Today's Readings - For Today

"In the carriages of the past you can't go anywhere." Maxim Gorky I need not wallow in the pain of yesterday, nor shun it out of shame. The lesson of my past is part of me, and I use it for greater understanding of myself, greater empathy for those who still suffer and as a solid foundation for my recovery. The past is the sum total of experience that made possible what I have today. The OA program helps me to keep my past in perspective. As I practice each of the steps, the guilt, shame and self-pity engendered by defects and wrongdoings are dissipated. With my amends, I sweet it all away. I belong to the world today, and I will be part of its tomorrows. For today: I have no desire to live in the past; rather, I embrace it and feel joyous about the experiences that have brought me to Overeaters Anonymous.