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! EPISODE 1: 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…
Tag: Drinking
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)
WHAT I LEARNED: 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…
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 on…
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 – Many Voices, One Journey (Item # B-31)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Initially, I was dreading reading this book. I thought it was just going to be a boring history book with a litany of dates & facts that were as dry as sandpaper. Turns out, this has been one of the best well-written books I’ve come across so far!! It was designed…
CAL – What Do YOU Do about the Alcoholic’s Drinking? (Item # P-19)
WHAT I LEARNED: I’ve always misinterpreted the title of this pamphlet to be “What Can You Do…” & I thought it would be chock-full of helpful tips, but now that I’ve read through the whole thing I think the title could be re-named: “Crazy Things You Do to Control the Alcoholic.” It’s a list of 63 strategies & techniques that only…
CAL – If Your Parents Drink Too Much… (Item # P-22)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This is the fourth item in the Alateen Newcomer Packet (item # K-18) & is a cartoon booklet. Technically, it’s not categorized as an “Outreach” item, but I think it could be because it looks like the only thing in the entire packet (& our entire CAL catalog) that would appeal to…
CAL – Are You Troubled by Someone’s Drinking? (Item # S-17)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This is the fourth item in the Professional Packet (item # K-30) & is one of my top selling outreach items – now I can see why. This questionnaire is written very broadly so it can apply to anyone affected by alcoholism – including adult children of alcoholics & kids that…
CAL – Has Your Life Been Affected by Someone Else’s Drinking? (Item # S-20)
WHAT I LEARNED: This is the third item in the Professional Packet (item # K-30) & is a leaflet of 20 questions that I’m presuming the professional would give to a kid to see if Alateen is for them. …If only the counselor I was forced to see back in my high school days would have given…
CAL – Does She Drink Too Much? (Item # P-62)
This is the third pamphlet in the Men’s Newcomer Packet (item # K-23) & it’s the first one I’ve come across that has photos in it – which seems to be a rare thing in our CAL, but I digress… WHAT I LEARNED: 1. More importantly, I found out the answer to this pamphlet’s title is…
"CAL Chat" Blog ~My journey through Al-Anon~ 