I was visiting my parents one day and my sister was there.  As she left, she commented “everyone in the world should be in a 12-step program” (she’s in AA).

I thought “what kind of a 12-step program would I join?

So, I called my daughter (who’s in NA).  She said (immediately without taking a breath) “Emotions Anonymous”.   Okay, that kinda makes sense.  The next day I went to my first EA meeting.  And while it was very interesting, it wasn’t exactly for me.  During that meeting someone said to me in a chat “you belong in CoDA”.

I truly wish I knew who that was.  The next day I went to my first CoDA meeting and when the Traits and Characteristics were read, I thought “I’m home”.  That was a group in Nova Scotia, Canada that I ended up joining online and it became my home group and remains my home group to this day. I live in Ontario, Canada, over 1700 kilometers away.

When I was finally able to get to Nova Scotia to attend my first in person meeting, receive my 2-year medallion and meet my people, it was magic.  I look forward to going back and seeing them again.  Meeting them and getting hugs actually left me euphoric.  It was amazing.

I will be forever grateful to my sister and my daughter who pushed me in this direction.

Liz S.

October, 2024