Opening
Welcome to the Thursday night meeting of Debtors and Spenders Anonymous. This is a step study group which primarily focuses on Tools 1 and 8. My name is ______________ and I am a compulsive spender and debtor. Our meeting will last from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Pacific Time, every Thursday.
Debtors Anonymous offers hope for people whose use of unsecured debt causes problems and suffering. We come to learn that compulsive debting and spending is a spiritual problem with a spiritual solution, and we find relief by working the D.A. recovery program based on the Twelve-Step principles. In D.A., our purpose is threefold: to stop incurring unsecured debt, to share our experience with the newcomer, and to reach out to other debtors.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop incurring unsecured debt. Even if members are not in debt, they are welcome in D.A.
Our Fellowship is supported solely through contributions made by members; there are no dues or fees. Debtors Anonymous is not affiliated with any financial, legal, political, or religious entities, and we avoid controversy by not discussing outside issues. By sharing our experience, strength, and hope, and by carrying the message to those who still suffer, we find joy, clarity, and serenity as we recover together. What we have in common is our need to work toward serenity in our relationship with money. Our experience is that we cannot do this alone.
We offer a special welcome if you are new to this program. It takes courage to come here and we know what it’s like to take that first step to recovery.
Please respect the anonymity of the members of this group. Who you see here and what you hear here must be held in confidence. Only then are we free to share openly what is in our hearts and minds.
Inclusivity
Whatever your story, you are welcome in Debtors Anonymous. In D.A., we celebrate the rich, diverse experiences of people of all identities. We embrace people from all walks of life and backgrounds. Together, we create accessible and welcoming spaces for anyone with the desire to stop incurring debt, so that we may all recover one day at a time.
Serenity Prayer
We’ll have a moment of silence and then those who wish may join me in the serenity prayer:
Higher Power,
grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference
Meeting Introductions
Now it is time for introductions, please introduce yourself by first name only. If you are new to Debtors Anonymous or to this meeting please say so, and we will welcome you. Please come off mute to introduce yourselves.
My name is _______________ and I am a debtor and compulsive spender.
12-Steps Reading
May I have a volunteer read the 12 steps?
Traditions Reading
May I have someone read the tradition of the month? This is the _____ month.
Using the tools our weekly format is as follows:
- Introductions, which we have just completed.
- We will then do 10 minutes of Reading.
- After reading, we will then do 2 minutes of Meditation
- This will be followed by 10 minutes of Journaling time
- We will then have a time of Sharing for about 20 minutes
- Then we will Close.
Reading (10 minutes)
We will now read as a group. We start the month by reading from the Debtors Anonymous 12 x 12 x12 using our group’s e-literature that corresponds with the month. We study step one in January, step two in February, and so on. Once we have finished the step reading from the month, we will read selections from “A Currency of Hope” or other readings.
Secretary Note:
-https://read.amazon.com/kindle-library
-Log-in: daforspenders@gmail.com
-Password: 1Day@ATime
You may read as much or as little as you would like and then pass. I will start us off…
Secretary Note:
Please read a couple of paragraphs for the current week’s reading and then pass. It is good to allow time for others to contribute. If a selection finishes before time is up, you may move on to the Study Guide for the month’s step or select a pamphlet that is topical for the month’s step.
Meditation (2 minutes)
We will now meditate for 2 minutes. I will keep time and bring us back once this time has passed. Please…
Sit or lie comfortably.
Close your eyes…
Make no effort to control the breath; simply breathe naturally.
Focus your attention on the breath and on how the body moves with each inhalation and exhalation.
Breath in ______ ; Breath out ________
We’ll be back in two minutes.
Journaling and Step Writing (Tools 1 & 8) (10 minutes or end at 7:05 pm, whichever is sooner)
We will now use Tools 1 & 8 by spending 10 minutes journaling on what we read tonight, one or more of the on-screen questions, or anything else from your recovery. Please feel free to write, craft, dance, make music, or do whatever your Higher Power guides you to do. While the onscreen share will display the literature for the corresponding month, please feel welcome to work on whichever step you are on.
Secretary Note:
Please share the study questions for the from appropriate step in the DA 12-Steps Study Guide (kindle) or the 12-step recovery questions.
I will keep time and give a one minute warning. We’ll be back in 10 minutes.
Secretary note:
Keep time. Give a 1 minute warning
Sharing (Start Sharing at 7:05 pm):
We will now move to sharing. To the best of our ability, we share our own experience, strength, and hope. We keep the focus on ourselves. We strive to address the behaviors, feelings, and thoughts that brought us to Debtors or Spenders Anonymous. The essence of your share should be directed towards Debtor's or Spender's anonymous and your own recovery. Also, when sharing be mindful of the temptation of others and avoid mentioning any “good deals” you received, sales you shopped, or specific items you’ve purchased. In this program, we are trying to avoid spending on items that are not a part of our spending plans.
You are welcome to share about the reading, what you have journaled about, what step you are on, or anything else about your D.A. recovery.
Each person can share for 3 minutes. May I have a volunteer to be timekeeper? (pause for volunteer) Please give a verbal one-minute warning.
When we share it is done with no cross-talk. D.A. defines cross-talk as interrupting or giving advice to another person during their share. It is also defined as referring to another person’s share in your share. If you have a direct comment or advice for another person, please speak to that person after the meeting.
Trusted servant notes: Run share time until 7:25, stop for closing.
Closing
The opinions expressed here tonight are those of the person who gives them. Take what you like and leave the rest. Let there be no gossip or criticism among us, but let the love, understanding, and peace of the program grow in us, one day at a time.
May I have someone read the 12 promises of Debtor’s Anonymous or Spender’s Anonymous.
Making commitments to this group can help our recovery, we will go around the Zoom room and make one commitment for the week. Please avoid saying your name for time.
7th Tradition and Announcements
A link will now be posted on how to contribute to 7th Tradition. (post link in chat)
Are there any D.A.-related announcements? Please be brief.
[Announce our main meeting on Sundays at 6 p.m. Pacific. Remember that it is on this same Zoom link.]
A final note, the D.A. program is anonymous. However, we do know that contact with others in our group is vital to our recovery. If you would like to share phone numbers or email addresses with the group or be added to the WhatsApp group chat, you can do so by leaving them in the chat window. Inappropriate conduct toward other members in or out of the meetings within the Fellowship of Debtors Anonymous is not acceptable.
Closing Prayer
Thank you for allowing me to be your trusted servant for this meeting. After a moment of silence, we will close with a prayer to ask Higher Power to guide our spending.
Higher Power,
Help me spend wisely and to buy fairly
Remembering that money and the things of this world are a trust from you
To be used as you would have me use them.
And help me also remember that the best things in life are not things
Thy will not mine, be done.