I went back to my home group and shared what had happened. I had slipped and now it was time to face the dreaded walk back into the rooms and face the fellows I had been lying to for many years. The group was welcoming and supportive, I heard supportive and encouraging words like “It’s OK, it’s progressive victory” and “Keep coming back.”

The Game is a fun recovery game played in teams of five members for 30 days. The teams work together to earn recovery points by using SA Tools, one day at a time for 4 weeks. The team with the most “recovery points” after 30 days wins! It is a proven way to make friends and get support with your recovery!

One of the most effective Practical Tools is HUMOR.
CORONAVIRUS AND ADDICTION
We were MADE to survive this!

Yoga has become a parallel and interconnected path on my physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery. Recently, I took a Yin Yasa yoga class. The theme of the class was “letting go.” Hmmm, I thought as we proceeded, where have I heard that before?

Dear recovering friend,
Eighteen years ago, I became sexually sober and started my SA journey. As a CFC member, then Vice Chair, then Chair, I’ve been engaged in 12-Step correctional work with those on five continents.

Dear sponsor,
First of all, I hope and pray that you and your loved ones are in good health, and under God’s loving care. I want to thank you for the email. I appreciate your time and willingness to figure out a way to reach out to me.

Bob F. tells us how he continues to live in happy and joyous freedom during the pandemic.

We are in a new reality. Electronic meetings are going on around the world. They allow loners or travelers to join a meeting. I hear people say, “Yes, but they are not face-to-face meetings.” I beg to differ as they are face-to-face meetings. They are just not in person meetings.

Dear Essay readers,
The saying “Every dark cloud has a silver lining” conveys the notion that, no matter how bad a situation might seem, there is always some good aspect to it.

In the last few months, paradoxically because of the terrible pandemic, more members in India (and other “remote” places) are able to join international meetings on platforms like Zoom. This allows newcomers to see “how it’s done” from members with experience around the world.

The Spanish SA Winter Convention had a strong focus on staying sober with panelists from all over the Spanish-speaking world, among whom old-timer Harvey A. who shared his invigorating joy with us.

Over 2500 sexaholics from 80+ countries around the world came to experience for themselves that God is surely for each one of us. That was more than twice the 1200 people who even registered for last year’s event.

At this moment there are strong and foundational fellowships in Kenya (54 members), South Africa (16 members), and Egypt (90 members). Other countries like Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, Zambia, and Reunion Island have only one or at best a couple of members.

Greetings from an extremely grateful member, just 9 weeks into SA, and sober in no small part due to the UK November Convention. I am writing to thank you.

We recently had our annual fall speaker marathon in the US Capital Area (District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland), which we call “Gratitude Day.” The 12-hour marathon on Zoom had several attendees throughout the day. With more than 10 speakers from SA Regions in the United States and Canada, plus a keynote speaker, the support was great.

Last Sunday nine of us came together to celebrate at the 5-hour Newcastle Australia Conference, while an average of another 20 members zoomed and called in. Among us were two first nation Australians and one woman. We had guest speakers from all over our island—Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle.

The morning smells like smoke
A building is burning
The siren is running
But I am humming

Recently, I awoke early to start my day before it became hot and humid. I prayed my usual prayers, but thought to myself that I would save morning meditation to a more convenient time. Perhaps this was the beginning of obsession trying to creep into my mind as I ignored the line, “On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day …” (AA 86).

It took me nine years in SA to realize that continually praying to God to “keep me sober,” and to “take away my lust” wasn’t working for me. I discovered that this kind of prayer was just another subtle way of trying to manage my life by asking God to do what I thought He should do for me.

Recently, I was waiting for some medical results, which, if negative, may have meant some serious consequences. Fear gripped me, but I did not share my feelings with anyone. Without even making a conscious decision to do so, I found myself back in self-reliance, relying on finite self instead of infinite God.