With Gratitude for Those Who Protect Our Message
Copyright? Trademark? Terms like these may not seem to relate to the primary purpose of our Al-Anon program. Yet oftentimes when the World Service Office (WSO) and members talk to each other and reason things out regarding unintentional
Improving Access to CAL for Members with Visual Impairments
Access to Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature (CAL) helps ensure that members can benefit from the message of hope and recovery, regardless of visual ability. Many members turn to CAL for experience, strength, and hope between meetings. As part
All of Us Keep the Door Open for Alateen
When I arrived at the doors of Al-Anon Family Groups, I was in my early 20s, just barely above the cutoff age for Alateen. I was raising a toddler and an infant with an alcoholic partner. I have
Gratitude as Action
Growing up, gift-giving occasions could be emotionally complex and intense. There were unspoken expectations of how to prove your love: the gift had to be the right type and cost a certain amount. It had to be delivered
How I Finally Began to Understand Serenity
Struggling with the need for clarity when dealing with abstract concepts, I have always wanted to know what something is. After 15 years in Al-Anon, I had no idea what serenity was. How could I tell I had
The Serenity I Saw in You
When I started going to meetings, I didn't know what made all of you so happy and content, but I wanted to feel that way. I kept coming back and, without even realizing it, I started feeling the
No longer Stuck in the Mud
Have you ever gotten your car stuck in the mud? The more you accelerate, the deeper the rut becomes. You’re not going to get out by spinning your wheels. Recently, someone in a meeting compared the neural pathways
When a Shipping Box Became a Lesson in Recovery
I heard about the concept of a “God Box” early in my Al-Anon program and thought it sounded ridiculous. Members explained that it was a place to put my fears, worries, and situations I kept obsessing over as
In Case of Misunderstanding
One day, as usual, my son didn’t call me back. I understood why. We had been estranged ever since I left his alcoholic father. While I know I didn’t cause, could not control or cure his father’s alcoholism,
Hello, Officer? My Spouse Is Driving Drunk
I still remember sharing at my local newcomers meeting less than six months into my recovery. My spouse was in the habit of drinking and driving, which both frightened and angered me. One night, I called the local
Share the Message, Protect the Source
As we gratefully practice Step Twelve and “carry this message to others” through our Conference Approved Literature (CAL), we are encouraged to remember that CAL is protected by copyright. Buying CAL supports Al‑Anon world services (Tradition Seven). Throughout
How to Host a Writing Workshop
Hosting or attending a writing workshop can feel intimidating. Many members may think, I’m not a writer, or My words aren’t as meaningful as someone else’s. Yet recovery has taught me that willingness matters more than perfection. A