By, Terri R.

I will always remember my first MA meeting. I was scared and nervous, but I remember all of that melting away as the meeting started. Soon I realized, “This is where I need to be.” I could relate to what I was hearing. Listening intently, I was amazed that there was a group of people just like me. By the end of the meeting, I felt much more relaxed and real glad I found my way there. A few people approached me after the meeting to greet me and give me a phone list, and tell me “Keep Coming Back.”

Approximately two weeks after the first meeting, I had what I choose to call a “Spiritual Experience.” I was high and I felt really terrible. I realized that after nine years of smoking everyday, morning noon and night, that I was an addict and that pot ruled my life. I never wanted to get high again. I feel very fortunate that this happened. I knew I could not get sober on my own, so I made a decision to make MA a part of my life.

The first 30 days were very difficult. My body was changing, mentally and physically, and I felt very strange. MA gave me a program I could believe in and follow. Soon I started looking forward to getting to at least one meeting a week and sharing my feelings, as well as listening to others. I began to feel more comfortable and soon started talking to people after the meeting. Everyone was very supportive and I knew they really cared about me and my sobriety. I was even nominated for the refreshment commitment, which I gladly accepted. Being of service is an added boost to my program.

I now have 60 days and I will be taking my 60 day chip this week. It is hard to put in words how my life has changed, just in the last two months. I am happy. My self-esteem and self-confidence has improved tenfold. I have never been more proud of anything I have ever done. These 60 days are very previous to me and I would trade them for anything, not even a joint.

“Keep coming back, it works if you work it.”

Published in A New Leaf – February 1991