A Simple Conversation

the shadow of a person in a boardroom

Written by, Michael J.

A fellow’s post reminded me of a simple conversation I had this morning with the love of my life. It was about how taking something non-narcotic to help me sleep only works if I take it about once a month. If taken more often than that, it does nothing.

That simple conversation awakened Little Addict, who fidgets in the dark corner of my internal boardroom.

Little Addict softly whispered, “Remember how leaving pot alone for a few weeks made that first high so good?”

Little Addict stood and spoke a little louder, “You’re able to accept not sleeping well for weeks, knowing you will get a good night’s sleep soon.”

As Little Addict approached, he said louder, “If you can leave the sleeping aids alone for a month, surely you can leave the weed alone just as long.”

Then Little Addict rose on his toes and shouted in my face, “You could do that! You could get high once a month!!!”

I looked around the boardroom. All the other voices were silent, except one. That one voice said, firmly, and clearly, with no shout to add to its truth,

“Bullshit.”

That was the voice of the part of me that loves me. That is the voice that a power greater than myself placed within me. I listened to that voice.

Published in A New Leaf – February 2026

More Articles

  • Recovering

    By Lisa N. Recovery – it takes some time.Minutes turn to days, days to weeks.While the weeks, they mark the climb. Work through the months, get to the end.Recovery is continuous, a journey and path.No final destination you see, my friend! Addiction is our illness, connection is our cure.We wrestle our demons, deal with Life.Adulting…

    Recovering
  • Heard in a Meeting

    “I’m having positive transitions. This is the promise of recovery.” – Anonymous Published in A New Leaf – June 2025

    Heard in a Meeting
  • This Tune Shall Pass

    By, Jesse P. It started out as one teenaged wishthe click of a lighterand turned into a lifeIt was excitingand floating from the groundcame the laughter and the closeness I needed to have somehowyou turned into a danger from someone I held so close, I don’t knowbut it was time for you to go Oh…

    This Tune Shall Pass
  • Dear Cannabis Sativa

    By, Melissa H. Dear Cannabis Sativa,We were introduced by a cool, blond-haired rebel girl from Colorado. I was a 15-year old flatlander from Pennsylvania who had never even heard of you. I took to you because you elevated fun to a new level. I hadn’t known that fun was smokable. You made rolling over on…

    Dear Cannabis Sativa
  • Depression and the Twelve Steps

    By, Carol M. I am an addict and a depressive. I wish I were manic depressive, but I have never experienced the up, just the down. Getting to the “almost OK” has been a struggle all my life. My first attempt at suicide was at eleven. Depression is a disease. In many ways it’s like…

    Depression and the Twelve Steps
  • Thought of the Month

    “Life, Itself, Is The Proper Binge.” – Julia C. Published in A New Leaf – February 1991

    Thought of the Month