One of the greatest gifts in recovery for me has been the realized hope for freedom. I say “greatest,” because I didn’t believe it was possible for me to have freedom from the obsessions and compulsions of my addiction. As an addict I am powerless over lust, so what hope could I have? As I sat in meetings in the earlier years, most of us were still showing up week after week to report on our latest acting out episodes.

I had an idea in my head. My idea was to plant meetings around Scotland. I thought even if it doesn’t help many SAs in Scotland it would probably help keep me sober. I am grateful that I have been sober from lust since December 2008.

On Tuesday December 5th, veteran SA member Dave (27 years sober) arrived in Colombia to share with us his experience, strength and hope. On December 6th he accompanied us to the noon and afternoon meetings, where there was a combined attendance of close to 15 members. On the next day we went to a drug-addiction treatment center, where Dave shared his experience with 9 psychologists and close to 20 addicts.

“Must be nice to go to all those places and have them pay.”
I do hear that said from time to time. First, let me say that I get more out of speaking places than anyone else. I love the chance to share my Experience, Strength, and Hope with others.

Fear is normal and somewhat healthy. It has enabled human beings to survive and flourish. If fear was not a part of the human make up, our ancestors would have either been eaten by lions or tigers, or met some other unfortunate end. I have experienced fear many times in my own life beginning at an early age when my father would angrily yell all the time.

The Old-Timers’ panel in Newark last summer was comprised of Dee (1987), Tom (1987), Pat (1996), Mitch A. (1985), Margo C. (1986), and Harvey A. (1984). Part I was in the December Essay.

I have downloaded what I call a “ringing tone” that rings every day at 12:12. It is now on my smartphone. It has been for almost a year. I may have seen that tool somewhere within an SA document. It helps me remember to be grateful that I have a program in 12 Steps and 12 Traditions. Any ringtone could do the trick.

This can be a very helpful tool to use not only for yourself but to show those you are mentoring and certainly your family members. Whenever you feel disturbed, upset, or bothered, if you are worrying about something, fretting, can’t get it out of your mind, irritated at someone, resent someone, obsessing about a topic or person or object, if there is anything taking up too much space in your brain (a dangerous neighborhood — don’t go in there by yourself!), give this tool a try.

For sexaholics one of the most difficult parts of recovery is that our program is so simple. We have the Steps suggested as a program of recovery and we are told to ask God’s protection and care with complete abandon. Our recovery goal is equally simple: we have a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps.

I am grateful today for Sexaholics Anonymous, and for one year porn free. That is a miracle! I attended my first SA meeting in June 2011, but this is the first time I have celebrated one year. God willing I will stay sober and porn free for the rest of my life.

I’ve just shared a Fifth Step letter from my sponsee, and the room is very quiet. The one whose letter I just shared is ‘spiritually’ in the room. The realm of recovery is beyond concrete and iron bars.

Over all third quarter YTD revenues are (6.64%) over budget. Within the actual components there are actual variances which should be noted. Based on the current third quarter variance revenue report, we remain optimistic that 2017 revenue results will finish above budget targets as convention contributions and literature sales are offsetting the fellowship contribution shortfall.

In Old-Timers Speak — Part One, what does “critical mass of problem and solution” mean to you?

Dear SAICO and CFC members,
Thank you for Essay and your contributions to a Fellowship that is getting me from day to day. Your publications make “meetings” possible for me [in prison]. I hope one day to share the joy I have with others who need it, but until then know that you and your work are a blessing.

Dear Essay readers:
This issue of Essay includes many stories on SA and Technology. As of late November there were about 9,000 downloads and over 1130 views of the newly free electronic June Essay. The September Essay has 2600 downloads and 840 views to date. Our desire to be a global Meeting in Print is well underway.

Are you on a telephone call that’s starting to go on too long or veer into unwanted subjects? The endgame strategy of choice is to begin talking about a Step — any Step, 1 through 12, will do. The conversation will usually end within a minute.

Can sex be an addiction? In fact, it is. To protect people who are hooked to this in Murcia, an association was born with purpose to help and which has set up a phone line, where one can call if they think they need help.

One of the most important gifts I’ve received as the result of working Step Four has been the ability to get free from resentments more quickly and easily than ever before in my life. And along with freedom from resentment, I experience a level of peace, calm, and improved relationships which I never would have dreamed possible.

Once every week an SA member calls to read to me the First, Second and Third Steps as a kind of surrender prayer. When I listen to him it brings me back to the basics of the program in these Steps. It could be changed depending on the person giving these Steps. Here is what he reads to me when he calls:

On July 3rd, 2004, I left a family holiday party early to go to my first meeting. I even changed from shorts to long pants as I knew shorts were not supposed to be worn at meetings. My family assumed I was going to a church meeting, and I did nothing to correct them.