Learning Daily

The Foothill Intergroup has several writing meetings that include a timed period of writing in response to a theme or selections from AA or OA approved literature. Below is one fellow’s response to a selection from AA’s “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions”. It was written during a telephone meeting and later adapted for the Footnotes blog. -Eds.

Forgiveness

In these difficult days, I find myself thinking a lot about forgiveness and the need for kindness, gentleness and acceptance.

Welcome to the Footnotes Blog!

Hello! Welcome to the Footnotes Blog, an extension of the OA Foothill Intergroup's printed newsletter, Footnotes.*

We have established this blog in an effort to continue to serve the Foothill Intergroup at a time when printing and distributing a paper newsletter isn’t safe. But don't worry, the printed Footnotes you know and love is not gone for good - it’s just on hiatus!

One Day At A Time

Hi! I’m DD and I’m a compulsive planner. I admit it. I have lived most of my life in the future, thinking about what comes next. I come from a family of compulsive planners; it’s just the way we roll.
 

For the most part, being a planner has served me well. Not only did living in the future help me structure my life and get things done, it helped to contain my anxiety.  When I planned and made lists, I had the belief that life was under my control.

Surrender

For the majority of my life, “Surrender” has been a dirty word. It seemed that everywhere I looked, the right way, the only way, was the hard way. Never give up. Never give in. Never surrender.

But as I grow in this life, I am witnessing a different interpretation of this word. There is so much strength to be gained in surrender. To be flexible like water, not hard like a rock. (Actually, I think that might be a quote from Bruce Lee.)