CAL Chat

What is failure really about? How can I be ok with not being in control? What can help with delegating? In part 1 of 4 of Episode 5, Theresa focuses on chapters 1 and 9 from one of her favorite books "Discovering Choices" (B-30) and shares how, after coming in the Al-Anon program, reading the literature can start the recovery process. We also talk about the benefits of belonging to a CAL study group, setting different types of boundaries, how we use our nose and knees in recovery, and detaching without using a hatchet!

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM THERESA:

• "...I can love the alcoholic without loving the alcoholism."

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

• "Discovering Choices" – Episode 7: part 1 of 5

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

• Visit my CAL Chat blog - www.calchatblog.com

• YouTube - www.youtube.com/​@CALChatPodcast

• Instagram - www.instagram.com/​CALChatFan1

• Threads - www.threads.net/​@CALChatFan1

• Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/​CALChatFan

• Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/​CALChatFan.bsky.social

• CAL Chat website - www.calchatpodcast.com

The conversation with Jan continues in part 2 of 2 (of Episode 4) with her favorite piece of outreach literature, the leaflet/questionnaire: "Did You Grow Up With A Problem Drinker?" (S-25). This can be an eye-opening piece for people that realize they experienced the effects of alcoholism in their family, rather than just in their current relationship. We discuss ways it can be used for outreach, workshops, and as a barometer for our recovery progress. Find out what is like peanut butter and chocolate, and what we'd like to see on a bumper sticker!

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM JAN:

• "I've learned to be a human being and not a human doing!"

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

• "Did You Grow Up With A Problem Drinker?"
• "From Survival To Recovery" – Episode 11: part 1 of 4, Episode 11: part 3 of 4, Episode 11: part 4 of 4, & Episode 13: parts 1 - 4
• Al-Anon Newcomer Packet – Episode 1: part 2 of 2, Episode 10: part 3 of 4, & Episode 12: part 4 of 5
• Adult Children of Alcoholics Newcomer Packet – Episode 1: part 2 of 2

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

• Visit my CAL Chat blog - www.calchatblog.com

• YouTube - www.youtube.com/​@CALChatPodcast

• Instagram - www.instagram.com/​CALChatFan1

• Threads - www.threads.net/​@CALChatFan1

• Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/​CALChatFan

• Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/​CALChatFan.bsky.social

• CAL Chat website - www.calchatpodcast.com

How is alcoholism a disease of extremes? What does the term "Adult Child" mean? Am I trapped in a compulsive need? In Episode 4 (part 1 of 2), Jan talks about her favorite section, pages 14-15, from the book "From Survival to Recovery: Growing Up in an Alcoholic Home" (B-21). She shares which qualities of an Adult Child of an alcoholic that she identifies with, what a literature study group is like, and how this book can touch members of Alcoholics Anonymous too!

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM JAN:

• "...you've got to feel it, before you can heal it and that's the really good part of this book. It really helps you to dig in!"

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

• "From Survival To Recovery" – Episode 11: part 1 of 4, Episode 11: part 3 of 4, Episode 11: part 4 of 4, & Episode 13: parts 1 - 4
• "Al-Anon Sharings from Adult Children"
• 2016 CAL Catalog

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

• Visit my CAL Chat blog - www.calchatblog.com

• YouTube - www.youtube.com/​@CALChatPodcast

• Instagram - www.instagram.com/​CALChatFan1

• Threads - www.threads.net/​@CALChatFan1

• Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/​CALChatFan

• Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/​CALChatFan.bsky.social

• CAL Chat website - www.calchatpodcast.com

Outreach literature is the focus of this part 4 of 4 of Episode 3 where Cindy describes how she has creatively used the daily reader "Courage To Change" (B-16, B-17 for large print, eB-16 for the electronic version, and eA-16 for the audiobook version). We eventually move into talking about Alateen literature and how those pieces can flow into Al-Anon and vice-versa because it's all one program. Everything is available to be read by anybody! Lastly, listen to find out what page is possibly read the least in each daily reader!

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM CINDY:

• "...what do you do about the alcoholic? ...Tradition 5 tells us we encourage and understand. I think that might be hard for a newcomer... to understand and encourage?!? I'm trying just not to kill them!"

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

• "Courage to Change" – Episode 9: part 1 of 4 & Episode 9: part 2 of 4
• "Courage to Change" (audiobook) – Episode 9: part 2 of 4
• "Courage to Change" (electronic book) – Episode 9: part 2 of 4
• "Alateen-a day at a time" – Episode 6: part 4 of 4 & Episode 8: part 1 of 3
• "Living Today in Alateen" – Episode 8: part 2 of 3
• "Alateen's 4th Step Inventory" – Episode 6: part 4 of 4 & Episode 8: part 1 of 3
• "Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual 2014-2017" – Episode 1: part 1 of 2 & Episode 8: part 1 of 3

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

• Visit my CAL Chat blog - www.calchatblog.com

• YouTube - www.youtube.com/​@CALChatPodcast

• Instagram - www.instagram.com/​CALChatFan1

• Threads - www.threads.net/​@CALChatFan1

• Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/​CALChatFan

• Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/​CALChatFan.bsky.social

• CAL Chat website - www.calchatpodcast.com

Part 3 of 4 (of Episode 3) on the "Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual 2014-2017" (P-24/27) moves into discussion with Cindy about how childhood experiences can influence how we see perfection, the Warranties (especially nonresistance from page 224), and punitive actions. She also relates how Concepts 6 and 7 (from pages 193-194) have applied to her relationship with her children.

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM CINDY:

• "When we're making progress, that is enough."

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

• "Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual 2014-2017" – Episode 1: part 1 of 2 & Episode 8: part 1 of 3

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

• Visit my CAL Chat blog - www.calchatblog.com

• YouTube - www.youtube.com/​@CALChatPodcast

• Instagram - www.instagram.com/​CALChatFan1

• Threads - www.threads.net/​@CALChatFan1

• Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/​CALChatFan

• Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/​CALChatFan.bsky.social

• CAL Chat website - www.calchatpodcast.com

The conversation continues (in part 2 of 4 of Episode 3) with Cindy and her favorite book, the "Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual 2014-2017" (P-24/27). We explore pages 68-69 about moving forward, what progress realistically looks like, and how disagreements can actually be a good thing! Pages 229 and 235 are also highlighted from the Concepts Amendments section and how it reminded me of a ring being passed down in a family. Cindy shares about how this fellowship is an opportunity to belong to something bigger than ourselves and where newcomers and long timers can meet together on pages 26-27.

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM CINDY:

• "...old-timers who've been around a long time have something unique to give and the newer members also have something unique to give and there is a place for all of it – and I find it in the Service Manual."

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

• "Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual 2014-2017" – Episode 1: part 1 of 2 & Episode 8: part 1 of 3

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

• Visit my CAL Chat blog - www.calchatblog.com

• YouTube - www.youtube.com/​@CALChatPodcast

• Instagram - www.instagram.com/​CALChatFan1

• Threads - www.threads.net/​@CALChatFan1

• Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/​CALChatFan

• Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/​CALChatFan.bsky.social

• CAL Chat website - www.calchatpodcast.com

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? Episode 3 features a talk with Cindy about how the "Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual 2014-2017" (P-24/27) has improved her life. In this part 1 of 4, we discuss the spiritual principle of anonymity (from pages 91-94), how it is not a rule book, that it's always evolving (much like our own recovery), and what it has in common with a Sponsor.

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM CINDY:

• "Al-Anon's always waiting there for me. ...I feel that gentle recovery of other people helping guide me as I'm looking for answers and looking for guidance – it's there."

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

• "Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual 2014-2017" – Episode 1: part 1 of 2 & Episode 8: part 1 of 3

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

• Visit my CAL Chat blog - www.calchatblog.com

• YouTube - www.youtube.com/​@CALChatPodcast

• Instagram - www.instagram.com/​CALChatFan1

• Threads - www.threads.net/​@CALChatFan1

• Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/​CALChatFan

• Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/​CALChatFan.bsky.social

• CAL Chat website - www.calchatpodcast.com

Part 2 of 2 (of Episode 2) continues the conversation with BJ and her favorite piece of outreach literature, the "Detachment" (S-19) leaflet. We discuss detaching with love, being able to separate the disease from the alcoholic, and how Al-Anon is not a self-help program, but a we program!

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM BJ:

• "I actually have this [Detachment] piece tattooed on the back of my eyelids!"

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

• "Detachment"

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

• Visit my CAL Chat blog - www.calchatblog.com

• YouTube - www.youtube.com/​@CALChatPodcast

• Instagram - www.instagram.com/​CALChatFan1

• Threads - www.threads.net/​@CALChatFan1

• Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/​CALChatFan

• Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/​CALChatFan.bsky.social

• CAL Chat website - www.calchatpodcast.com

Why is Al-Anon not considered a self-help recovery program? How is detaching different than separating? Am I making my spirit sick? In part 1 of 2 (of Episode 2), BJ talks about her favorite reading, June 14th (pg 166), from the daily reader "One Day At A Time In Al-Anon" (B-6). She shares her definition of serenity and mentions other possible side effects from taking the medicine of recovery. A special *bonus material* hunt is involved with this particular page… Can you find it? Happy hunting! 🕵️‍♀️

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM BJ:

• "If Al-Anon literature were children, this would be my favorite child."

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

• "One Day At A Time" – Episode 9: part 2 of 4

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

• Visit my CAL Chat blog - www.calchatblog.com

• YouTube - www.youtube.com/​@CALChatPodcast

• Instagram - www.instagram.com/​CALChatFan1

• Threads - www.threads.net/​@CALChatFan1

• Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/​CALChatFan

• Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/​CALChatFan.bsky.social

• CAL Chat website - www.calchatpodcast.com

This is part 2 of 2 of Episode 1. The interview with Michael continues as he highlights his favorite parts from the Al-Anon Newcomer Packet (K-10) as outreach literature. He also shares his experience coming to his first Al-Anon meeting! We discuss the tendency to close ourselves off to literature that we think doesn't apply to us and in the "Last Words" section, find out what Michael has in his life now more than he's ever had!

QUOTABLE MOMENT FROM MICHAEL:

• "...I'm going through a whole renaissance in my life… that's really open and full of wonderful surprises. And even the challenges are ok because I've got a Higher Power that's in charge and I've got guidance galore!"

LITERATURE MENTIONED & RELATED EPISODES:

• Al-Anon Newcomer Packet – Episode 4: part 2 of 2, Episode 10: part 3 of 4, & Episode 12: part 4 of 5
• "Just For Today" (bookmark) – Episode 10: part 3 of 4, Episode 10: part 4 of 4, & Episode 12: part 4 of 5
• Men's Newcomer Packet
• "Al-Anon Is For Men"
• Parents' Newcomer Packet – Episode 5: part 4 of 4
• "Al-Anon Spoken Here"
• Adult Children of Alcoholics Newcomer Packet – Episode 4: part 2 of 2
• "Does She Drink Too Much?"

OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE & CELEBRATE AL-ANON / ALATEEN LITERATURE:

• Visit my CAL Chat blog - www.calchatblog.com

• YouTube - www.youtube.com/​@CALChatPodcast

• Instagram - www.instagram.com/​CALChatFan1

• Threads - www.threads.net/​@CALChatFan1

• Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/​CALChatFan

• Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/​CALChatFan.bsky.social

• CAL Chat website - www.calchatpodcast.com