I have loved the ESSAY long before this December issue. I would include it in my morning studies and let HP nudge me about what to highlight and make notes on. Then Luc accepted me onto the editing team where I got to act out my ADD and OCD to my heart’s content as I fix spelling, clarify passages for non-English writers, and fix punctuation problems.
Without a doubt, a spiritual awakening is a common phrase in SA. It is mentioned in Step Twelve: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps…” (SA, 6). If a spiritual awakening is essential to my program, why haven’t I set out to discover more about it?
An article published in this year’s October issue titled, “The ESSAY Enhances Our Meetings,” was quite encouraging for single SA members. In that article, an SA sister recounted a frantic search which ensued after a fellow member referred her to an older ESSAY article that had a great impact on his recovery. Regrettably, he lost his only copy and couldn’t remember the title. The author of October’s piece, along with other sleuths in that meeting, did find the older article, which proved very valuable for those in their meeting.
We are greatly saddened by the sudden passing of the ESSAY Editor, Luc D. As you can see by this issue, ESSAY will continue—although it won’t be the same without Luc’s magic.
For me, the most important Step is the First Step. Taking the First Step is the motivator for all of the other Steps. I am fully convinced that I have a fatal malady beyond my ability to fix, so I move forward on the other Steps. Step One is a process of surrendering pride. It’s not the end of pride, but hopefully, God willing, it can help create a daily reprieve.
My Personal Journey Through the 12 Steps to Overcome Automatic Negative Thoughts In my home, a quiet battle has been waging—a battle that parallels an even more personal struggle within my mind. On one hand, I face an invasion of tiny ants that seem to materialize out of nowhere, marching across my kitchen counter. On the other, I wrestle with automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) that creep into my mind, disrupting my peace and self-esteem.
Dear ESSAY, Recently my sponsor encouraged me to give program literature more authority in my life. He meant, take the literature as my personal truth and don’t divert from it—this is how I will get maximum benefit from this Program of recovery.
NEXT EDITION We're anticipating more wonderful articles in the February 2025 issue on the theme, “God As We Understand Him.” WE NEED YOUR SUBMISSIONS, though! If you already submitted something, it was lost when we tried to recover data and files after we suddenly lost Luc, our previous editor. Please submit (or re-submit) your ESH about “God As We Understand Him” to essay@sa.org.
My name is Raphael. I am a grateful, recovering sexaholic. I have been sober by the grace of God and with the help of all you in this program of SA since April 7, 2019. I am also currently serving a 50-month sentence for actions I took as a result of my addiction to lust.
My name is Abdelbarie, and I’m a sexaholic. Friends in America would pronounce my name Ab-del-BAH-ree, but to be honest, it’s the word “sexaholic” I’m still not used to. I never knew exactly what was wrong with me. I thought I was just a normal guy with a nasty porn and masturbation habit. As it turns out, I’m not normal at all.
