2025 SA/S-Anon NW Regional Retreat
I attended the SA/S-Anon NW Regional Retreat in Post Falls, Idaho. Gratefully, this was my fourth NW regional retreat, and as someone who lives on the opposite side of the country, each one has been a blessing.

2025 SA/S-Anon NW Regional Retreat
I attended the SA/S-Anon NW Regional Retreat in Post Falls, Idaho. Gratefully, this was my fourth NW regional retreat, and as someone who lives on the opposite side of the country, each one has been a blessing.

He learned the difference between white-knuckling (reliance on self) and true surrender (reliance on God).
When I was still deep in my addiction, I thought I knew how to interact with women: I performed, I craved, I hunted for the thrill of being wanted.

By presenting himself as he truly is, God meets him there with His love that transforms.
It wasn’t on the mountaintop where God found me, but in the dust.

God uses him to carry the message of recovery through his musical gifts.
My name is Winfried, and I come from Germany. I have been sober since February 14, 2013, thanks to God’s grace.

After years of being dominated by lust, this member is living life on a spiritual plane as a result of practicing the Program, with deep love for sponsorship.

Roland mentions in his article, “The Pursuit,” how honesty was vital in his new relationship with his wife. How important has honesty been in your recovery? Have you needed help in identifying when you have been dishonest?

Rigorous honesty is the gateway to recovery in SA. At first, I thought that admitting the full extent of my problem and sharing my real history were impossible. What would others think?

Our next edition’s theme is “A Great Caution is Advised.” This caution is in the White Book on page three, “We suggest that newcomers…not reveal their sexual past to a spouse or family member who does not already know of it, without careful consideration…” Similar caution is in the Big Book.

My sponsor suggested that I periodically follow up with the professionals to give them an update on how the Fellowship is doing.

Dear ESSAY,
I wanted to compliment you and your staff on the October Issue. Well done!
The graphics are outstanding, and the composition of text and graphics is very impactful.

It Changed Both of Us
Step Five had a lasting impact on both sponsor and sponsee through the Sponsor-by-Mail program.

Completely exposed before God with a wide open willingness for Him to take away her defects gave her a vital spiritual experience.

He learned through the Program to be honest in every area of his life.
Rigorous honesty with myself is the best medicine for the disease because my disease comes out of denial—lying to myself and others. Before lust, I learned to fantasize and make up fun stories.

Higher Power gives her the courage to turn her whole life over to the will of God.
When I hear the words “rigorous honesty,” all kinds of things go through my mind: bringing the inside out, sharing with others, writing Tenth Step inventories, making phone calls, and sharing honestly and sincerely in meetings.

Honesty helps him take the Steps with sincerity of heart.
Honesty starts with my heart. My head is going to think of all kinds of reasons to dodge the truth.

Her sponsor helped her admit deep resentment towards her adoptive mother.
Rigorous is “an adjective that means extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate.” Rigorous honesty is a commitment to complete truthfulness in all aspects of life, even when it’s difficult or has consequences. Phew.

The Steps replace the addictive process with a Program of recovery.
This happened almost 20 years ago, when I was just beginning this recovery Program.

Dio ha rimosso la sua paura e l’ha sostituita con la fede e con le opere.
Per tutta la vita ero stato così legato dalla paura che avevo perso la speranza di liberarmi. Attraverso il lavoro sui Passi, una luce brillante alla fine di un tunnel lungo, freddo e buio ha improvvisamente brillato con un calore confortante. Ad ogni passo, tuttavia, le paure continuavano a incombere. L’uso del semplice strumento dell’inventario Paura-Fede mi ha aiutato a tornare verso Dio e alla soluzione dei Passi Due e Tre.

Identificare il problema e uscire da sé stesso gli permette di vivere nella fiducia e nella volontà di Dio.
Vorrei definire questi termini perché credo che, quando definiamo accuratamente un problema, arriviamo alla soluzione. Io intendo il senso di colpa come la sensazione sana e appropriata di disagio che provo quando ho causato un danno a me stesso o a qualcun altro. È un promemoria interno che mi invita ad agire per correggere il mio comportamento e, se possibile senza causare ulteriori danni, a riparare (se ho ferito qualcun altro). Il senso di colpa inoltre mi aiuta a evitare di ripetere quell’azione in futuro.