EA Connection—December 2016Your monthly newsletter from isc
From the president of the board of trustees:Your Board of Trustees recently gathered via SKYPE (our first!) for a board meeting and have begun to do some work tomove EA forward, based on your recent feedback. An ongoing area of concern of course are the finances of the organization.
While looking a bit better, we have not yet been able to have a balanced budget. We appreciate your generous support during the month of November! Likewise we have begun to do some initial work in discovering how we might be able to be in
better contact with you, the membership at large. We’re attempting as well to see how we might be able to bring new
growth to our organization. It will be a process which might take some hard work and time, but we are ready to do thework.
Having just celebrated our National Feast of Thanksgiving, we can honestly say that the holiday season is now in full swing.
And so are our emotions! No matter which holiday you are observing during this month, be that Kwanzaa, Hanukkah orChristmas, there is that childlike magic all around us. Without some careful thought and planning, this can be very problematic for many of us.
The following might be helpful: Observe your holiday as a ‘holy-day’, and try to reconnect with the real meaning of it; Embrace that which you love and forget about the rest; Avoid wallowing in loneliness; Reach out and help others; Make it a newholiday with new memories and perhaps new traditions; Love can be found everywhere, Look for it; Honor your lost andloved family members; Enjoy the day as never before. Go to a movie; enjoy the beauty of Winter and all it brings; Go for awalk; Work the program, etc. I can’t assure you that you will have an emotional free holiday, but I can guarantee that you’llcelebrate the holy-day with some new insights and understanding! Happy Holy-Days to you! And blessings for the New
Year 2017! Gus S, President EA Board of Trustees

December tools:
Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message and to practicethese principles in all our affairs.
Tradition 12: Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
Helpful Concept 12: Part of the beauty and wonder of the EA program is that at meetings we can say anything andknow it stays there. Anything we hear at a meeting, on the telephone, or from another member is confidential and is
not to be repeated to anyone—EA members, mates, families, relatives or friends.
Promise 12: We realize that God is doing for us what we could not do ourselves.
Just for Today 12: I choose to believe I can live this one day.

Of Importance to Groups:
Be sure to check the Event Calendar on the EA website for activities in your area – and notify the ISC if you are holding something special so we can share your information on the Calendar! Send your notices to director@emotionsanonymous.org.
Please make sure your group contact and meeting information is current. Email any changes to Bobbie Jo atgroupdata@emotionsanonymous.org. Correct information on the website listing is important so newcomers can find a meetingor someone to call/email if they have questions.
Want to receive information directly from the ISC? Go to: http://emotionsanonymous.org/get-involved/the-connectionnewsletter-sign-up.html . You'll get The Connection sent directly to your inbox each month, as well as periodic emails about EA.

Memorials and Special Gifts:
In memory of Wendell O, long time member and former trustee.
Tuesday EA Group, Coon Rapids, MN
To help support this publication, donations can be made to: EA Connection

EA Tools
fits of 12 Step recovery.

Step Twelve is a hard step for me to
do deliberately. I think I do it bestwhen I allow myself to be just myself. It is easier for now to share myself with others. I have to be able totwelfth-step myself before I can carry the message. By practicing theprinciples of the program in all myaffairs, I become a living example ofa better life. When I share my experiences, strengths, and hope withnewcomers, I , in turn give themhope. Hope gives us all a reason tolive, and with that comes strength to
go on...Today book , January 15

Tradition 12: Anonymity is
the spiritual foundationof our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities
I recall thinking the phrase, "placeprinciples before personalities” waspart of a step. But it isn't. It's part of
the traditions that has kept theTwelve Step programs well and alive.
Little did I know how important thetraditions were until I heard themmentioned at a meeting. At thatpoint I became responsible to do mypart to keep the steps and traditions
working. Not so much for my sakebut for the still suffering persons trying to come in. I have read and practice the steps along side the corresponding traditions. Without bothsteps and traditions I could havedied as many had without the bene-

It is within the steps and traditions
that I am able to remain sane. Thesteps, as I live them, help keep mesane and useful to the fellowship.
Through the program I was able totoss out people, places and things
that weren't of any use to my sanity.
The traditions, mostly with a blackand white interpretation, I use formy business affairs.
I pray to God for guidance. I open
my mind, examine my choices andallow honesty to guide the way.
I have a story to share about thepractical side of Tradition 12. Once
when I was fairly new, I got all bentout of shape about something someone had said at a f2f meeting. I
called a wise program elder afterward and told him about it & how
upset I was. He responded, "That's
why we need to place principals overpersonalities." I understood it tomean that I needed to practice program principles and not let personalities or personal differences makeme loose my serenity and happiness...Joe

Slogan 12: I have a choiceHate is such a strong negative emotion. I know it used to burn deep
into my very being, I was driven by it,
I was attached to its effect for manyyears. I allowed it to be the centerof my world, I was certainly, entitledto have hate because of the way others treated me and hurt me when I
was down. It was such an entitlement game that I played.
I do see today that a lot of my anger
came from hating certain things andpeople in my life. I am so glad todaythat I understand that I have a choice

and don’t have to allow this feelingto take up permanent residence
within me. I let it go and don’t haveto carry it around.
I like what the Reflection (TodayBook 10/25), says about disliking
something rather than sayingthat I hate it. Sure makes a lot lesswork for me when its only a like or
dislike rather than the powerfulemotion of hate.
I am so grateful for the EA program
because of these simple lessons
which we are taught each and every
day through the words of our Reflections...Paul
I am powerless over my emotions,but in the last few days it has really
hit me that I am not powerless overmy choices, that I have a choice andcan do something about it. In mypast I have left myself so guarded
that I have been unable to allow anyone close enough to make thechange that I need. Unfortunately it
has also left me forcing those that I
do love and care for, away from me.
But finding EA has really made me
realize that I do not have to be a
product of my environment or mypast self. No matter how difficult I
may have been, or how far I havepushed those that I love away, I haveto remember that I can make thedifference and I can make thechange. I still wake up with doubtsand fears, but as I fight my way
through it each day, I know that I do
have the ability to change myself andmy entire outlook on certain situations. And, it does feel good...Kasey

Ea tools applied: Spirituality
Where I find spirituality
In my EA beginnings, the something spiritual was my EA book. I devoured it. I read it from front to back many times.
But then, I needed more. What else was there? For those with well defined religious beliefs, material pertaining totheir religion is spiritual. I am not one of those. I had to look elsewhere.
So, I re-defined spiritual for myself. It became something uplifting, something that healed or soothed my soul. Andthat set me free. Poetry can be uplifting. (Wouldn't recommend Edgar Allen Poe here). Much of the fiction I read has
passages that are uplifting. My own books are often dog-eared and underlined with things that are meaningful to me.
(Sometimes with library books, I have to restrain myself from making notes in the margins.) I am a dog
lover, dog owner, dog trainer. They are a huge part of my life, bringing me their unconditional love. Soanything pertaining to dogs is spiritually uplifting for me.
The newspaper, mostly filled with dismal junk, also includes personal interest stories about people whoovercome tremendous obstacles and go on to live full lives. I find that spiritual. If I read a cookbook
planning to prepare food for someone I love, I believe that is spiritual. When I read instructions on a packet of flower
seeds, which I will use to make my corner of the world more beautiful, that becomes a spiritual experience for me.
But...what about people who are poor readers, or even unable to read at all? How do they fulfill this feeding of theirspirit? Spending time in nature? Gazing at the miracle of a newborn baby? Enjoying a glorious sunset? I would saythat whatever feeds your inner self, your soul, is a spiritual experience, akin to reading something spiritual.
As I continue to live EA principals, I find their meanings expanding to include all of my life. I think that's what Step 12 issaying to me..."Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message and practice these principals in all our affairs." ...Abbey

Spirituality is all around us
I think we limit our scope of what can be spiritual, when in actuality you can find spirituality most anywhere. I often find it in my gardens, on the golf course , and in all of nature. My love for my family is spiritual, thesmiles, hugs and heartfelt shares are spiritual in nature. I love my dog, he lights up my life. When he is happy everyone
knows it, he lifts our spirits. Spirituality is all around us, we just need to open our hearts and our minds and it isthere...Anonymous

My Key to Emotional HealthI have been in EA for 20 plus years. It was the key to my emotional health. I had/have doctors and meds all throughout.
But in those situations I am the patient (ie the crazy one) and they are the "normal" ones. I walked around feeling likethe only crazy person on earth. Until I found the EA rooms. In these rooms we all take off our social masks of normality
and share what's really going on. I saw that everyone struggles with their emotions in one way or another. Highly sensitive people struggle more. I like highly sensitive people better than the so called "normal" ones anyway.
So every week and every day on EAnon (EA’s online share). I can see that we are all in this together. And I
can hopefully help someone else who is new to EA or just struggling-as we all do from time to time. I am
not crazy or defective. And I don't need hospitals. I just need to cope one day at a time. I haven't had a hospitalization in over 20 years and I don't intend to have another one. Lately I have been happy-this is a wordthat is quite foreign to me. But it is there -for the first time in many many years. I am so grateful.
Last night I had the opportunity to go to an amazing spiritual event at Yankee Stadium (Joel Osteen). We do not talkreligion in EA but I am Jewish and this was actually a Christian event. I am open to new ideas. I look for spirituality inevery corner. I consider EA my weekly spiritual service-I really do. EA gave me a HP. I do believe in God-I just don't
need religion to have that God. I love learning about all religions. This crowd at Yankee Stadium was fullof good hearted people all seeking the same thing -peace and joy and love for themselves and theworld. It was so good to see how many of us feel this way. When reading the news etc, one thinks thateveryone is selfish and bitter and violent. Not so!...Claire2016—2017 ea board of trustees
Gus S, AZ
602-319-3890
schloessergus@gmail.com
President (from Region 2)

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

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

Tyrrel D, GA
706-782-2328
ATdear08@gmail.com(from Region 4)
France B, QC, Canada
819-319-9912
France.boulerice@gmail.com(from Region 6)
John W, MN
612-760-0313
Johnwerner52@gmail.com(from Region 1)
Harold F, NH
603-425-2141
hthnhhugs@yahoo.com(from Region 5/GST)Regions of Emotions Anonymous
Region 1: Northwest
CAN: AB, BC, MB, ON, SK
USA: AK, ID, MN, MT, ND, OR, SD, WA, WI, WY

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 CanadaSlogan 12: I have a choice
Thoughts from your trustees
This slogan may seem to be a no brainer, but I am always left with a dilemma. I have tochoose. Before getting into the EA Program and dealing with low self-esteem I generally left the decision making to another person, saying things like “it doesn’t matter to me” or “you decide” and getting upset with thedecision made. Usually there are several options available, each of them being of equal value or importance. And you
have to choose!...Gus S The slogan, “I have a choice” in responding to anything that comes my way is very empowering. When I play the role of a passive, suffering, sad human being, my Higher Power would want me to recall that healing
and comfort and even joy can come to me if I take action. When I just mope and feel sorry for myself, I try to rememberthat I have a choice. The great thing is that I have a choice to no longer be the "life of the party." I can move on, in theright time, by changing my thinking so that I change my emotions because - wait for it- I have a choice!!...Scott J I havea choice means that I have the power to decide and make important decisions in my life. About 2 years ago, I decided toact and be positive in every aspect of my life. Also, I decided to get rid of all the irritants in my life, things that will dragmy positive energy. So, I have a choice to decide what kind of life I want for myself...France B
This slogan reminds meto look for options I might not see right away, or paths I might have dismissed. I don't always get the choices I want, but
my higher power often opens unexpected doors for me. I have to accept the reality of the choices I have and don'thave, instead of holding onto them and rejecting anything else. Maybe later I will be grateful for the unexpected gifts ofdifferent options...Val AYes, I have a choice; and you have a choice. Does that bring us together; or does it divide? Personally, my emotions can be a divisor, or I can choose to find a way to reconcile all the various emotions thatcan cut me apart— with the resulting confusion and fear that I have experienced many times. Sometimes in an EA
Meeting I try to remember not to criticize or argue, nor advise but to accept (welcome) others, and my self, as we really
are...Tyrell D

EA Events & Activities
For a listing of current events go tohttp://emotionsanonymous.org/getinvolved/2016-events-activities/
To post an event contact Bobbie Jo at
info@emotionsanonymous.org

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

Email Addresses:
director@emotionsanonymous.org
editor@emotionsanonymous.org
info@emotionsanonymous.org
groupdata@emotionsanonymous.org
orders@emotionsanonymous.org
shipping@emotionsanonymous.org

It’s the Holiday Season,
the time of the year when we rejoice in
our New Way of Life

Have you thought about sharing the gift of EA withothers? Our web site at www.emotionsanonymous.org
offers our complete collection of books, literature andmiscellaneous items.
Should you have questions please contact
the Service Center at 651-647-9712 or
info@emotionsanonymous.org
We also want to wish you all the best of Holidays andthank you for your support throughout the year.
The Staff of EA International