Good evening. This is your regularly scheduled Wednesday night meeting of co-dependents anonymous, often referred to as CODA. My name is _______. I'm codependent and your chairperson for tonight’s meeting.

Will all who choose to, join me in a moment of silence to reflect on why we are here, followed by the serenity prayer.

Co-dependents Anonymous is 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 fulfilling 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 guide 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 understanding, and we allow others the same privilege.

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.

I’d like to ask that we introduce ourselves by the first name, so that we may get to know one another. If anyone is attending your first, second or third CoDA meeting, please let us know so we can welcome you.

( if there are newcomers read we are very happy to have you with us tonight. We invite you to participate as fully as you feel comfortable. Would anyone like to lead a newcomers meeting ? )

We have a volunteer to read the 12 promises.

We welcome you to co-dependents anonymous, a program of recovery from co-dependency where each of us may share our experience, strength and hope in our efforts to find freedom Where there has been bondage and peace where there has been turmoil in our relationships with others and ourselves.

Most of us have been searching for ways to overcome the dilemmas of the conflicts in our relationships and our childhoods. Many of us were raised in families where addictions Existed - some of us were not.

In either case, we have found in each of our lives that co-dependency is a most deeply rooted, compulsive behavior and that it is born out of our sometimes moderately, sometimes extremely dysfunctional family systems.

We have each experienced in our own ways the painful trauma of the emptiness of our childhood and relationships throughout our lives. We attempted to use others: our mates, our friends, And even our children as our sole source of identity, value, and well-being and as a way of trying to restore within us the emotional losses from our childhoods. Our histories may include Other powerful addictions, which at times we have used to cope with codependency. We have all learned to survive life, but in co-dependents anonymous, we are learning to live life.

We have a volunteer to read the 12 steps.

Through applying the 12 steps and principles of recovery found in co-dependents anonymous to our daily life and relationships, both present and past, we can experience a new Freedom from our self-defeating attitudes and behaviors. It is an individual growth process. Each of us is growing at our own pace and will continue to do so as we remain open to god’s Will for us on a daily basis. Our sharing is our way of identification and helps us to free the emotional bonds of our past and the compulsive control of our present.

No matter how traumatic your past or despairing your present may seem, there is hope for a new day in the program of co-dependents anonymous. No longer do you need to rely on others As a power greater than yourself. May you instead find here a new strength within to be that which god intended – precious and free.

We have a volunteer to read the 12 traditions.

The 7th tradition states, “every CoDa group shall be self-supporting, declining outside contributions.” Contributions go to pay the rent for this room, literature, and coffee. Surplus Money is split between Seattle intergroup and Codependents Anonymous, Inc. We ask that newcomers not feel obligated to contribute.

Are there any announcements for the good of CoDA?
(if it’s the last week of the month celebrate birthdays & give out coins)

Now a volunteer will read the crosstalk statement, then we will take a short break and start the meeting. Help yourself to coffee or tea anytime during the meeting. There is free literature about CoDa on the table. Have a good meeting!