WHAT I LEARNED: Happiness is like a butterfly. The more I chase it, the more it eludes me! 2. It never occurred to me that the word “help” begins & ends with the letters HP! 3. Bring my problems to my Sponsor. Bring solutions to my group.
Tag: Sponsor
N. FL Fall Assembly 2017 – Days 1 – 3
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. When I keep words like: should, shouldn’t, good, bad… out of my vocabulary, then I become more grateful. 2. I think that I think too much. 3. It’s important to know the difference between the God of my perception versus the God of my understanding. 4. If I don’t qualify my…
PODCAST – Courage To Be Me / Various Alateen Literature (Item # B-23)
EPISODE 8 of my “CAL Chat” podcast is now available to listen to! How can I keep things simple? If my growth is like a tree, then what are my roots? What Alateen book can I bring to an Al-Anon meeting? (To hear this episode, please visit the show’s website at: calchatpodcast.com – or you…
PODCAST – As We Understood / How Al-Anon Works / Alateen-a day at a time (Item #’s B-11 / B-22 / B-10)
EPISODE 6 of my “CAL Chat” podcast is now available to listen to! Can I fire my Higher Power? What is a “Meeting on Wheels?” What is not allowed in recovery literature when bringing it into jails? (To hear this episode, please visit the show’s website at: calchatpodcast.com – or you can subscribe to it…
PODCAST – Discovering Choices / Parents of Alcoholics (Item #’s B-30 / R-18)
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…
MTG – Ocoee – “Monday Miracles”
WHAT I LEARNED: Although I can’t find anything in the literature to prove she actually called herself one, I believe Lois W. was probably the very first Service Sponsor in Al-Anon.
PODCAST – Service Manual / Courage To Change (Item #’s P-24/27 / B-16)
EPISODE 3 of my “CAL Chat” podcast is now available to listen to! How can I give the gift of dignity to the alcoholic? What page is possibly read the least in each daily reader? How can my inner child voice be heard in a different way? Once again, I had such a great conversation…
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…
CAL – Alateen Safety Guidelines (Item # G-34)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. According to this Alateen guideline, any reporting of child abuse is done on a personal basis, not as an Alateen Sponsor or an AMIAS (an Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service). This is done with Tradition 10 in mind to keep the fellowship out of public controversy! 2. Even though I’m not a certified…
CAL – A Guide to Alateen Sponsorship – An Unforgettable Adventure (Item # P-86)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Here’s another instance of me sitting down to read a piece of literature & thinking “I won’t relate to anything in it” & then finding it so interesting! Topics are covered that I never even considered, such as: how to handle members with Attention Deficit Disorder, intrusive parents, reporting abuse, kids…
CAL – Outreach to Professionals (Item # G-29)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This guideline mentioned a phrase that was very curious to me: “sponsoring a professional.” I had never thought of it that way before, but I guess a professional that isn’t aware of the program would be similar to a newcomer & would need a “go-to” person for guidance that was committed…
CAL – Guidelines for Newsletter Editors (Item # G-21)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. For some reason I thought newsletters were only for Districts, but apparently they can also be for Areas & Al-Anon Information Services. 2. Reading this item made me miss our newsletter for District 6. We voted to discontinue it in place of our website, however according to this guideline, there’s a…
CAL – Alateen Talks Back on: Sponsoring an Alateen Group (Item # P-71)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Since it’s part of the “Alateen Talks Back On…” series, I thought this booklet was going to be Alateens talking about their group sponsors, but nope! …Other than a few drawings from kids here & there, it’s basically a piece by & for grown-up Al-Anon members sharing about Alateen service. I’m…
CAL – Alateen Talks Back on: Serenity (Item # P-69)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Ahhh, put on some soothing music & light a candle because today I read about Serenity (and yes, that’s with a capital “S”)! At the end of this booklet are ten questions for meeting topics on Serenity & the last one, “Is Serenity contagious?” really made me think. I know I’ve…
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…
CAL – Sponsorship, What It’s All About (Item # P-31)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This pamphlet isn’t just for members looking for Sponsors, but members looking to become Sponsors as well. It’s very comprehensive & touches on the principles of humility, readiness, acceptance, honesty, trust, service, responsibility, & love. My favorite section is the list of 16 items under: “What is the role of a Sponsor?”…
"CAL Chat" Blog ~My journey in Al-Anon~ 