If you have some respect for people as
they are, you can be more effective in
helping them to become better than
they are.
----John W. Gardner
As a newcomer, the first impression I had of what OA members tought of me was, "You're fine just the way you are." No one made me feel that my illness rendered me less worthy of respect than other people. Taking a cue from these loving, caring friends, I stopped being ashamed of myself. The defenses I had set up fell away, and I became open to change.
One of the sharp distinctions between Overeaters Anonymous and most, if not all, other therapies I tried is this: We do not like the disease, but we never confuse the person with the disease.
For today: OA is a refuge from the harsh judgments society passes on compulsive overeaters. My fellow members need unconditional acceptance and respect, not judgments.
