetings--two OA meetings,one OA step study each week

*reading a page of the Big Book, plus the page on acceptance (page 449, 3rd edition) and the promises (page 83), and the daily meditation reading from OA's For Today.

*I had to get on my knees and say the first three steps, the Third Step Prayer, The Serenity Prayer and thank God for my abstinence and ask Him for another day.

*Then make three committed phone calls a day.

Initially, that seemed like a tall order and I tried to say, "I can't do all that! I have two small children and I run a daycare. I am busy!" (half-smiling), but in all truth, my "busy" was typically trying to get my next hit of food...or studying the latest diet.

I waded my way through the days eating the children's leftovers or "dieting" until I gave in to some temptation...and then exploded in rage for not being able to follow my designed plan of eating for that day.

It was not pretty!

Today, my life is different. Thank You, God! Program is my way of life.


Some of the specifics have changed* but the bottom line is still the same. I go to any lengths to protect my abstinence. And today, I have a life!


*Now-a-days I don't talk to my sponsor everyday, my two committed meetings are now 90dayOA phone meetings (Sat and Sun at 8AM EST). I read different literature (including the Bible) and my prayers include personal thoughts, hopes and dreams.