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.

It has been very important for me to complete my SA Twelve Step work with my sponsor. It has been equally important to keep all SA letters and worksheets to show to my parole board that I have been taking actions to get better. They have been looking to see whether I am sober from my active addiction, and have a post-release support group.

Isn’t it ironic: in our disease, we had no choice but to act out; we simply had to; but in recovery, our hearts change and we have no choice but to reach out—we simply have to. Everyone who gets sober, who begins to experience the fruits of recovery wants, as a natural consequence, to help others get sober, especially newcomers.

Dear Essay,
Part of me is a grateful recovering sexaholic. God has kept me sober since 12/17/17, and all I have is today. My sponsor suggested I write this letter, and it’s a great opportunity to reflect on my recovery and God’s work in my life. I am convinced that any success I’ve enjoyed is due to God. The Third Step Prayer says “please take away my difficulties that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy power, Thy love and Thy way of life”. My hope and prayer is that the letter bears witness to God and his ability to bring beauty from ashes.

Kawy shares in the article “Helping Others By Showing Up” how her way of helping newcomers to stay in SA is by sponsoring some, showing up, and being there for them in different ways.

После того, как я пришёл в АС и начал идти по Шагам, оставалось то, чего я не понимал. Одним из них был “момент Высшей Силы”. Один из впереди идущих многократно говорил, что я “всегда пойму” когда возмещать ущерб, кому и что сказать, пока я крепко соединён с Высшей Силой.

Я начала свое путешествие с АС 25 мая 2021 года, когда мой муж снова поймал меня, но на этот раз разница была в том, что мой внутренний голос (голос Высшей Силы) уверенно направил меня к некоему Богу (GOD – Good Orderly Directions, т.е. Хорошие Упорядоченные Направления) Так что я погуглила и нашла сайт sa.org, связалась с сестрой из АС, которая тоже живёт в Индии, она и познакомила меня с Программой.

Меня зовут Ёши. У меня есть желание останавливать похоть и оставаться сексуально трезвым. Я трезв с 29 июля 1994 года. Сейчас мне 77 лет и в моей жизни мне было несколько раз даровано спасение.

Я недавно отметил пятую годовщину своей трезвости в АС, но никогда всецело не могу выразить, как я благодарен за свою трезвость. Я помню, как я говорил с одним из ветеранов Программы после собрания в своей стране.

Я снова здесь. Я скучала по этому городу. Почти десять лет прошло с тех пор, как я была здесь в последний раз. Я вдыхаю морской воздух. Предо мной прохладное объятие моря, а позади меня – уходящий горизонт и горы.

Сами по себе путешествия – это великое благо, дарованное Богом, и не каждый человек может себе это позволить. физически и финансово. Путешествия расширяют мировоззрение, вдохновляют, знакомят нас с новыми местами, людьми, странами. Неважно, отдыхаю я или работаю, путешествия – это часть моей жизни, и я благодарна Богу за них.