Co-Dependents Anonymous
Welcome to Co-Dependents Anonymous, a fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships. The only requirement for membership is a desire for healthy and loving relationships. We gather together to support and share with each other in a journey of self-discovery — learning to love the self. Living the program allows each of us to become increasingly honest with ourselves about our personal histories and our own codependent behaviors.
We rely upon the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions for knowledge and wisdom. These are the principles of our program and guides to developing honest and fulfilling relationships with ourselves and others. In CoDA, we each learn to build a bridge to a Higher Power of our own understanding, and we allow others the same privilege.
What Is Codependency?
If you are new to CoDA you may be wondering “Am I codependent?”.
At CoDA, we offer no definition or diagnostic criterion for codependence. What we do offer is a list of patterns and characteristics as a tool to aid in self evaluation.
The collection of documents in the left menu are provided to assist you in your recovery. Following the Twelve Steps will help you realize the potential that is within you.
Keep on keeping on!
This renewal process is a gift of healing for us. By actively working the program of Co-Dependents Anonymous, we can each realize a new joy, acceptance and serenity in our lives. A way of knowing that this process is occurring in our lives is to review the Recovery Patterns of Codependency.
And you too can see the Twelve Promises come true in your life.
Once we see this process, we then take the Twelfth Step: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other codependents, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
On Prayer
When I pray for what I want, I’m often praying for God to give me a square peg to fit into a round hole.
When I pray for knowledge of God’s will for me and the power to carry it out, I have the possibility of discovering that the only puzzle to solve is why I’m still trying to solve something that wasn’t ever my puzzle to solve. Someone gave it to me and I took it. I can give it back.
What unsolvable puzzle am I trying to solve today instead of:
1) taking care of my body
2) learning to play an instrument
3) singing
4) noticing the miracles of nature
5) accepting myself as I am today without having to fix you for me to be okay
Life is a river. The water is never missing. I am never abandoned.
We’re all being carried, no one goes faster or further than the river takes them.
A flashy boat doesn’t fool anyone, especially the river!
As God intended, I am Precious & Free
Anonymous
February, 2010
Words of Wisdom 2010
The way I heard it: You are only as SICK as your SECRETS.
Submitted by
Bruce O.
May, 2010
————————
Doing service with codependents, tweaks my serenity.
Submitted by
Barbara
——————————–
The only way out is through.
Submitted by
Ava S.
——————————
I’d rather be loathed for who I am, then loved for who I am not.
Submitted by
Helgo S-M
——————————
A Stress Reliever…
Do the following when feeling stress…
Inhale, Exhale – Ahhh… Inhale, Exhale… Ahhh!
Submitted by
Jeri S.
———————————
Each day admit one unpleasant truth.
Submitted by
Kim K.
—————————–
Do one thing scary each day – Eleanor Roosevelt
Submitted by
Myralynn T.
—————————–
Where you are is where you’re going, unless you change direction.
Submitted by
Salle
—————————–
There is only internal serenity.
There is no external security.
Submitted by
Jenny B.
——————————————-
Codependency is:
When I expect you to figure out what I want and what I need or when I know what you want and what you need.
Interdependency is:
knowing what I want and need and asking you for it.
Submitted by
Kathy L.
———————————-
TEARS = Ice around my heart melting
Submitted by
Unknown
———————————-
N U T S = Not Using The Steps
Submitted by
Unknown
July, 2009
———————————-
Forgiveness isn’t forgetting; it’s letting go of the pain.
Submitted by
Unknown
———————————-
Where focus goes, energy flows. Focus on gratitude!
Submitted by
Unknown
———————————-
Got to feel to heal.
Submitted by
Unknown
———————————-
Everything happens for a reason. Just find the reason.
Submitted by
Unknown
———————————-
Codependent = A human doer instead of a human being.
Submitted by
Unknown
———————————-
Keeping It Simple…
Step 1 = I can’t
Step 2 = My God/Higher Power can
Step 3 = I think I will let him.
Submitted by
Unknown
———————————-
Seek first to understand, not to be understood
Submitted by
Unknown
———————————-
Acceptance does not mean I have to like it.
Submitted by
Unknown
July, 2009
———————————-
Blessed are those who go around in circles,
for they shall be known as wheels.
Submitted by
Unknown
———————————-
Progress is our most important problem.
Submitted by
Unknown
———————————-
Nothing is so great that it can’t be solved.
Submitted by
Unknown
A Personal Poem
My friend used to say
A body in motion
tends to stay in motion
A body standing still
tends to stay still
My body is still
It is so hard
to make it go
It has so little
motivation
No reason
in my mind
to go anywhere at all.
I want to stay
folded up like a flower
shutting out the world
I wish I could fade away
into nothingness
like a flame with no air
To just die out
into non-existence
If I could wrap myself up
in a cocoon
I would
Where I could heal
and not be disturbed
My mind and body
would grow
into something new
And when I am ready to emerge
I would unfold my wings
let them dry in the fresh air
and FLY
into the
world
Awake
Alive
And confident
A new me
free of the burdens of my past.
Erin K.
Submitted: May 2010
Guidance
When I meditated on the word GUIDANCE, I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word GUIDANCE. When I saw “G” I thought of God, followed by “U” and “I” dance! God, you and I dance. This statement is what guidance means to me. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead. Dance together with God, trusting Him to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.
Dawn D.
Form Submitted: May 05, 2010
I am Learning
I’m learning to stop being so hard on myself. I’m learning that pain is mandatory and suffering is optional. I’m learning to listen to and respect myself on a minute by minute basis. My day is filled with 10th step inventories. I’ve learned that there is one person who will always be there with me, like it or not. That person is me. I best take care of her in every way so that our journey together is filled with love.
Sharon
February 2010
Meeting Info2
• Meeting Starter Packet
• Meeting Starter Packet 2009 NEW!
• Fellowship Services Manual
• Fellowship Services Manual 2009 NEW!
• Find a Meeting
• Update or Submit a New Meeting On-Line
• Print and Mail Meeting Update Form (pdf)