WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This audiobook version of “Opening Our Hearts” (item # eA-29) has been a long time coming! I first read about it being worked on from pages 107-108 of the “2015 World Service Conference Summary” (item # P-46) & on Sept 12th, 2022 it officially came out & man was it worth the…
Tag: Drinking
CAL – One Day At A Time (Item # B-6) – NEW INTRO!
I was recently poking around the al-anon.org website today & found the brand new introduction created for the daily reader: “One Day At A Time In Al-Anon” (also known as: “ODAT”). For more about the interesting background on why this new intro was needed in the first place, check out the article “New Introduction for…
CAL – Al-Anon’s Best Sellers of 2021
A few weeks ago I recently received my hardcopy of the new “2022 World Service Conference Summary” (item # P-46). Pasted below are images from pages 80-81 that show some stats for 2021’s best selling Al-Anon books, booklets, and the “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2021” (item # N/A) outreach magazine. It’s surprising that the book “Intimacy…
📣 Podcast Announcement: DEEP DIVE SHOW 🤿
I am happy to announce a brand new spin-off podcast show called “CAL Chat–DEEP DIVE” which will focus on a single piece of Al-Anon/Alateen literature over a series of episodes. The first episode features the inaugural “1961 World Service Conference Summary” (item # P-46) with a special guest, Evelyn, a current Area Delegate. Stay tuned…
CAL – Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2008 (Item # N/A)
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…
CAL – Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2007 (Item # N/A)
Usually around February, my order of the new annual public outreach magazine, “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism” arrives. However, it is now the middle of 2022, & I haven’t received an answer yet on whether there will even be a new issue for this year. I’m guessing that since the 2021 issue was the first time a…
PODCAST – How Al-Anon Works / Newcomer Packet (Item #’s B-32, B-22, eA-22, & eB-22 / K-10)
Way back on July 1st, 2016, I posted the very first episode of my “CAL Chat” podcast, but I never did an official blog post about it…. until now! How many different types of Newcomer Packets are available? Which one pamphlet does Michael find helpful to read before his second Al-Anon meeting? How can forgiveness…
PODCAST – From Survival To Recovery / How Al-Anon Works (Item #’s B-21 / B-32, B-22, & eA-22)
Episode 13 of my “CAL Chat” podcast is now available to listen to! How is a pandemic similar to recovery? What Al-Anon audiobooks are available? Can a book also be a picture frame? (To hear this episode, please visit the show’s website at: calchatpodcast.com – or you can subscribe to it for free wherever you…
CAL – How Al-Anon Works – Audiobook (Item # eA-22)
My next “CAL Chat” podcast guest mentioned that “How Al-Anon Works” (item # B-32) was her favorite piece to use for outreach purposes that she wanted to discuss on the new upcoming Episode #13. To prepare, I was going to re-read it but then I thought, “How could I do it differently this time?” So…
MTG – Ocoee – “Monday Miracles”
WHAT I LEARNED: “…I did not cause her sobriety any more than I caused her drinking…” – quote from the Thanksgiving story “Detaching Was Kind” from the book “From Survival To Recovery” (item # B-21), page 113.
CAL – Parents of Alcoholics (Item # R-18)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. The item # for this short 12-page piece begins with an “R” because this is a reprint of various articles from The Forum magazine. It came out in 2012 & reprints are typically only printed for a 2-year period. However, demand for this piece must be high because it’s now 4 years later…
PODCAST – From Survival To Recovery / Did You Grow Up With A Problem Drinker? (Item #’s B-21 / S-25)
Episode 4 of my “CAL Chat” podcast is now available to listen to! How is alcoholism a disease of extremes? What does the term “Adult Child” mean? Am I trapped in a compulsive need? (To hear this episode, please visit the show’s website at: calchatpodcast.com – or you can subscribe to it for free wherever…
WORKSHOP – Jacksonville – “Weeds to Seeds” Service Workshop
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I have to keep my tools spiritually sharp. 2. How Al-Anon grew: a coffee pot & a resentment.
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…
CAL – Al-Anon & Alateen’s Role in Family Recovery (Item # AV-31DVD)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I didn’t go to a meeting today, but playing this DVD made me feel like I was in one & I kinda think that’s the point. It’s an outreach DVD that brings the sensibility of a meeting to someone that hasn’t been to one. It has 3 sections: 1) Al-Anon, 2)…
CAL – Members Interested in Speaking (Item # G-1)
WHAT I LEARNED: When I was first asked to be a speaker in 2012, I ran to get this item & it wasn’t so much as a guideline as it was a goldmine! I even used it as a checklist to make sure I had certain points covered. Re-reading it now, I see the importance…
"CAL Chat" Blog ~My journey in Al-Anon~ 