Lifeline Monthly Topics

Lifeline is created from OA members' letters. Monthly topics are suggestions. You may write about any subject important to your recovery from compulsive overeating. Send your letters to Lifeline, PO Box 44020, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4020 or email.

Features

Stepping Out, Service with a Smile, Living Traditions and Taking the Spiritual Path continue.
Newcomers Corner: Speaking from the Trenches gives newcomers a place to share their OA experiences and concerns.
OA Around the World presents a brief history of OA in a country or area; current information on the number of NSBs, IGs and groups; significant accomplishments; and two or three short pieces from local members. Please send your history today!
Generally Speaking (general OA topics) and How OA Changed My Life continue.
Main Attraction focuses on public information and attraction.

Departments

Ask-It Basket, Datebook, For Discussion and Web Links continue.
Share It and World Service Notes run only if sufficient material is available.

Other Materials

Lifeline accepts letters, artwork and photos (no faces, please) for publication. Credit lines and rights to submitted work apply equally to articles, artwork and photos. Submitted materials are not returned. Lifeline may edit articles and crop photos. Lifeline promotes "unity with diversity" regarding the race, nationality, gender, age, physical challenges and sexuality of its writers.

Please submit articles at least three and a half months prior to the first day of the month of publication. Deadlines appear in parentheses next to topics. Indicate the topic and month for which the article is intended. Typed letters by mail, fax or e-mail are preferred. Letters must contain the author’s name and address, even if the author wishes to remain anonymous in print. Thank you.

2009 Topics

JANUARY
How OA Changed My Life (9/15/08)
What is your before-and-after OA story?

FEBRUARY
What Do We Mean “All Are Welcome”? and Unity Day and My Lifeline (10/15/08)
How do you welcome and relate to members whose problems with compulsive eating (overeating, anorexia, bulimia, bingeing, etc.) may be different from your own and who work the program in a different way than yours? If your problem differs, how can you identify with their feelings, addictions, spiritual maladies and physical aspects? How does your group give voice to and encourage members who may be different from the majority of your group?

Or, share how your group celebrates Unity Day.

Or, how do you share Lifeline in your group and life?

MARCH/APRIL
Attraction Versus Attractive and What to Say to Prospective Members and How to Twelve-Step (11/15/08)
What’s the difference between attraction and attractive?

Or, what has proven successful in attracting new members? What should you not say to a new member?

Or, share your successes in how to Twelve-Step.

MAY
Slogans: The Wonderful World of Words and Avoiding the Pitfalls of Cross Talk (1/15/09)
Choose your favorite slogan and tell how it works for you.

Or, what is cross talk and how can it hurt the group and the individual? How do you discourage cross talk in your meetings?

JUNE
Service Beyond the Home-Meeting Level and The Joy of Giving: How the Seventh Tradition Enhanced My Recovery (2/15/09)
How has service beyond the home-meeting level enhanced your recovery? What strengths did you gain? What weaknesses did you overcome? How has doing service enriched your life?

Or, what rewards come to you with a Seventh-Tradition contribution? How can you encourage generosity in others?

JULY
Generally Speaking (3/15/09)
Write on any topic of interest to you.

AUGUST
Overcoming Isolation and What Keeps Us Coming Back (4/15/09)
What small steps helped you overcome isolation? What were some roadblocks? How is your life different now? Do people respond to you differently?

Or, why do you keep coming back after spending years in OA? How has your OA experience changed over the years — either because you have changed or OA has changed?

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
Intimacy and Inner Joy/Being Happy: What’s the Difference (5/15/09)
Describe how OA and the Steps helped you overcome problems with intimacy. What is your life like now?

Or, is there a difference between inner joy and being happy, and how would you describe it? How has OA recovery contributed to the change?

NOVEMBER
Step Nine: The Most Memorable Amends I Ever Made and From a Man’s Perspective in OA (7/15/09)
Share humor, good feelings or special difficulties you experienced when making your most memorable amends.

Or, how does your male gender make your OA experience different? What similarities have you noticed in the experiences of men and women in OA?

DECEMBER
Surrender to HP: Getting, Keeping and Living It (8/15/09)
How did you find your Higher Power? Describe your HP. How do you maintain the relationship? How do you walk the spiritual path in life? How is your life different now than it was before you found a Higher Power?

TOP

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