September, 2020
Volume 1, Issue 5

Strength & Hope
A message in support of emotional well-being.

MTYC:AO . 17 — CMS. 26,C.

Sometimes hope is in short supply. Yet we can always count on the toolsof the program to provide us with the courage and hope we need. Manyare struggling to find hope in our world right now, so that’s why we’ve
entitled our 4th Annual EA Telephone Conference on Oct. 17, “Carrying
the Message: A Message of Hope.” If you’ve participated in past teleconferences, you know we have an agenda of topics related to the theme frommorning to afternoon. We encourage all members worldwide to call in or
participate online – you won’t be disappointed!

QMTI know I have a tendency toturn things over and takethem back. Something that's
helped me a lot is a God box,
where I can write my problems down and put them in abox, and shut the lid. When I
think about the problem
again, I think, “it's in thebox ... it's out of my hands.”
That has helped me morethan anything to let go andlet God. When I get out ofthe way, I find God's solutions are so much better than
I could have imagined.

YT

You’ll see this theme of hope and optimism previewed at our EA Annual
Membership Meeting on Sept. 26. We Board members, our executive director, and the small staff of EA International have drawn strength fromyou, our members, to support living the program one day at a time.

Scott J.— MN
507-276-0323
sdjakel@gmail.com
President

In the past year, we started our weekly Experience, Strength and Hopeemails, created a new Strength & Hope newsletter format, helped groups
move to virtual meetings, shifted our technology platform for The Loop
to something easier and better to use, and initiated our 2020 EA Zoom
Retreat series. We created an android app to complement the iphone app
in place, and involved members in reviewing our bylaws and creating acommunications plan. We enhanced our dedication to transparency and toboth speaking and listening to all our Fellowship members. We expanded
our Board to help us do even more good work. So despite the fact that thishas been a challenging year – there is good reason for hope. Difficult
times can also be fertile soil for new ideas and change.

John W.— MN
612-760-0313

One other thing to keep in mind as we approach the busy fall season: once
again, EA International ended our fiscal year (June 30) with a serious
deficit. The nonprofit “business side” of providing oversight and resources for more than 600 groups and tens of thousands of EA members
worldwide is complex and needs your support to continue. I encourage
you to consider regular contributions so your program can continue.
I’ll leave you one of my favorite EA Slogans, I Have a Choice. Slogans
are part of our playbook for living (and thriving) in EA. Today I invite
you to join me in making the choice to hope.

johnwerner52@gmail.com

Vice President
Colleen C.— MN
651-245-5461
coyne2003@hotmail.com
Secretary
Paul N.— NJ
929-399-6515
aibtikarfoundation@gmail.com
Treasurer
Derita P.— OH
216-624-3559
deritapippen@gmail.com
Steve B.— CA
909-438-4938
stevebell_28@yahoo.com
Kelsey W.— IL
618-334-6658
knlweez@gmail.com

U
SEPTEMBERS’ TOOLSFOR RECOVERYS

9

Made direct amends to suchpeople wherever possible,except when to do so would
injure them or others.
P

9

Our relationships with otherpeople improve.
JT

9

I will have a quiet time ofmeditation wherein I shallthink of my Higher Power,of myself, and of my neighbor. I shall relax and seek
truth.
S

9HC

9We utilize the program—wedo not analyze it. Understanding comes with experience. Each day we apply
some part of the program toour personal lives.

T- Gail R.
I always felt that emotionally I was a few notches offfrom "normal" people, and I
did what I could to hide myfeelings from others, andfrom myself. I had almost
come to accept my lack ofnormalcy in this area of mylife when I found EA when afriend sending me some
Loop shares. I wasn't in crisis at that time, but the acceptance and honesty reallyresonated with me.
I was pretty disconnectedfrom myself so much of mylife - I grew up in an alcoholic home, with an alcoholic mother, and emotions justweren't allowed. I don't really know how I survived thatT

This too shall pass.

9EA, as such, ought never beorganized; but we may create
service boards or committees
directly responsible to thosethey serve.

PLG

unbearable situation, exceptthat I knew that I would
eventually leave and neverreturn. Well, it didn't workthat way - I left, but I tookmyself with me. I was so codependent I wasn't able toreally stay away either.
I've gone to more than one
12-step program looking forrelief and acceptance andthey have all helped, butwhen it has come to mymental health, EA has madesuch a huge difference forme. I have found a lot ofthings to make sense, whereas before EA my life wasfull of confusion. So grateful for getting some acceptance and clarity.

U!

EAI’s “Loop” — our email discussion forum — is moving toa new platform! EA members across the world use it to postshares. Reflections for Today (RFT’s) from EA’s Today bookare posted daily. The “old” Loop will stay in place for theforeseeable future. What started a long time ago as a way for
those who don't have access to meetings to work the program
has become a tool anyone can use anytime. The old technology was clunky and, after much research and multiple appeals(and responses!) for member opinions about the new system,
we have created a new system. Look on the website under the“What We Offer” tab/Sign up for The Loop (or here). If you
haven’t used The Loop before, give it a try! If you have questions, please reach out for help from Claire atgroupdata@emotionsanonymous.org.
You can find the monthly Trustee Reflections on the website,www.emotionsanonymous.org.
This month we focus on Promise #9.
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EAI could not operate without donations and we deeply appreciate yoursupport! Recent gifts have been received from these groups:
Bend, OR Sat
Sacramento, CA
Burlington, IA
Parkside
Carlinville, IL
West St Paul,Rialto, CA Daily MNMidwest City, OK
Bend, OR Zoom

IG:

Ruth & Reno A, Fran, Glen R,Ann B, Betsy P and all theothers who made the retreats
happen, from Diana G.

AN

Each fall, your Trustees from acrossthe country gather during a multi-dayworkshop to address organizational
issues. This year, due to the pandemic
and the organization’s financial shortfall, the Trustees will meet virtually
on Sept. 25. Do you have suggestions
for your Trustees? Let us know! Theagenda is being set and may include:
royalty payment policies, communications, by-laws review committee
work, new literature plans, strategicplans, getting groups engaged in outreach, expanding service by the fellowship, and 50th anniversary plans.
Your Annual Membership Meeting
will be held virtually during the morning of Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. The
meeting time, agenda, and how to access the meeting will be posted on ourwebsite and emailed to the membership when finalized. Are there issues
you would like to see discussed?
Please email your thoughts no later
than September 10, 2020 todirector@emotionsanonymous.org.

OS— Scherrone D.

When situations are unbearable or uncomfortable, I pull thissaying out from my mind to use. This too shall pass allows meto know that this "bad" experience is fleeting and that I will
come out the other side intact.

ASL

E—Colleen C.
When I am in a fearful, anxious, overwhelmed or confused state – something that has been happening a lot
lately – all I hear is static. It is hard for me to hear myrational self speaking over the white noise. It’s like myemotions are screaming through a megaphone and my“wise mind” decision-making self is whispering. Thiscan lead me to make poorly thought out decisions or totake impulsive actions like overeating, spending too
much time or money online, or tv-bingeing my lifeaway.
I have to remember that I have the power to quiet thosescreaming emotions by turning them over to my HigherPower. I can also interrupt the cycle with deep breathing
or a walk outdoors, or I can give myself a time limit tofeel what I’m feeling and then move on. One thing thatworks well for me is doing for others, even in small
ways. A simple phone call or text can mean a lot intimes like this, and can pull me back to earth when I’m
too much in my own head.
Thanks to EA, today I know my actions can speak louder than my emotions.

P!

We encourage member reflections! Please submit yours tosubmissions@emotionsanonymous.org. Reflections should
be no more than 200 words. Please note which step/
promise/tradition etc. you are referencing.

OI*

EAI P.O. Box 4245 St. Paul MN 55104-0245
Office Hours: M-TH 10a.m.—3 p.m. CT
Phone: 651-647-9712
www.emotionsanonymous.org.
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