A Story of Recovery:
I’m like an alcoholic, only with food
About a year-and-a-half into my FA program, having lost 58 pounds and reaching my goal weight, I started planning a trip. My 17-year-old daughter and I were planning to spend a couple of weeks traveling in Latin America and going to Spanish language school. But my program wasn’t as strong as I thought and, during the planning, I had a break.
I didn’t go into relapse, thank God, but indecision racked our plans—which country, which language school, which flights? At times, I doubted that I would keep my abstinence while traveling. It seemed that when I was in charge, planning was chaotic.
Then one day during quiet time, everything changed. I heard a voice, or had a thought, that I should make staying abstinent the number one organizing principle of the trip. Fellows shared at meetings about traveling successfully, abstinently. I believed it and my conviction grew.
Within days, my online search revealed a language school in Guatemala that advertised it would accommodate special food needs. That sealed the deal. I emailed the school, arranged our program, and booked our flights. Little did I know how right this new path was!
Once in country, my focused search for abstinent food led us off the usual tourist trail to unique markets. I learned enough Spanish to ask for kilos of local fruits and vegetables. I met and chatted with lovely people whom I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I got deeper and deeper into the beautiful city.
Living with a local family wasn’t easy. It turned out that they weren’t quite as accommodating as I needed. I weighed and measured everything, and when there wasn’t enough to cover my food plan, I supplemented with the market produce I’d bought. I was determined to stay abstinent, but every meal was a challenge. Within a couple of days, I was getting weary.
To make matters worse, I disliked my language teacher immediately. I asked the school for someone else, but my Higher Power had other plans for me. The small school did not have additional teachers. I was stuck with this man, whom I found impersonal and intimidating, for five hours a day of intensive Spanish conversation for an entire week.
Arriving the third day, I greeted him as usual, placed my books on the table, and sat down across from him. He noticed my copy of Doce Pasos y Doce Tradiciones (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions), which I had brought because I wanted help with some of the verbs. Immediately he asked, “Where did you get this book?”
“It’s from a program I’m in,” I said.
“Are you an alcoholic?” he asked.
“No. I’m like an alcoholic, only with food.” He cracked a smile and revealed that he was in AA and NA, eight years clean and sober. I nearly choked! He asked me to tell him my story which, in Spanish, was very challenging! When I ended, he gave me a hug. A wholly new connection was instantly established between us. I realized that God had put this person in my path to remind me of my conviction and to help me keep my abstinence.
Two days later, I reached my 90 days again and called my sponsor. This was truly a miracle!
Higher Power works in amazing and unpredictable ways. When we decide to “turn it over,” beautiful things unfold before our eyes. Gratefully, I have remained abstinent since that time and recently reached six-and-a-half years of continuous abstinence.