Wonder-full
November 2026
“But there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful."
-AABB, pg. 17
This month’s theme explores the wonder we experience through commitment to the ABA program. As the obsession lifted, we became more aware of life’s beauty and discovered a richer, fuller way of living grounded in the Program.
Without sobriety and active participation in our Fellowship, we might overlook the wonder around us. In the grip of an eating disorder, our minds and bodies can become disconnected from the reality of our lives, leaving us unaware of the wonder available to us.
Wonder-full can unfold throughout our lives, in solitude or amid the bustle. We may find it while playing with an animal, tending a garden, walking through a flower-filled park, sharing a simple meal, delighting in children’s exuberance, speaking with a wise elder, or watching the stars, sunrise, or sunset.
This month, we continue sharing meaningful moments and members’ takeaways from our gathering in the UK. The personal reflection also describes one member’s wonder-filled retreat experience.
The reading chosen for the retreat’s opening circle is bang on! It captures the power of our lives when we are full of wonder, and we hope it fills you with wonder too.
From the section on Belonging Generates Hope, ABA pg. 139
"There is enormous power in our Fellowship. None of us could have sobered up without it, without seeing walking, breathing miracles around us at meetings; without hearing their lurid stories from the past in their jubilant accounts of the present; without feeling the safety of our gatherings and sensing that we belong somewhere at last. Before reaching ABA, we all walked to strangers in a strange land, irretrievably lost, alienated from everyone and everything by the guilty secrets we harbored. Now, finally, we were home. We could relax and sink into the safe haven of our Fellowship, knowing that we were not alone anymore, that we needn't explain anything, that others understood us before we spoke, that we were accepted simply because we were the forlorn and fragmented creatures that we were.
Indeed, we all needed the support of this Fellowship in order to get sober. We needed to hear the message from others who had gone before us to dare to hope that we too could follow in their footsteps and recover as they had. We needed to listen to the encouragement when we were struggling, to learn that it was all right to fail and to start again. We needed to glean insight as we listened to them share experiences similar to our own. We needed to feel the surge of strength that washed over us as we experienced our sponsor's loving acceptance and heard her helpful suggestions. We needed to discover that together we could do what none of us could do alone- let go of our insane eating and exercise practices and begin life anew."
Personal Reflection: A Wonder-filled ABA Retreat London 2026
I found a definition for the word wonder that resonated with me. "Wonder means to feel curious about something or to feel a sense of surprise and admiration." This definition has been true for me throughout my recovery from my eating disorder. When I take this approach to my recovery rather than resistance to it, amazing things happen.
This is also what I experienced at the 2026 ABA Retreat in London. I started out by being curious about what it would be like to meet others face to face, be surrounded by others who understand, hearing the stories of people who have found a solution to their eating disorders, workshops, and, yes, meals. I also had all the old tapes running in my brain: what if they don't like me, I'm afraid to be seen in my current body, I still have daily struggles, what if I have an emotional meltdown etc. In the end the curiosity about being immersed in recovery won and I registered for the retreat. There was definitely some anxiety as we pulled up to the building the first day but that quickly disappeared as we were greeted and got the first hugs.
The weekend itself was full of surprise and admiration. The stories, the workshops, the meals, and the fun all added to my surprise of how similar we all are no matter where on the journey we are. My personal belief that freedom from this insidious disease is the goal was shown to be possible through the connection with others and a Higher Power, sprinkled with willingness and honesty. I realized that sobriety is possible to anyone that wants it and is willing to start the journey through the 12 Steps.
The admiration unfolded throughout the retreat. Incredible courage from everyone: the people who shared their stories, the people who took bites or finished meals that felt impossible, the people who shared so honestly about current struggles, the people who approached the ones who were hurting or struggling and walked through it with them, the people who let their guard down and accepted connection, the people who let their tears flow (both joy and pain), and the people who could let go and have fun together playing games, painting rocks, dancing, and laughing (what a beautiful sound).
I left the retreat wanting more and am absolutely planning on attending the next one.
The retreat gave me so much of what I needed at this point of my sobriety and I am full of gratitude as I write this. Mostly being with my fellows and experiencing it all gave me more hope - the belief that there is an authentic wonderful life ahead of me if I continue to show up, seek a Higher Power, and accept it all- the struggle, the calm, and the adventure.
Thank you all! With you I never have to be alone again!
-Denise
UK ABA International Retreat...More Wonder-fullness
Enjoy this continued compilation of retreatants’ experiences- through their shared art, notes and voices.
*All the art in this section was created at the retreat...
Rock on ABA!
"Outreach / Balance"  "PATIENCE- with myself and others."  | "Share it all - don't keep it to yourself."  "God is within me but God is not me - Bloody Hell!" | "Get on a meeting - don't retreat."  "SPACE- to digest / process."  "A realistic care plan." |
Support Plan Post-Retreat Notes
-Checking in with Sponsors
-Outreach with Fellows
-Can I give myself that care and be that gentle with myself as I could for a baby or young animal?
-Setting a date for my next meeting(s)
-Softness
-Gentleness
-Bringing your attention back to your breath and yourself
-Holding oneself, cradling face
-Journaling - whatever it is - not perfect - messy
-Picking up the f* pen and phone
-Eat! Choose life!
-Imperfection is ok!
The Steps in Short
Steps 1-3
Right relationship w/ God
Steps 4-7
Right relationship with myself
Steps 8-9
Right relationship with others
Steps 10-12
Right relationship with the cosmos
The Principles with Each Step
*This variation was discussed at the Retreat
Honesty
Hope
Faith
Courage
Integrity
Willingness
Humility
Brotherly Love
Justice
Perseverance
Spiritual Awareness
Service
"I could hear the murmurs of a loving Creator in the rustling of leaves and the chatter of bluejays; feel the tender embrace of my mother earth and the cool needle-packed forest floor and in the tall meadow grasses. When I lay on my back to watch the changing wonder of the world's ceiling; smell, God in the nearly unbearable sweetness of cool moss and jack pine and the west wind after rain; taste the Creator in the spice of spruce gum and the chilled magic of falling snow on my tongue; see the hand of the Master and the extravagance of northern lights and lavish scarlet sunsets and whipped cream clouds in azure skies."
-Joan, ABA pg. 12
Questions for Reflection...
-What does wonder mean to you?
-When was the last time I experienced a moment of wonder? What made that moment meaningful to me?
-How has my ability to notice beauty, joy, or awe changed throughout my recovery?
-What ordinary moments in my daily life might I be overlooking that could hold a little wonder?
-When I slow down and become present, what do I notice about the world around me that I might otherwise miss?
Wonderings from our members...
*found in our literature
-wonder of powerlessness "Looking back, I now wonder if this first real encounter with powerlessness pushed me to take control, to do whatever I could to avoid such pain in the future." -Emma ABA, pg. 217 | -wonder of surrender in other addictions "I still wonder why I could not surrender my eating practices at the same time as I surrender drugs and alcohol, but I guess that was just not to be my story." -Renata ABA, pg. 261 | -wonder if you have an ED or identify "Perhaps you are reading this book because you wonder whether you are anorexic or bulimic. We invite such a reader to approach what follows with an open mind...we hope you will identify with what you read, that you will find yourself in our stories." -ABA, pg. 23-24 |
-wonder in the fellowship “But there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful.”
AABB, pg. 17 | -wonder in finding relief from the disease/ED “It is a most wonderful blessing to be relieved of the terrible curse with which I was afflicted.”
AABB, pg. 180 | -wonder in being useful “Still more wonderful is the feeling that we do not have to be specially distinguished among our fellows in order to be useful and profoundly happy.”
AA12&12, pg. 124 |
Wonder-Full in Recovery:
Audio Book Stories
Did you know the ABA book is available as an audio book? This includes all stories of the second edition as well as the prefaces at the end of the book.
The literature team had help from members over the past few months to improve the quality of all recordings and we are happy to announce the finished product is available on Spotify!
We find it quite “Wonder-Ful” that two members recorded their own stories! Here is a link to Amy and Andy’s story, narrated by their very own voices.
There is also a link on the ABA website to the Audio Book under Resources.
Happy listening!
Amy’s Story
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0O9tlj7bmDmwCSmFSBAYTW
Andy’s Story
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1EuRYywze09tIihgnMP6VX
News From the GSR's- Wonder-full support!
Hello to our ABA fellowship,
At our recent GSR meeting (‘GSR’ = General Service Representatives, members sent from each ABA group to discuss ABA happenings across all the groups and news from ABA World Service Office) - we discussed how to increase 7th tradition contributions to ABA Central Office.
To that end, attached here is a QR graphic code - against which you can use your cell phone’s camera for direct connection to the ABA 7th Tradition contribution page.
This became a topic at GSR meetings in response to learning that the Central Office budget has been falling short – not enough inflow to keep up with expenses. Falling short of being self-supporting.
This QR code graphic can be used at your meeting, either printed on a card to be passed in your in-person ABA meeting, or, for zoom meetings, can be screen-shared during the announcements section of your meeting, and held there on the screen long enough to give members a chance to respond and connect to the ABA make-a-contribution webpage.
Workshop
This workshop will have long term members sharing their experience of the Iceberg Theory and how to melt it. All the SSC (Self-Support Committee) Workshops are fundraisers for ABA. When you register and make a contribution of your choice, we will send you a confirmation email with the details.
Upcoming Meetings
GSR Meeting
November 14th, 2026 @ 2:30pm EST
Zoom: 883-1435-6561
PW: surrender
*GSR Meetings take place monthly on the 2nd Saturday
Birthday Celebrations
Peter
18 years
October 14th
Shelby
7 years
November 27th
Sponsorship
Are you interested in being of service? We would love to have your information added to our corner!
This is the section where we highlight members who have shared that they are available to sponsor.
Molly
Idaho, USA (PST)
WhatsApp. or Signal
+1 208-699-3632
You name?
Contact us if
you'd like your
name here
Two Wonder-filled Submissions from our Fellowship
11 Things to Do
in the Fall:
1. Settle into a cozy chair with a hot beverage and a delicious novel
2. Go on a walk with a friend and observe the changes in nature
3. Make some beautiful cards to randomly tell folks you love them
3.Get into paper cutting
4. Dry slices of citrus to hang in your windows
5. If there are salmon, birds, or other migrating creatures in your area - go check them out!!
6. Call someone with less time than you or who might be struggling and ask how they're doing.
7. Volunteer at your local animal shelter
8. Text 5 people and tell them what you appreciate about them
9. Learn how to knit, crochet, embroider or mend!
10. Take a moment to pause and check in with your Higher Power. What's going on in your heart and body? Do you need help? Are you grateful? Are you worried? Do you need some input on something? Take a few moments to just exist.
11. Take some time to just sit and stare out the window and observe.
A Creative Comic
Your feedback would be Wonder-full !
We appreciate your questions, concerns, and ideas to help the newsletter best carry out our 5th and 7th traditions! Contact jessaatheart@gmail.com.
From page 145 of our ABA Book:
5th Tradition:
"Each group has but one primary purpose- to carry its message to the anorexic or bulimic who still suffers."
7th Tradition:
"Every ABA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions."
