WHAT I LEARNED: 1. In keeping with the same printing schedule as the first “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2007” that came out in September 2006, the subsequent annual edition, “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2008,” debuted in the fall of 2007. (From 2007 to 2019, the outreach magazine had only 2 print runs each year, so Al-Anon members could…
Tag: Acceptance
MTG – Ocoee – “Monday Miracles”
WHAT I LEARNED: …if no one knows us as we really are, we run the risk of making ourselves victims of our own self-hatred. If we can be loved by somebody who sees us as we are, we will then be able to accept ourselves. Others rarely think we’re as bad as we think we…
MTG – Orlando – “Courage 2 Be Me Alateen AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: The opposite of judgement is acceptance.
CAL – Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual 2014-2017 (Item # P-24/27)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Originally, I only read the “Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual” on an as-needed basis, but when my next podcast guest said that this was her favorite book that she wanted to talk about on my “CAL Chat” show, I had to dust off my manual & put on my scuba reading mask to…
CAL – Sexual Intimacy & the Alcoholic Relationship (Item # P-77)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Well surprise, surprise, this is not an instruction booklet on how to have sex with an alcoholic! However, it does reassure me that I’m not the only one who has had difficulty in this area. Intimacy, especially sexual intimacy, is a topic rarely brought up in Al-Anon meetings. This must have…
N. FL Spring Assembly 2016 – Day 3 of 3
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I thought alcoholism was being done to me! 2. After the shock & fear goes away, I’m usually grateful. 3. I’m going to keep coming back until I’m not uncomfortable. 4. Step 1 = To start, I must accept that I’m done.
CAL – Forum Favorites, Vol. 2 (Item # B-9B)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Since I’m reading the entire discontinued “Forum Favorites” series from most recent to oldest (see my previous entries for Volume 3 (item # B-9C) & Volume 4 (item # B-9D)), this Volume 2 (item # B-9B) came as a shock because it was immediately apparent that every story was in the…
MTG – Altamonte Springs – “Just For Today AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. As a child, I used to hear the prayer “Now I lay me down to sleep…“, but what if there was an opposite version that went like this?: “Now I to this new day awake, I pray the Lord my soul to make.” 2. In the past, it was crazy the amount of…
MTG – Altamonte Springs – “Seminole AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: Acceptance of others begins with accepting myself.
MTG – Orlando – “Easy Does It”
WHAT I LEARNED: When I have acceptance in my heart, I become more serene. When I have serenity in my soul, I become more accepting. And on & on the circle of acceptance & serenity goes… of having & becoming…
CAL – A Guide to Alateen Sponsorship – An Unforgettable Adventure (Item # P-86)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Here’s another instance of me sitting down to read a piece of literature & thinking “I won’t relate to anything in it” & then finding it so interesting! Topics are covered that I never even considered, such as: how to handle members with Attention Deficit Disorder, intrusive parents, reporting abuse, kids…
CAL – Area Forum Coordinators (Item # G-32)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This guideline is the first place I’ve seen that states in writing what The Forum magazine doesn’t accept: skits, prayers, fictional stories, or poetry (except Alateen poetry which is being accepted on a trial basis). This information is left off of “The Forum Writing Guideline” (item # F-1). 2. Question – Who…
CAL – Alateen Tells It Like It Is / Walk This Path of Hope (Item # AV-16 / AV-19)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. “Alateen Tells It Like It Is” (item # AV-16) came out in 1987 & according to past Conference Summaries, it’s a 16-minute video illustrated by a teenager that provides a glimpse into the lives of Alateen members. It deals with denial, anonymity, detachment, acceptance, & love. “Walk This Path of Hope”…
MTG – Casselberry – “Recovery Through the Steps AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: Although Tradition 10 has two negative words in it (“no” & “never”) & talks about what we shouldn’t do, the positive meaning behind it is about two main things we can do: focus on ourselves & carry the message to those that want it. To me, this Tradition is about acceptance. As a…
CAL – Alateen Talks Back on: Acceptance (Item # P-68)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. If you want to see any poetry in Al-Anon, Alateen is the only place you’ll find it published. Specifically, in a series of booklets called “Alateen Talks Back On…” that are compilations of prose, poetry, drawings, & sharings previously submitted to the Alateen Talk (no item #) newsletter. 2. Acceptance is many things,…
CAL – When I Got Busy, I Got Better (Item # P-78)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. What are the benefits of service? Let me count the ways… Or you can just let this booklet count ’em for you! It’s 60 pages filled with stories from members regarding Step 12 (the carrying the message Step). Beginning with addressing different types of fears, it eventually culminates with covering each of the 12 Traditions…
"CAL Chat" Blog ~My journey in Al-Anon~ 