COURAGE TO CHANGE doesn’t just come about randomly. At least, it never has in my life. I don’t think I have much courage, much less the courage I need in order to change. Changing myself can be scary. Sometimes it terrifies me. But turning my life and will over to the care of God as I understand Him helps me find courage.

I find courage when I make Program calls to share what’s going on with me in a spirit of transparency and self-disclosure. Still more courage comes when I go to a meeting with men and women recovering from lust just like I am. And the experience, strength, and hope at International Conventions floods me with a sense of courage that can be wonderfully overwhelming.

There is a lot to love about Los Angeles: the weather, the food, the beaches, the entertainment. But July 12th-14th, Los Angeles will be saturated with courage—COURAGE TO CHANGE, in fact! That is the theme for the Summer 2024 SA & S-Anon International Convention, and Los Angeles, California is the host city.

In my life, change has never been an on/off switch but more like an incremental dimmer switch (but I like to call it my brightener switch). As I continue to work the SA program by working the steps, making Program calls, going to meetings, and being of service, the more consistently I find myself taking “right actions” (SA, 147, 164, 167). These compounding “right actions” are bringing about real change in my life. That’s what recovery is to me—change. The recovery I see in others is evidence to me of their COURAGE TO CHANGE. Their courage is contagious, and I find my own courage expands as I continue this life of change and recovery. Even when I go through seasons of relapse, I can embrace the courage I’ve been given, overcome the discouragement of my imperfection, continue to change, and appreciate my progress that’s more and more evident as I work this progress-not-perfection SA program.

Working with so many men and women on the convention committee who are serving tirelessly to make the L.A. 2024 International Convention an opportunity for you to continue your own change has already filled me with gratitude and yes, courage. Won’t you join us?

Start your plans now by going to iclosangeles2024.com and see what we have in store for you. We have plans for over 90 breakout sessions, workshops, and panel discussions on a broad range of subjects for SAs and S-Anons. Some of these topics will be Surrender, Sponsoring, Shame, Sober Dating, Same-sex Attraction & Allies, Spiritual Tools . . . and those are just some of the S-topics. We’re also flying in some inspiring speakers to teach and inspire us as they share their ESH (“experience, strength, and hope,” SA, 201).

I’m a tall, bald guy with a deep radio voice. It would be my privilege to introduce you to attendees who have already registered from Singapore, Mexico, Israel, Canada, Kenya, and of course, right here in sunny California. I’m so excited for us to come together to grow in our COURAGE TO CHANGE.