DECEMBER EA CONNECTION: 2017Your monthly newsletter from ISC
To help support this publication donate at EA Connection

President, EA Board of Trustees

EA Recovery Tools

Here in the States, we’ve just celebrated our National Feastof Thanksgiving, ushering in the holiday season culminatingwith the celebration of the New Year—2018. But before we
get there, I’d like to suggest that we continue being gratefulfor the EA Program by considering ways we can express ourgratitude by financially gifting our EA Service Center in St.
Paul, MN, mindful that it takes more than a buck to keep theISC alive and being of service to us.

Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as
the result of these steps, we tried to carry thismessage and to practice these principles in all
our affairs.

Will you be celebrating a holiday this month? Kwanzaa?
Hanukkah? Christmas? Another or none? Hopefully you will
feel that childlike magic all around us. Celebrate it!!! So thatnone of us fakes our way through this holiday season, I’d liketo suggest that we give some careful thought and planningso as to keep us balanced and well, celebrating your holidayof choice, ever being grateful for the growth, peace and serenity we’ve experienced this past year.
The December holiday’s can be problematic for many of us.
Observe your holiday, recounting the real meaning of it; embrace that which you love and forget about the rest; avoid
wallowing in loneliness; reach out and be of service to others; make it a New holiday with new memories and perhaps
even new traditions; look for Love as it can be found everywhere; go to a movie; enjoy the beauty of Winter and all it
brings; work the program. Embrace your emotions and rejoice in the Promises you’ve experienced working our program. Celebrate your Holiday! and blessings for the NewYear 2018!...Gus S

Tradition 12: Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of our traditions, ever reminding us toplace principles before personalities.
Helpful Concept 12: Part of the beauty andwonder of the EA program is that at meetings
we can say anything and know 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.

Slogan 12: I have a choice

Of Importance to Groups
1. We’re hearing that some groups are being
asked for insurance at the location of their
meeting. Please know that the ISC does NOT
provide any sort of insurance coverage.
2. Are you organizing a local event? Please let
the ISC know so we can share your information on the Calendar! Send your notices toBobbie Jo
3. Has your group contact or meeting information changed? Email Bobbie Jo with updates. Correct information on the website
listing is important so newcomers can find ameeting or have someone to contact..

Memorials and Special Gifts will be acknowledge, to donate click here1

RECOVERY USING THE TOOLS OF EAStep 12: Having had aspiritual awakening as theresult of these steps, wetried to carry thismessage and to practicethese principles in all ouraffairs.
For me passing on the message toothers has been vital in not only
helping others but for me toremember where I came from andto not take any of what has been
given to me for granted. Step one is
as real to me today as it was the firsttime I worked it and Step 12 assures
me I need to keep coming back, andto continue to work the program.
Step 12 is my life long commitmentthat my graduation from Steps 1 - 11
will never happen and today I amokay with that.
Who wouldn’t want to share the giftof this program with others. It has
also helped me to remember I only
need to share my own experience Step 12 is not about me “fixing”
anyone else it is about being a Good
sharer of my own experience andallowing higher power to encourageothers in that experience so thatthey can have their own...Jessica
My name is Connie and I am
powerless over my emotions. I am
grateful for Step 12 of the EA
program. After doing the 12 steps
myself, I found I could sponsor
others and pass on the good things I
learned from the steps. As my EA
sponsees shared their step workwith me on each step, it helped me
to review my 12 steps, too. So it wasa win, win situation for the sponsee

learning the steps and for me toreview my steps and see what I
needed to improve on and seethings that were going okay, too.
Ways I have carried the EA message
were not just sponsoring, but theseways, too: Starting new EA meetings,
starting online EA meetings, sharing
with other EA members or others ingeneral about the EA program, andpracticing and living the EA steps in
my life as I may be the only exampleof EA that others see. Also,
participating in the EAnon emailgroup by sharing and responding toother EA members is part of step 12,
too. We are helping and supporting
one another by any EA function,group or meeting we attend.
Step 12 is a very important part of
EA and it continues to help me growthe more I practice it! Grateful for
the EA steps, all of them. ..Connie

Slogan 12: I have a choice
The slogan I have a choice is mosthelpful when I feel like I'm a victim
and things are out of my control. To
remind myself that 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 cometo me if I take action. Sometimes
when I just mope and feel sorry formyself, I try to remember that I havea choice to do this kind of pitypartying and there's nothing wrong
with feeling those feelings. The greatthing is that I have a choice to nolonger be “at that party," I can moveon by changing my thinking so that Ichange my emotions...Anonymous
2I am thankful that I am beginningto see I do have a choice. For me
those choices are getting out of bed,doing self care, going to work, eating
healthy, exercising, not engaging inbehaviors that cause me grief andchaos. I used to always think it just
had to be this way, I had no choice,it just was going to be that way. I
felt that about my illness, it was
something I had and I would not getbetter. I did not believe wellness
was a choice. I now make healthierchoices, which improved my thinking
and overall mental wellness. Thank
God! I could have chosen to stay in
bed every day and continue to spiral
downward but I sucked it up, got up,
started reading and learning andaccepting and praying and working
for what I wanted and slowly thesethings are coming to fruition….Julie
As I come to terms with theprogression of my illness, I sensethat I have a choice. I can either fightand wrestle or I can surrender andtrust. Fighting and wrestling with life
is a bit like banging my head against
a brick wall, and the last thing I needright now is more pain.
My Higher Power has given me thechoice of opening up my heart, inmy case literally, to His unfailinglove, compassion and mercy. Myhistory of making that choice hasn't
always been good, but thanks to theprogramme it's much better now
than five years ago.
I am grateful for the Loop and its
encouragement, for the friendships
we have at our church and the manykindnesses shown. I place myself at
God's mercy as I journey through theday...Ian

DISCOVERING THE TOOLS OF EA
November 24 Reflection for Today: AcceptanceAcceptance is hard to comprehend. I thought if I accepted something, that meant I liked itand I wanted it to stay. But this is not what acceptance is. Acceptance means being honest about what is happening inmy life, what I am thinking, and what I am feeling. When I can stop denying and rebelling against myself, I can relaxand let go of the control. When I stop trying to control, as the First Step suggests, I am open to the learning and healing which are waiting for me.

AcceptanceThis morning I read in our EA book the endorsement of a religious professional on page 31. His words appealed verymuch to me: “I had come home to a caring community where one could let down the walls of deception (self and other) and be honest about one’s own feelings - the feelings of depression and profound sadness that are part of the experience of every honest person. It is just a question of degree.”
Wow! … This feeling of belonging to a warm, accepting and understanding community I have come to experience especially on this loop last week. I shared about my relationship with my mother and got a wise reply from a member of
my mothers age. I shared about getting off medication and got an experienced share from another member and foundI could generate faith.
It indeed gave me the feeling of belonging. Belonging to a kind of family. A gathering of people wherein I do not haveto feel like a stranger because of who I am deep down. I experienced a kind of firm ground within my stomach, justthinking of you out there where I can turn to in this world. Whatever the physical distance may be. I am grateful for
that!
Wow! … This man calls feelings of depression and profound sadness - something that is just part of the human condition. This gives me a switch in my opinion on depression and sadness. I obviously consider them as not okay. They may
be there in some degree and in certain circumstances, but they should not be there. The switch is in the direction ofacceptance. Accepting them as being part of my daily experience of myself. I think they used to call this melancholy inearlier days. This vulnerable feeling in my stomach area: could I just consider it as melancholy? Part of the pallet of
my daily feelings and emotions? In other words: just normal? What will happen when I take the decision to accept
them as part of me? Will I fall apart? Or will my self-experience deepen? And maybe even be enriched? I do notknow...
Acknowledging them, accepting them as part of me, and taking them with me towards the world and, most important,
to my contact that I call God...Magda

Affirming Self
On my bathroom mirror: I accept myself just as I am with unconditional love. Some days I believe it more than others. There have been days where I said, "Yeah right." It's been there for 4 years and I now believe it more often thannot. Self love takes time...ChrisAcceptance through EA
I have only learned about acceptance through EA. Things I have accepted have turned out alright...really beyond alright....and this beautiful reflection shares how God gives gifts of serenity, courage, wisdom, and love is beautiful....He
really has done this for me when I have let Him. When I ask and let things go...He has given this though other people,
situations, my animals, etc...and now I am accepting these gifts more and more...Kelly
Editor: The reflection Kelly is referring to is on the following page.
3

2017 - 2018 EA BOARD OF TRUSTEESGus S, AZ 602-319-3890 schloesser us@gmail.com President (from Region 2)
Scott J, MN 507-276-0323 sdjakel@gmail.com Vice President/Treasurer (from Region 1/GST)John W, MN 612-760-0313 johnwerner52@gmail.com Secretary (from Region 1)
Jack H, IL 773-720-1827 disaster_man@msn.com (from Region 3)
Valerie C, NY 585-371-4347 valcea@gmx.com (from Region 5/GST)“The Concepts provide us with the basic structure of EA”
Concept 12: Part of the beauty and wonder of the EA program is that at meetings
we can say anything and know 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.
For me, Concept 12 is all about safety and respect. Gossip can severely damage
relationships, so we don't talk about what we've heard with others about others.
Zip your lips! When we form communities of trust and keep things "in the vault",
we create a place and a space to share openly—with vulnerability. This helps us
to grow in our wellness and in our relationships. The terms beauty and wonder—in describing this scenario—are very apt.

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...Scott J

USA: AZ, CA, CO, HI, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT

Gee, this Concept says that I can’t share ANYTHING about the EA meeting I
attend. Really? Nothing? But I share everything with my spouse/significant other/ etc you might be saying. It’s hard to put into practice, especially when a significant family friend shows up for the meeting, and not being able to share that
information. On the other hand, that is the beauty of, not only this Concept but
our entire EA program: ANONYMITY and that is precisely why
our program works! Leave it in the room when you exit thatdoor!!! ...Gus S

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

From Page 3—More on Acceptance: God’s Gift
REFLECTION FOR TODAY—TODAY BOOK, MAY 9
Since being in the program, I have often heard about acceptance. In the past I
have assumed acceptance meant resigning myself to the fact there were manythings I could not change or control: situations, people, and often even myself.
Lately the word acceptance has taken on new meaning. I have come to understand that acceptance also means taking the gifts my Higher Power offers. Thesegifts – serenity, courage, wisdom, and love – are freely given. My Higher Powerputs these gifts before me every minute of my life. I need only accept them.
Sometimes I am blind to them or refuse to believe they are really mine. I see
strings attached when, in reality, I am being offered the gift of freedom. However,
the gifts never stop being offered, even when I reject them. No matter what I do
or do not do, these gifts are never withdrawn. Acceptance means we can takethese gifts which have always been, and will always be, meant for us.
4

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