Little Victories

Written by, Ernest F.

I remember someone saying to share at a meeting. Someone may be going through what you have been through or have known personally. Victories should be shared even if they are little; it provides others with a sense of looking forward, or hope!

Meditation has gotten better for me, I use it all the time, I had to be patient with the time it took for me to be better at it. It is sooo worth it to me. I was starting a relationship with a friend from an old job that I had. We spent some time getting to know one another, we became friends and did things together. When it became physical, knowing each other and being friends made it a lot better. I had not gone about relationships this way before. My emotions and feelings had me understand it was a victory. I had overcome habits and behaviors—that were not really bad, but also not good—besides Cannabis and cigarette smoking. Some C.B.T. helped me (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)—the idea and concept of it, and doing it.

I had heard in meetings that the one-second pause, after some recovery time, becomes a few more seconds in reacting and feeling to things and people. There are lists of thoughts and feelings about an action or word that took place that I can use. Am I not communicating? Did they not understand? They may have some problems. Maybe they are trying their best, and I don’t know that.

I cannot make a resentment for someone, put “it all” upon myself. There is much more, very much more to this. It may be important to know this. In the few seconds pause you can re-frame the thought and the emotional reaction with a conscious and logical effort to try not to be misunderstood or even a little harmful. That few seconds pause got longer than one second. Creativity and reading about how many religious beliefs and psychological concepts are the same or similar and align, the effort helped. The meditation (11th Step) creativity, new relationships and sound healthy beliefs and faiths that are very much similar are the little victories for me. Sharing “little victories” helps you!! Sharing how it was, how it is now, and what you are working towards, helps. EXPERIENCE, STRENGTH, AND HOPE!!

Ernest F.

Published in A New Leaf – July 2025

  • My Big “New Leaf”

    Written by, Marcia L. My recovery in Marijuana Anonymous has been a long time coming. I was in and out of recovery for decades. Unfortunately, I was in and out of every area of life during my first 65 years. Nothing ever made sense. My family life was certainly affected by my marijuana use, and…

    My Big “New Leaf”
  • Heard in a Meeting

    “F-E-A-R has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’ The choice is yours.” Published in A New Leaf – September 2026

    Heard in a Meeting
  • My Experience with Insanity and Psychosis

    Written by, Luminous Lisa It started with my own deep and unsettling unhappiness with myself, my life, and everything else in between. I sank deeper and deeper after having a love affair with marijuana for only two years. It seemed like the perfect solution to my problems when I was 17. At 19 years old,…

    My Experience with Insanity and Psychosis
  • Growth, and Small Changes

    Written by, Ernest F. I went and helped someone move into a new place. I had been friends for years, we were co-workers. I would always expect good work, and good conversation, when we were placed together to work. I had left the company some years before. The move was good, and we talked. After…

    Growth, and Small Changes
  • I’m Moving Out (My break up letter to Marijuana)

    Written by, Charlie L. Dear MJ, I didn’t know it then, but I was looking for you my whole life before we met.I never knew how to exist in my body.How to quiet the loud busy streets of my mind,I never knew how to make any choices, I didn’t know how to feel anything.I didn’t…

    I’m Moving Out (My break up letter to Marijuana)
  • Heard in a Meeting

    “Don’t make a permanent decision based on a temporary feeling!” Published in A New Leaf – August 2026

    Heard in a Meeting