How do I encapsulate what the Essay magazine means to me and my recovery? I look forward to each issue like a kid heading to a candy store. I can’t wait to read each and every article, and typically enjoy a good laugh at the cartoons which invariably include nuggets of wisdom that broaden my recovery toolbox.
I am a very grateful sexaholic and member of SA. My first experience of SA came in 2006, but unable to see the problem clearly, I left and did not return until 2012. I attended another S-fellowship for a time and saw a friend walking with someone I knew was an SA member. This prompted me to return to SA.
Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Ivory Coast are the countries whose members have been participating in the Africa Sunday SA Zoom meeting every Sunday at 17:30 GMT. This is only one Zoom meeting out of many in the continent, and there are more countries with SA members in addition to those mentioned above.
I came to SA in 2016 via online meetings in Egypt and soon after, attended my third SA meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which is my home meeting. I have remained here since.
When considering what artwork to design for this article, my imagination began to view Essay through the digital world (yesterday, today and tomorrow). It seemed appropriate to honor Essay’s digital outreach by designing this article to be read in a way that digital articles are often read, on an Android or Apple device.
One of my favorite Essay articles appeared in Issue Four, 2003. It’s called “Rent-A-Sponsor” and is a very funny (in my opinion) “advertisement” to imaginary SA members who are tired of the old, time-honored methods of working the Program. It offers a new (much) “easier, softer way!”
I have been involved in SA since June 2007. Over the years I have tremendously enjoyed our worldwide magazine Essay, the “meeting in print.”
On my way home to join a Zoom meeting I stopped by my mailbox. I have a subscription to a golf magazine, and this particular issue had two beautiful professional women golfers on the cover, which meant it would be full of photos of them.
Why is sobriety not something easy to grasp? Because it is very simple! Much has been said and tried to improve the sobriety of sexaholics; however, I cannot find a more efficient way than doing the following:
A thought struck me today. Each time I lust or form a resentment, I am trying to hold onto something that is not mine to hold. With lust I am taking the image of the person which prevents me from actually seeing them as a person. With resentments, I am holding onto their defects, which are normally my defects, again preventing me from seeing the person in front of me.
