WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I won this book in a raffle basket many moons ago but I was afraid to read it because it was about grief & loss. I thought if I did, something bad would happen – which makes about as much sense as not making a last will & testament means I…
Tag: Sharing
CAL – Area Literature Coordinators (Item # G-6)
WHAT I LEARNED: Much like any of the guidelines that are job descriptions, I always learn that the position entails a lot more than I thought! Area Literature Coordinators interact not just with World Service Office & LDC’s (Literature Distribution Centers – like yours truly!), but also Website Coordinators, Information Service or Intergroups, Newsletter Editors,…
CAL – The Dilemma of the Alcoholic Marriage (Item # B-4)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. In 1965, this book originally had the proposed title “Alcoholism & Sex.” Two years later it came out with the current title to appeal to a wider audience. It hasn’t been revised for 42 years & it shows. With terms like: temptress, fellows, bulwark (I had to look this word up!),…
CAL – Homeward Bound (Item # P-8)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This 48-page booklet was around only from 1993 to 2005 & was designed for newcomers that were introduced to Al-Anon through various treatment facilities. Member sharings answer 10 frequently asked “What now?” questions about sobriety & making the transition to a 12-Step recovery program. I’m glad Alateen sharings are also included…
CAL – Alateen’s 4th Step Inventory (Item # P-64)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This 4th Step workbook focuses on 6 key areas: Attitudes, Self-Esteem, Love, Responsibility, Feelings, & Relationships. Each section has 4-5 sharings, 2 cartoons, 8 questions, & best of all, pages to draw! I can’t remember the last time I drew what my feelings looked like… (I probably used a lot of…
CAL – Moving On! From Alateen to Al-Anon (Item # P-59)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This is my lowest selling pamphlet. Since December 2011, I’ve only sold a grand total of 1 — & that was at a Gratitude Dinner. So here again I thought “Why do I need to read this? …No one else is!” And once again, now after having read it, I feel…
CAL – The Al-Anon Focus (Item # P-45)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Originally, in 1978, this pamphlet was called “Double Winners” but was given its current title 4 years later (with the added subtitle: “For Al-Anon/Alateen Members Who Are Also Recovering Alcoholics”) to avoid giving the impression that one member was more important than another. Although I sometimes still hear the term “Double…
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 – Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism (Item # B-1)
To me, there’s something intriguing about reading discontinued books. I feel like I’m uncovering something they no longer want me to know. This is how I felt reading Al-Anon’s second book, “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism” (item # B-1) that I got from our District Archives chairperson. 1. The first edition originally came out in 1965 at…
CAL – Three Views of Al-Anon (Item # P-15)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Ever since this pamphlet first came out in 1970, its original subtitle was: “from the Other Side of the Family” but around 2010, it was updated to be: “Alcoholics Speak to the Family.” The image of this “white-circle” design pamphlet with this new subtitle is one of the rarest & hardest…
CAL – Having Had a Spiritual Awakening… (Item # B-25, eB-25)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This is Al-Anon’s first e-book (item # eB-25) that came out recently, but I don’t own an e-reader, so I had to check-out the discontinued hardcover book from our District’s Archivist. We have so few books with pictures & this one does – but they’re all in black & white. The e-reader…
CAL – Alateen Talk Newsletter (Item # N/A)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This is the eleventh & last item in the Alateen Newcomer Packet (item # K-18) & is a full issue of a newsletter – not an excerpt. The particular one in this packet is 8 pages total, has feedback on a writing workshop & an Alateen Conference, various sharings from members around…
CAL – Facts about Alateen (Item # P-41)
WHAT I LEARNED: This is the sixth item in the Professional Packet (item # K-30) & is very cut & dry info about Alateen – no extra frills or sharings in this pamphlet, just the facts ma’am! I did find it interesting that while the Alateen 12 Steps are exactly the same as Al-Anon’s, some of their…
CAL – Al-Anon is for Men (Item # P-1)
Last week I finished the Parents’ Newcomer Packet (item # K-24). This week I’m reading the Men’s Newcomer Packet (K-23). WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I expected this to be full of sharings from men &, as a non-man myself, I thought: “Here’s one pamphlet I know I don’t need to read because I won’t be able…
CAL – Al-Anon Family Groups Welcomes Adult Children of Alcoholics (Item # S-69)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. In the Adult Children of Alcoholics Newcomer Packet (item # K-21), this is the third pamphlet & it features 10 mini sharings interspersed with other Al-Anon info. 2. This is the first pamphlet I’ve seen that shows separate info for a 2nd headquarters – in Canada! (Which looks like it just had an…
CAL – Al-Anon Sharings from Adult Children (Item # P-47)
Last week I finished reading the entire general Al-Anon Newcomer Packet (item # K-10), so now I’m starting on the next one that fits me best: the Adult Children of Alcoholics Packet (K-21). WHAT I LEARNED: In this pamphlet, I’m glad to see that a couple of the sharings were from Alateen members, but the…
"CAL Chat" Blog ~My journey in Al-Anon~ 