Old-Timer Resource Center: Free Recovery Tools for Groups, Sponsors, and Treatment Centers
Welcome to the Old-Timer Resource Center. As a Hazelden author with over 56 years of continuous sobriety, my mission is to pass on the collective wisdom of the 'Old-Timers' who taught me how to stay clean and sober one day at a time. Whether you are searching for the perfect 12-Step reference book to add to your library, or you are a newcomer looking for answers, a sponsor seeking tools for your sponsees, or a meeting leader in need of a powerful starter, we have you covered. On this page, you'll find free recovery PDFs and 12-Step resources alongside links to the full books that inspired them. Explore our 'Old-Timer' insights on sponsorship, Big Book truths, and the daily practice of the 12 Steps. Scroll down and find the free tool(s) that work for you.
50+ years sober: Lessons Learned
The Resource (Free):
They say that we can learn from other people's mistakes or we can be the other people. This exercise is designed for 12 Step sponsors or for use in treatment groups to gain insight into program growth. Understanding recovery deepens over time—what you're sure about at one year will likely evolve at five, twenty, and fifty years sober. Humility, tolerance, and teachability are essential. Let's gain insight into growth and why we shouldn't judge our fellow travelers on the road to recovery.
The Source (Book):
How to Become an Oldtimer: Don't Drink and Don't Die: Suit up, Show up, Sit up, Shut up, and Listen. Buy from AMAZON or DIRECT for the best deals
Meeting Topic Finder
12-Step Meeting Group Topic Tool
The Resource (Free):
Become a prepared group leader and use this topic starter tool. Download this Group Meeting Topic Tool, an alphabetical guide to spark a 12-Step discussion or find a group topic. These are specifically curated for 12-Step group leaders and members who want to encourage deep, meaningful (and often humorous) sharing during the 'discussion' portion of the meeting. Use these prompts for 12 Step meetings, therapy groups, or as a fun exercise for clients.
The Source (Book):
Walk Softly and Carry a Big Book, a staple in fellowship clubs, treatment center libraries, and intergroups for decades. Buy from AMAZON or DIRECT for the best deals.
Coloring/Journaling Tool
Slogans Coloring: Tool for Insight & Serenity
The Resource (Free):
Early recovery often comes with high anxiety and a 'racing mind.' Download 3 free therapeutic coloring pages designed to help you practice 'The Next Right Thing' through creative focus. This is a proven tool for relapse prevention and stress management, perfect for staying grounded during long speaker meetings or quiet reflection at home. It's a simple way to 'sit in the middle' of the program while quieting the noise.
The Source (Book):
From the Color-Me-Sober book, combining the power of art therapy with 12-Step principles. From AMAZON or DIRECT for the best deals.
Pick a Sponsor’s Pocket: Sponsorship Group Activity
A Guided Sponsorship Exercise for Treatment Centers and Outpatient Recovery Groups
The Resource (Free):
Working with a sponsor can be daunting for newcomers who fear being told what they don’t want to hear. Help prepare clients with the Pick a Sponsor's Pocket Exercise, a structured 12-Step group activity designed specifically for treatment centers and outpatient recovery groups. (Note: This clinical tool is intended for therapeutic settings, not for use in AA/NA meetings.)
The Source (App or Book):
Inspired by the Pocket Sponsor, providing instant 12-Step support for every hour of the day for 31 days. Tap the App for Instant support with the Pocket Sponsor App or buy the book from AMAZON.
Ask the Right Question
Ask the Right Question - Get the Right Answer
The Resource (Free):
Stop the "Why me?" cycle. In the first 30 days of sobriety, asking the wrong questions leads to self-pity and stagnation. The Ask the Right Question Worksheet is a cognitive reframing tool designed to shift your focus from problem-oriented thinking to solution-oriented action. Perfect for individual sponsors, treatment centers, and outpatient groups, this exercise helps newcomers move from feeling like a victim to taking responsibility for doing the next right thing.
The Source (Book):
Excerpted from the First 30 Days off Alcohol. Inspired by 12-Step Old-timers, this practical guide provides the structure and mindset shifts necessary to navigate the critical first month of sobriety. Buy from AMAZON or DIRECT for the best deals.
Does God Wear Tennis Shoes? | Finding a Higher Power Together
A Spiritual Discovery Tool for 12-Step Families
The Resource (Free):
Help your child discover a Higher Power that is loving, present, and personal. The Higher Power Scavenger Hunt is a gentle, nature-based activity designed for 12-Step families. Instead of rigid dogma, this worksheet encourages children to "hunt" for qualities like kindness, strength, and beauty in the world around them. It’s a perfect tool for parents who want to guide their children’s spiritual growth with freedom, curiosity, and love.
The Source (Book):
Based on Does God Wear Tennis Shoes?, a 32-page picture book that follows 8-year-old Erica on her quest to find God in her own neighborhood. A "find-your-Higher-Power" read for kids ages 7–10. Available from AMAZON