"In 2001, I found a poem about AA written by my grandmother. My Family was full of alcoholics, so I vowed to always watch my drink. My father died in a fire. He was drunk, and the cigarette he was smoking caused the deadly fire. Alcohol is not my problem, and I hate smoking. But I am a compulsive overeater.
Being a man kept me away from OA for many years. I thought a man shouldn't worry about bingeing, and what real man throws up to try to control his weight? When I hit rock bottom weighing 341 pounds, it didn't matter. I was desperate and needed help, and I discovered I'm rarely the only man in the room.
I went to my first OA meeting in 1996. Thinking about Steps Four and Nine kept me in-and-out and uncommitted for years. In fact, I never heard the work "Sponsor" until this last time around. Having someone guide me through the Steps has kept me honest, open and willing to believe in the Twelve-Step process.
When it was time for me to be a sponsor, I made up a rule that I would only sponsor men. I was afraid of the intimacy involved in the process and didn't think it was a good idea for me to sponsor women. I no longer keep that rule, and my sponsor is a strong, recovered woman. I sponsor anyone, but it's smart to use common sense when sponsoring. Remember, real men recover!" -James
-Lifeline, November 2009
Men - Do you ever feel like the "Odd Man Out" at a meeting? Did you have a difficult time finding a sponsor? How has your perception of the sexes of OA changed since you joined OA?
Being a man kept me away from OA for many years. I thought a man shouldn't worry about bingeing, and what real man throws up to try to control his weight? When I hit rock bottom weighing 341 pounds, it didn't matter. I was desperate and needed help, and I discovered I'm rarely the only man in the room.
I went to my first OA meeting in 1996. Thinking about Steps Four and Nine kept me in-and-out and uncommitted for years. In fact, I never heard the work "Sponsor" until this last time around. Having someone guide me through the Steps has kept me honest, open and willing to believe in the Twelve-Step process.
When it was time for me to be a sponsor, I made up a rule that I would only sponsor men. I was afraid of the intimacy involved in the process and didn't think it was a good idea for me to sponsor women. I no longer keep that rule, and my sponsor is a strong, recovered woman. I sponsor anyone, but it's smart to use common sense when sponsoring. Remember, real men recover!" -James
-Lifeline, November 2009
Men - Do you ever feel like the "Odd Man Out" at a meeting? Did you have a difficult time finding a sponsor? How has your perception of the sexes of OA changed since you joined OA?
RSS Feed