EA Connection - February 2017Your monthly newsletter from ISC
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From the EA Board of Trustees President

EA Recovery Tools

At the first Board of Trustees meeting of 2017, we did apreliminary look at the proposed Bylaw changes and votes
received by the ISC during the designated time frame. The Board
will revisit the proposed changes at our March meeting.

Step 2: Came to believe that a Power gr eaterthan ourselves could restore us to sanity

The Board also spent time on other issues including thepreliminary work of the 2017 EA Convention Committee which
will be held in the greater Atlanta area and on the Spanish versionof the Today Book which the Spanish speaking groups in Mexico
have had translated. The book will soon be available from ISC.
We also looked at the responsibilities of the Board of Trustees.
We will continue our conversation at a forthcoming Board
Meeting. It should be clear that we as a board are committed tocarrying out our duties with integrity and in a responsible manner.
Elaine presented the New Group information packets, improvedand clear. We had a good conversation and I certainly thanked
Elaine for taking on this matter, which by the way, is in great
demand by individuals wishing to start a new group. Hopefully wewill see an increase in new groups. Several other new pamphlets
were presented to the Board as well.
Perhaps the most difficult conversation centered on the Financial
Report. We appreciate the work of the Finance Committee! I needto mention that there are very obvious and legitimate concerns
about our ongoing deficit situation. We have improved, but weare in no way out of the financial woods. The only way out of thissituation is by an increase in group and individual donations.
Perhaps a financial discussion could be held in your group aroundthe topic IT TAKES MORE THAN $1.00! Happy Valentine’s
Day 2017!...Gus , President EA Board

Of Importance to Groups

Promise 2: We do not r egr et the past or wish
to shut the door on it.
Slogan 2: You ar e not alone

JFT 2: J ust for Today I will tr y to be happy,
realizing my happiness does not depend on what
others do or say or what happens around me.
Happiness is a result of being at peace with myself.
Tradition 2: For our gr oup pur pose ther e isbut one ultimate authority—a loving God as He
may express Himself in our group conscience.
Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do notgovern.
Concept 2: We ar e exper ts only on our own
stories, how we try to live the program, how theprogram works for us, and what EA has done forus. No one speaks for Emotions Anonymous as awhole.

Event Calendar
Be sure to check the Event Calendar on the EA
website for activities in your area .
Notify the ISC if you are holding a specialevent you would like to see on the calendar.
Send your notices to: Elaine, EA Director

Committee Members Wanted: The Book & Liter atur e, Outr eachand Technology Committee’s are looking for members. If you areinterested or have questions, contact Elaine at Diretor@emotionsanonymous.org.

Please make sur e your gr oup contact and meeting infor mation is cur r ent. Email changes to:groupdata@emotionsanonymous.org. Correct information on the website listing is important so newcomers and members can find a meeting or someone to call/email if they have questions.
Want to receive infor mation dir ectly fr om the ISC? Go to Get Involved and sign up. You'll get t he EA Connection
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Memorials and Special Gifts
To remember or acknowledge that special person go to: Memorial Donations #3

Recovery Using the Tools of EA
Step 2: Came to believethat a Power greaterthan ourselves could
restore us to sanity
I have learned that fr iends who
struggle with following this 12
Step program, frequently have notdone
theirSecond
Stepthoroughly. I made this mistake.
I read and slid over Step 2,thinking I had that whole belief
stuff covered. But, I relapsed anda new sponsor didn't let myreligiosity faze her. She gave me
this assignment: Write a list of all
the attributes that my Higher
Power must have in order for me
to believe that this HP can/will/
wants to restore me to sanity.
I dutifully did my assignment, andhave gotten over many hurdles
because of it. When I notice I am
feeling out there on my own I go
back to my list. Sometimes I findthat I have listed too few
attributes, and that my HP needs
to be bigger than I first imagined.
With a too small idea of my HP, I
cannot turn my will and life overto that being...Therese
Step Two used to be difficult forme. I was upset by the word
"sanity." As a child growing up inadysfunctionalhome,Iexperienced insanity. I saw mymother taken to a psychiatric unit
and labeled "crazy" by family,neighbors, and friends. She wasblamed and criticized for myfamily's illness. As an adult I, too,felt responsible for my family's
dysfunction. When I came to EA
and heard the word, "sanity," all I
could think of was the lack of it,
in my life. Even worse, I feared
becoming like my mother.

What I had overlooked in Step
Two was the word, "Power." The
day I started placing my attention
on that Power instead of on
insanity, I began to see miracles inmy life. One such miracle was myability to talk about my fears inmeetings. Other miracles included
taking the Twelve Steps that led
me to serenity, and engaging in
the process of forgiving andhealing.
It has taken me many years ofhearing Step Two read at meetings
for me to really hear the word,"Power." Now I realize how much
more awesome my Higher Poweris, than my disease. Instead ofdwelling in fear, today I am
striving to pass on the miracles ofrecovery to my children…Victoria

Slogan 2: You are not alone
In the reflection today the word
fellowship caught my eye.
Reading that word for themillionth time had a new effect onme - it made me understand that
I'm not alone. Not just feel it,
not just think it, but know it in away that I haven't before. So longas I practice the EA program, I am
part of our fellowship and in ourfellowship, one is as important as
the rest, and if I am falling behind,others are there to encourage andsupport me.
I need help, I need our fellowship.
I think I face my program alone a
lot of the time. I share whatworks, I respond to people's posts
if I feel I have another perspective

to offer. I need to feel that I am
not alone, that life is rich andbeautiful and mysterious, that
there is much to experience evenon the days it is hard to get out ofbed. Yet some days, I face myprogram differently, I feel soincredibly isolated and alone, I'm
stuck, thoughts don't matter when
I'm over come with feelings, logic
is not helping me. Yet I can, andwill, return to that place where I
know that I am not alone once
more...Sarah

JFT 2: Just for Today I
will try to be happy,
realizing my happinessdoes not depend on what
others do or say or what
happensaroundme.
Happiness is a result of
being at peace withmyself.
Today I was at peace with myself.
I took a walk with my daughter, Iwent to a craft show and part of adog show. I did some housework.
I meditated for a bit and I wrote inmy journal. I enjoyed making
carrot juice with my daughter as
she got a new juicer.
Today I was at peace as I started
the day in peace. I enjoyed thesunshine we had. I enjoyedconversing with a nice man at acraft show booth. I did nothingmajor, but I was happy. Thankyou Higher Power for days when I
can be happy for even little things.
ConnieDiscovering the Tools of EA—AcceptanceAcceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person,place, thing, or situation — some fact of my life — unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I
accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.
Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world by mistake...AnonymousAcceptance & SurrenderI awoke at 5:00 a.m. and immediately headed for the bathroom. Switched on the light - no light - no power. Walked into
the bathroom wall producing a black and blue goose egg on my forehead. Now what? I had 9000 things to do today - allof which needed electricity. Have you ever brushed your teeth, dressed and put makeup on in the dark? Try combing
your hair? No fun! All the time I'm doing these things I'm mumbling, groaning and feeling sorry for myself. Why me?
Finally got ready to leave and it was now pouring rain. More moaning and groaning. Drove to the gas station to get somecoffee and a paper. No paper yet. Some foul up with the delivery system. More moaning and groaning and why me.
Got to my first stop with my coffee and tried to relax a bit. Then my two favorite words came to mind: Acceptance andSurrender. Why does it take me so long to get to that point. What could I do about the power? What could I do about theweather? What could I do about the paper? Nothing! I needed to talk to my Higher Power and accept these pesky things
happening and quit brooding and fuming. If I surrender these frustrations and accepted them for what they are, a glitchor two in my day. I was able to relax and let the rest of the day happen as it happened. Thanks EA for teaching me acceptance and surrender. Thanks HP for another lesson which I sorely did need, again…MaryJane LAcceptanceI love this reading, Today book 7/29, because it talks about acceptance being a magic word. I didn't understand the word
for a long time. I thought acceptance meant being ok with it, liking it. I found out that in 12-step recovery, it means accepting the reality of it. For me, that finally helped me to see what people meant when they said they accepted something, but didn't like it. They were not denying the situation any more - they were accepting the facts. And I know thatfor me, accepting the facts of my life allows me to stop resisting, and to help me find workable solutions if I need to. It
helps me to say, this is how it is. What do I want to do about it? A lot of times, I find that I don't need to do anything. I
still struggle with wanting things my way! But after a while, I'm ready to have some peace, which means surrender andacceptance. It's not always that easy or that smooth, but it is simple. Grateful for this program...GailAcceptance & Peace
I am feeling more at peace knowing my dear friend Ruta is at peace. I know my mind is still scattering. My thoughts areoff, too. Nothing to be frightened over nor anger. I thank God for all the years of working the principles of the program.
Of, applying the steps and other lessons experienced. Nothing goes to waste.
Acceptances—One of the most valuable things I learn in EA is acceptance of myself, of others, and of my situation. As,I have listened to other members who have dealt successfully with their grief, I find they usually have turned to theirHigher Power for strength and guidance while working through their feelings. Through the program I find a loving God
who is always there for me even in my time of grief (Grief pamphlet #55). Whenever I am going through difficulties I
turn to the Living With Emotions Series #60. I replace the generalized wording and personalize it for myself. This is how
I've been able to make the EA literature have a personal touch...PatI will not progressIf I constantly use people, situations, or things to distract me from looking at and feeling the feelings associated with accepting current realities, situations and circumstances, I will not progress. I often wonder why some people feel things sodeeply and profoundly, whereas others don’t seem all that bothered or affected. Doesn’t matter why though, it just is. I
realize that I have a huge capacity for love, and that must be a good thing. A very wise person I know said that you can’t
feel great love without being able to feel great pain. They are at either ends of the spectrum, the further you push theboundaries, the greater your capacities to love, hurt, heal, feel joy, etc. Not easy, but it makes
for a very rewarding life if one has the courage to live that way...JK2016—2017 EA BOARD OF TRUSTEESGus S, AZ

Scott J, MN

France B, QC, Canada

Harold F, NH

602-319-3890
schloessergus@gmail.com

507-276-0323
sdjakel@gmail.com
Vice President/Treasurer(from Region 1/GST)

819-319-9912
france.boulerice@gmail.com(from Region 6)

603-425-2141
hthnhhugs@yahoo.com(from Region 5/GST)Valerie C, NYTyrrel D, GA

John W, MN

585-371-4347
valcea@gmx.com
Secretary (from Region 5/GST)

706-782-2328
atdear08@gmail.com(from Region 4)

612-760-0313
johnwerner52@gmail.com(from Region 1)

President (from Region 2)

Thoughts from your Trustees : Helpful Concept 2
Concept 2: We are experts only on our own stories, how we try to live the program, how theprogram works for us, and what EA has done for us. No one speaks for Emotions Anonymous asa whole.
Concept 2 keeps me focused on my own recovery, instead of losing myself in trying to fix others. I don't have to takeon the burden of selling or defending my Program. My perspective changes overtime, and will surely change again. It's OK to be where I am today and to carry REGIONS OF EMOTIONS ANONYMOUS
the message as best as I am able, knowing that I don't have all the answers and Region 1: Northwest
CAN: AB, BC, MB, ON, SK
probably never will...Val
USA: AK, ID, MN, MT, ND, OR, SD, WA, WI, WY

This concept speaks about sharing my own experience, strength and hope! Theemphasis is on being an expert on my own story and how the E.A. program
works for me - even if it may not work in your life similarly...ScottI have found bringing in other ideas from books, media etc does not help me likerelating my story or hearing another's story. At meetings I hear what is working
by listening to others and keep what I have by sharing how I work my program. ..Harold“No one speaks for EA as a whole.” The beauty of this concept is that it allows
each of us to work the program in a manner that works for us, without anyone
telling us how to do it! We are experts on our own recovery, using the tools ofthe program as they are laid out for us. What a blessing! ...Gus

Region 2: Southwest
USA: AZ, CA, CO, HI, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT
Region 3: Central
USA: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MO, NE
Region 4: Southeast
USA:Puerto RicoRegion 5: Northeast
CAN: NB, NF, NS, NT, PE,YT
USA: CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT
Region 6: French-speaking Canada

Emotions Anonymous™
Hours Monday—Thursday: 10 to 3:30
Phone 651-647-9712
Fax 651-647-1593
PO Box 4245St Paul, MN 55104
www.EmotionsAnonymous.org
director@emotionsanonymous.org

EANON IS OUR ONLINE DISCUSSION GROUP WHERE EA MEMBERSSHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE STENGTH AND HOPE AS RELATES TO THE EAPROGRAM. THIS YEAR WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE STEPS.
TO JOIN EANON CLICK HERE

editor@emotionsanonymous.org
groupdata@emotionsanonymous.org
info@emotionsanonymous.org
orders@emotionsanonymous.org
shipping@emotionsanonymous.org

We are so excited to share the news! EA has a new booklet!

Taking the Fear Outof the 4th Step
A Joyful and Uplifting Journey

We are so very grateful to the EA members who have devoted hours and hours tocreating this additional way to look at the 4th Step. It does not replace any other
4th Step guides; its intention is to fill a need with a certain group of EA members
for whom current guides have not worked. Many folks have never done a 4th Step
because the process seemed to be “too much” to them. Many of these folks
describe themselves as always being hard on themselves and having a tendency tolook too much at their faults and not enough at their strengths. This guide isintended to truly bring the expression “Look for the Good” into 4th Step program
work for those who need a guide to make that experience both fearless anduplifting. This is intended to build a healthy foundation for moving joyfully
through life.
The booklet is in production now and will be available on our website soon .