Use of mnemonic acronyms in program

  

The image shows a mnemonic acronym that I learned from other fellows in the OA program. The text is:

• B— binge
• I —  I’m
• N — not
• G —good 
• E —enough 

The idea is that negative self talk is a character defect that can result in overeating. 

There are several problems with this image:

1. Mnemonic acronyms can’t be readily translated into other languages 
2. OA world service doesn’t want us to use acronyms in general.
3. Images don’t translate automatically on our website, so we prefer text.

Still, I find that this sort of acronym is very useful for people.

I have been in text meetings online, where they used acronyms, such as COE for compulsive overeater. That sort of acronym is very useful for saving time, but confusing for newcomers. In fact, that meeting had a whole glossary of acronyms that attenders were supposed to learn in order to attend the meeting. I can understand why world service felt that these acronyms were confusing for people, and therefore should be avoided.

Nevertheless, I find that mnemonic acronyms can be very useful. My first sponsor loved acronyms and slogans. Many slogans also have puns or wordplay in them that don’t translate well.

Even though world service doesn’t like acronyms, I feel that it would be nice to make some use of this type of mnemonic acronym. It might be fun to challenge the international community to see if they could come up with something similar in their own language.

Gloomy thoughts about Trump destroying our institutions

This started out as a brief dream as I was falling asleep

Closing down a building

It’s been regularly closed every day for years, at least on weekdays

The closing is no different this time

Except it won’t be opened again

The locks that are now freshly oiled, will  corrode and may not be able to be opened again

The shades over the windows will deteriorate in the sun

The roof, freshly patched, will develop holes

The papers out on the desks, now all current, will gradually become antiques

The people leaving today do not know for sure that this will happen

they hope they will return in a few days

but they do not know

A man touches a doorknob as he leaves

Thinking he will never touch it again

It’s a working doorknob now

But likely the next time someone comes through

it will be too old to use

or the door may have fallen off its hinges

The corridors, up until now filled with busy people, working

Will now be empty

There may be mice and spiders, at least for a while

There is still food in some of the desks

And in the  refrigerators on each floor

People don’t have time to get it out

The people hope they will be back in a few days to eat it

But they won’t  and the mice will eat what is left

A feral cat lurks in the shadows behind the building

He will get to eat some of the mice

He won’t be there long, though.  

He’s been raiding the garbage and there won’t be fresh garbage

The displaced people go back to homes that they can no longer afford to pay rent on

The homes will be abandoned too 

As the city turns into a ghost town

There is no future