I Didn't March This Year, and I Am Totally Fine With It

For the last 3 years, the Women’s March in Downtown L.A. and the Overeater’s Anonymous Birthday Party have been held on the same day, January 18th. For the last 3 years, I’ve made it a priority to march-- which has been a great experience. For some reason this year it was a tougher decision to make. Something inside of me had shifted and was leaning toward the OA Birthday party so that's where I went and I’m happy I did.

I’ve heard it said that the OA party is like slipping into a warm bath of recovery— and that was exactly how it felt for me. 

Over 900 compulsive overeaters converged on the LAX Hilton for 2 1/2 days of workshops, panels, key note speakers, mediation and more. I should be clear, I didn’t stay overnight. As a mom of 2 who only gets to spend quality time with her husband on the weekends, Saturday from 9am to 3pm was all I could swing, but it turned out to be all I needed.

The drive that usually takes an hour, barely took 30 minutes early on a Saturday morning. I went alone but met up with my sponsor for lunch and ran into a string of other members I knew from local meetings. I even ran into one of my favorite ex-sponsors, who had moved out of state but was back for the party— a woman I worked with some 10 years ago. Her shares were insightful and inspiring as much as they ever were. (Side note: She also told me I hadn't aged a bit, which was nice to hear.)

A few program gems from panelists: 

“You’re not responsible for your first thought— only your 2nd thought and your first action.”

“Thinking isn’t a tool.”

“ You can’t think your way into right thinking. You can only act your way into right thinking. 

Some words sounded like they came from my own head:

From a new father in OA: “If I have sugar, I am out. The day is a wash. I have so many responsibilities now, I can’t be doing that to myself anymore.” (paraphrasing)

I’ve been working hard on my food sobriety for the last few years. As of today, I have 8 months of abstinence from recreational sugar- which means I don’t eat sugary desserts like cake, pie, ice cream or cookies, pastries or candy— not because they are high in calories, but because for me, they trigger the urge to eat compulsively. Not eating those foods means, my craving for them is dramatically less. As a consequence of abstinence and regular exercise I am down 20 pounds and I have never felt better in my life.

My mind is clearer. I am much happier and am more present for my husband and kids and pretty much everyone else in my life. 

Although it was hard for me to reconcile the decision not to march, half-way through the first speaker it was clear, OA is where I needed to be. A day immersed in stories of strength and surrender super-charged me like nothing else could. I can’t wait to make the hard decision again next year.