En 2003, en mi antiguo grupo base en Filadelfia, desarrollamos una reunión de orientación para los recién llegados. Habíamos escrito a varios intergrupos de todo el mundo, preguntando si organizaban reuniones de orientación para los recién llegados. Muchos respondieron compartiendo sus orientaciones, y combinamos las ideas que recibimos para crear una que sentimos que funcionó mejor para nosotros. Nuestro objetivo era ayudar al recién llegado a sentirse lo más bienvenido posible y reducir cualquier temor que pudiera tener. Después de todo, les diríamos, por nuestra propia experiencia, que todos sabíamos que lo más difícil que pudieron haber hecho en su vida fue salir de su automóvil, cruzar ese estacionamiento y abrir la puerta para pedir ayuda.

“Soy responsable.
Cuando cualquiera, en cualquier lugar
busca ayuda,
Quiero que la mano de SA esté siempre esté ahí. Y por eso: soy responsable”.

Manual de servicio de SA

Soy parte del dúo que da la bienvenida a los recién llegados en un grupo de correo electrónico de SA llamado SA Net. SA Net actualmente tiene más de 1000 miembros donde la mayoría hace la transición para reunirse en Zoom, dejando muy pocos para participar activamente por correo electrónico. Soy una de esos pocos miembros y he encontrado una gran recuperación no solo al participar en SA Net sino también prestando servicio.

Justo antes de llegar a SA, toqué un fondo personal. Por fuera, no era tan obvio que mi vida se había vuelto ingobernable. Todavía estaba casado, con hijos, tenía mi salud, un hogar, un trabajo y una comunidad. Pero por dentro estaba en mi hora más desesperada y oscura.

Just before I came to SA, I hit my personal rock bottom. On the outside, it was not so obvious that my life had become unmanageable. I was still married with children, had my health, a home, a job and a community. But inside I was at my most desperate and darkest hour.

My name is Meira. and I am a sexaholic. Or perhaps, more correctly, a lustaholic. I was using lust to cope with life as far back as I can remember, perhaps from the age of four or five. At first I used fantasy and compulsive masturbation, way before I even knew what sex was. These behaviors weren’t a problem then—they were my solution.

“I am responsible.
When anyone, anywhere
reaches out for help,
I want the hand of SA always to be there. And for that: I am responsible.”

I am part of the duo that welcomes newcomers in an SA email group called SA Net. SA Net currently has over 1,000 members where the majority transition to meet on Zoom leaving few to actively participate on email. I am one of the few and have found great recovery in not only participating in SA Net but also in doing service.

Back around 2003, at my old home group in Philadelphia, we developed an orientation meeting for newcomers. We had written to a number of intergroups around the world, asking if they did orientation meetings for newcomers. Many wrote back sharing their orientations, and we combined ideas that we received in order to create one that we felt worked best for us.

CONNECTING WITH A HIGHER POWER
Two of the best tools in my “spiritual toolkit” for connecting with the Divine Intelligence (along with working the Steps, attending meetings, talking with my sponsor, and service work in the SA fellowship) are singing and playing (or listening to) music. Music is a lifelong passion for me and an important component of my recovery.

In order to best share my experience at the Poland International SA/S-Anon Convention I thought it best to describe my personal road traveled.

The Israel SA fellowship has seen tremendous growth in numbers and quality of recovery since it began in 1996. At our annual national SA conferences, with S-Anon’s participation, we often have between 400 and 500 attendees.

The SA Israel fellowship, with our local S-Anon’s participation, is super-excited to be hosting the
International Convention for the second time. In 2017, just at the beginning stage of becoming
our own SA Region, we hosted the International Convention the first time it was held outside of
the U.S.

My first meeting at the Sunday Night McLean Group (Virginia, USA) was nearly two years ago. At the time, the meeting was exclusively on Zoom. One of the older members messaged me and asked if I was a newcomer. I was too afraid and full of pride to be honest with him. I wasn’t sober then. I know I didn’t sound sober, either. He was just glad I was there. This has been my home group ever since.

Our intergroup had their first spring retreat this year, after 3 years of COVID restrictions. Since I joined SA 3 ½ years ago this was the first time I was able to go and I jumped at the chance. My home group is a two-hour drive away so I have not been to a face-to-face meeting with them in 3 years though 2 other members live close by and the 3 of us do meet every 1 or 2 weeks. I have been waiting to see the bigger world of SA for some time. This retreat was my chance.

Newcomer meetings—I love them! Newcomers remind me every time how deep I was in my active addiction myself, and I need such a reminder. But more important than that, at a first meeting, I can show that recovery is possible and I have an opportunity to be of service.

Recently, I was working Step Two with a sponsee of mine and God decided to grace me with a revelation that has completely changed how I see my recovery. As this revelation is still settling within me, I ask God to give me the clarity of thought, the presence of mind, and adequate words to be able to relate this spiritual experience.

Step 4 was not an easy one for me. After a lifetime of burying feelings, it was hard for me to recognize when I was feeling resentful and afraid. But I did my best knowing that it doesn’t need to be perfect and that I will have my whole life to go back and rework the Steps as I continue to grow.

I had the opportunity to serve on a Friday night last February at an event that I had wanted to serve at for five years, but before never had felt ready to serve because of my addiction.

During the Covid pandemic, I returned to Ireland after many years teaching in Asia. I spent two weeks living in quarantine in a remote cottage in the countryside. I used to join the daily mid-day Irish SA phone meetings which helped me to stay sober one day at a time.