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,…
Tag: Alcoholism
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…
MTG – Chuluota – “New Life AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: “Fine” stands for: Frustrated, Insecure, Neurotic, & Emotional. (Actually I learned this sometime ago but I couldn’t remember the entire acronym. Now that I’m writing it in this blog, I can refer back to it if I ever forget again & start telling people I’m “fine!”)
MTG – Winter Park – “Friday Shepherd of Serenity AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: I have full authority over my own self-worth. …How’s that for a power statement?!!
MTG – Deland – “Deland AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: Trust is the action part of faith.
MTG – Orlando – “TLC AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: I think there ought to be a second part to Step 6 that says: “…and we were entirely ready to embrace all of our character assets!”
MTG – Maitland – “Carrying the Message AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: What we defend against we make real. I have to be careful which windmills I tilt at!
CAL – Services in Correctional Facilities (Item # G-14)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Inmates sharing a Fifth Step with an Al-Anon member is not considered “privileged,” however it is “protected communication” if done with a person of the clergy. …It makes me think of all the privileges I take advantage of in the program. 2. Come to think of it, couldn’t the term “inmate” be relative? I…
CAL – Living With Sobriety (Item # P-49)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. The subtitle of this booklet is “Another Beginning” not, as I had hoped, “My Happy Ending!” At only 52 pages, it’s a quick read & covers topics such as: Accepting Changes, Courage, Resentments, Disappointments, Communication, & Happiness. (I especially like that the topics of Love & Sex are under the Communication…
MTG – Longwood – “Pathway To Life AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: How liberating it is to be in a very small group where I can share for 20 minutes straight about all the stuff I haven’t been able to say for quite a while! Whew, that felt good! 😮💨 😌
CAL – Suggested Programs for Meeting (Item # G-13)
WHAT I LEARNED: I’ll never be without a meeting topic again now that I’ve seen the second page of this guideline with 23 options to choose from! ━━━━━▼━━━━━ **UPDATE (5/5/17): This guideline was revised in 2013. The title has changed slightly because an “s” has been added to the word “Meeting” to make it plural. …
MTG – Maitland – “Saturday Serenity AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: Without humility, there is no progress.
CAL – From Survival to Recovery (Item # B-21)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. For the fellowship, “From Survival to Recovery: Growing Up in an Alcoholic Home” (item # B-21) marked a major turning point in fully welcoming adult children of alcoholics in the mid 90’s. At 300 pages, it’s probably only a few pounds, but it felt so much heavier than that because of all…
MTG – Orlando – “Easy Does It”
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Al-Anon is many things to many people. It reminds me of the poem, “The Blind Men & the Elephant” by John Godfrey Saxe – only without the disputing of opinions! 2. My favorite line from the book study tonight is from page 107 from “Opening Our Hearts, Transforming Our Losses” (item #…
CAL – Starting an Al-Anon Group (Item # G-12)
WHAT I LEARNED: According to this guideline every new group is sent 3 packets of literature from the World Service Office (WSO), however it’s spread out over one year – not given all at once upon startup like I thought. What pieces are they given? To find out, you could start your own group –…
CAL – Group Representative (Item # G-11)
WHAT I LEARNED: Back in the day when I was a GR (Group Representative), I was given this guideline as a hardcopy but I must have only read the front side. Now that I’m reading it electronically, I finally see the second page with the Sample Agenda for a Group Business Meeting & the GR…
"CAL Chat" Blog ~My journey in Al-Anon~ 