Recovery Meditations ~ Honesty ~ One Day at a Time ~ November 17, 2010

~ HONESTY ~

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"Whatever games are played with us, we

must play no games with ourselves, but

deal in our privacy with the last

honesty and truth."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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When I began to study step one in OA I

learned that the principle behind the

step was honesty. That was difficult for

me because I had spent so much time

lying to myself and others about my

eating. I was so ashamed of my eating

habits and behaviors that when asked

about them, it never occurred to me to

tell the truth. I couldn't conceive of

being accepted, or even cared for, if

anyone knew the truth.



Then I came into the program and began

to hear people share. The denial and

shell of lies began to melt. For the

first time I found myself in a

fellowship where I felt like I could

tell the truth because I was surrounded

by people whose stories were similar to

mine. Most importantly, the people in

the fellowship loved me and cared for me

when I told my truth, no matter how ugly

it seemed to me. I call this the magic

of the fellowship. It makes me want to

be that kind of loving, caring person

for the newcomer taking his or her first

step.

ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .

I will honestly confront the reality of


my compulsive eating, knowing that I am


in a fellowship where I am


unconditionally loved and cared for.