Episode 5 of my “CAL Chat” podcast is now available to listen to! What is failure really about? How can I be ok with not being in control? What can help with delegating? (To hear this episode, please visit the show’s website at: calchatpodcast.com – or you can subscribe to it for free wherever you…
Tag: Help
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…
PODCAST – One Day At A Time / Detachment (Item #’s B-6 / S-19)
Episode 2 of my “CAL Chat” podcast is now available to listen to! Why is Al-Anon not considered a self-help recovery program? How is detaching different than separating? Am I making my spirit sick? It was such a good conversation, I didn’t want to edit anything out, so I had to break it into 2…
CAL – Forum Favorites, Vol. 3 (Item # B-9C)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. After I became the North Florida Area Literature Coordinator in 2015, I was “bequeathed” a lot of CAL & some were discontinued pieces. Whoo-hoo! So I’m slowly making my way through them & decided to start by reading the entire “Forum Favorites” series from most recent to oldest. (See my previous…
MTG – Celebration – “Celebrate Recovery AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Even though the grass may actually be greener on the other side, I can be content & happy with the grass on my side! It’s my lawn of serenity. 2. Detachment helps me put spiritual distance between me & those I love.
MTG – Orlando – “College Park 12 Step”
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. A few paradoxes of the Al-Anon program: A) Letting go takes a lot of work; B) Being powerless gives me power; C) Helping can harm. 2. There are 3 levels of detachment: middle-finger, neutral, & loving!
MTG – Orlando – “College Park 12 Step”
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. No amount of being right ever helped a relationship. 2. I qualified for this program as soon as I was conceived! 3. There were times when I wore a halo & carried a pitchfork. 4. You can’t have a tug-of-war if it’s just one person.
CAL – Worried About Someone’s Mental Health? (Item # P-80)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This pamphlet was 1 of 6 of an “Al-Anon Can Help” series that was introduced in 1995 as part of a big push for service in institutions. It was designed to invite family members & friends of alcoholics at, or in, institutions to try Al-Anon where they live. This pamphlet didn’t…
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 – Ordering Literature (Item # G-31)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. One might think that since I’m an LDC (Literature Distribution Center), that this would be my favorite Guideline of all, but that’s not the case. It focuses more on how to order literature directly through the World Service Office & only mentions in passing that ordering from your local LDC supports local services. (So…
CAL – Al-Anon’s 12 Steps & 12 Traditions – Revised (Item # B-8)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I would consider this book the “lite” version of “Paths to Recovery” (item # B-24), but it still packs a punch. Each section starts with a 2-4 page essay, followed by a “Thinking It Over” reflection, & lastly a personal story. The average is 6 total pages per each Step (but of…
CAL – Alateen Tells It Like It Is / Walk This Path of Hope (Item # AV-16 / AV-19)
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” (item # AV-19)…
CAL – Al-Anon Speaks For Itself (Item # AV-10)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. In 1986, Al-Anon’s first outreach film “Al-Anon Speaks For Itself” (item # AV-10) helped carry the message to teachers, the clergy, the media, social workers, counselors, & other professionals. The 15-minute program featured stories from members from all walks of life & was broken into 5 sections: 1) The Way It…
CAL – A Meeting on Wheels (Item # G-22)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Apparently a meeting on wheels has nothing to do with food or meals on wheels. Ha ha! 😜 It’s basically 3-4 people holding a “mock” meeting to show non-members & professionals (doctors, social workers, counselors, etc…) what kind of help is available in the rooms. Rather than just leaving outreach pamphlets…
CAL – Alateen Talks Back on: Detachment (Item # P-73)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This booklet came out in 1995 is the 6th (& last) one in the “Alateen Talks Back On…” series. Originally planned as a 9-part series, the 6th piece was supposed to be about the 12 Steps & Traditions but the material eventually ended up in the larger book, “Courage to Be Me” (item…
CAL – Area Conventions (Item # G-20)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. As current Co-Chair for the 2015 North Florida Area Convention, it was helpful to re-read this guideline because it reminds me that, just like in the program, many have come before me & many will come after me & it will all be ok. 2. My favorite line is: “Understand that…
"CAL Chat" Blog ~My journey in Al-Anon~ 