Eating Disorders - OA for May 2014

[MajestyJo]

Saturday, May 3, 2014

You are reading from the book Food for Thought

Accepting Normality

It is normal to eat three meals a day. As compulsive overeaters, we made ourselves exceptional by refusing to follow the usual pattern of meals. Instead, we wanted to follow the whims and demands of our irrational appetites. For some reason, what was good enough for others was not good enough for us - we had to have more.

Now that we have accepted a reasonable food plan, we can learn to eat normally. We do not need extra food. We know that our true strength and nourishment come from our Higher Power, not from an overload of calories.

When we stop overeating compulsively, we no longer need to feel guilty about our eating habits or different from those around us. We can accept the fact that we are normal people, not better than everyone else and not worse either. Like those around us, we have strengths and weaknesses, and we are making progress. It is a relief to accept normality.

May I keep a realistic perspective on myself.

Always makes me smile when I see the word normal when related to addiction. It may be normal for an addict, but not when compared to others. That is why it is best to identify and not compare.

Who is to say what is normal? A cycle on the washing machine?

I had problems accepting my humanness. I looked it as a cop out to people in recovery. An excuse to not work their program and working the Steps and applying them.