FOOD FOR THOUGHT - OA OCTOBER

[MajestyJo]

Saturday, October 4, 2014

You are reading from the book Food for Thought

Friendship

Through this program, we learn that we have choices. Not only can we choose what we will eat and what we will do, but also we can choose our friends. As we become honest, unaddicted people, we are able to relate to each other on a level of mutuality and admiration rather than out of dependency and fear. We gain the self-confidence to choose those with whom we enjoy spending time and sharing, rather than slavishly catering to anyone who will notice us.

Friends in OA have a special bond, since we share a common problem and a common solution. By putting principles before personalities, we avoid dependency and childish demands. Though we love and support each other, we do not cling together, since we are each dependent on a Higher Power. Our friends give us the gift of themselves, which shows us who we are.

Thank You for friendship.

It sure makes a difference when you have a support group to help you when you are going through rough times. It is especially helpful to have a friend and/or a sponsor, or a sponsor and a friend, to go through things with. You don't have a person to get one opinion and another person to have another opinion, and then you chose the person, who tells you what you want to hear. It is good to get input, but the decision has to be yours. Friendships can be spoiled by comparing instead of identifying. Take the person for who she/he is, not who you would have them be.