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 some days we went out just casually. After a few times we seemed to get along, we seemed somewhat similar in ways. I thought back to how it was years before, I felt and believed we certainly liked each other. We continued to date. I thought we are dating each other for some time now. Where is this going: what will happen, what should I feel, what should I say, what should I think of this. What I want, I want, to get intimate now is always better than later. We continued to date: Restaurants, flea markets, seeing musical groups, 4th of July celebrations, the beach. I felt I get to know this person, former co-worker better, I allowed my feelings to grow more. At a point there was intimacy, but I sensed my way, I trusted really knowing someone. This was growth, I want what I want, when I wanted it ended. I sensed my way, trusted myself the other person, and a process. Throughout many years, addict behaviors, think and memories. I see, I realize enough feelings, and behaviors will be healed. When others are first! I will allow it.

When I first started in the program of Marijuana Anonymous, I realized I smoked too much! “I will go to meetings”, I thought. The Steps may work; I made a list of defects, possible thoughts, beliefs that I may have gotten from both parents, my shortcomings. I believed I knew a little about popular psychology, and self-help. I went to the program. I decided I WAS AN ADDICT. My thinking, my thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Marijuana was not all the problem. It was me! I went to more meetings, got a sponsor, and took a commitment. I got out of the way, let go and let God. I thought I was going to fix myself and be the program… After 90 days, 6 months, A thought or feeling I knew would arise was gone. Stop, wait, I did not do anything….”God was helping us, when we could not help ourselves. The defect was gone. I try to figure things out, but that is not how it works. I could sense I grew as a person. I would share small changes at meetings. Some people surely had been through similar things. If I “opened up” and felt okay, others will. others in their “shares” would mention things, but not towards me. God is doing with us Change, and healing in many different ways. I will just step out of the way.

Published in A New Leaf – September 2026

  • “Puff” Piece for 420 Soberthon

    By Ras M. of District 27 I used to smoke to stop time. I just needed a pause – from the oncoming crazy, and my subsequent flooding of anxiety. Of course, there would be the crazy again, 5 hours later. When I stopped smoking, I found it challenging to fill large chunks of time in…

    “Puff” Piece for 420 Soberthon
  • Reclaiming 420 in Recovery

    By M. of District 27 For the past 6 years I have struggled to put clean time together, both in and out of the rooms of MA. Every time that April 20th rolls around, I have tried in vain to block out the existence of this once seemingly celebratory day and the memories that it…

    Reclaiming 420 in Recovery
  • Sober Creed

    Created by Brian B. Published April 2025 As a former U.S. Army military police officer, I learned early on the power of motivation, discipline, and perseverance. Although I couldn’t become a Ranger due to my specialized career, the Ranger Creed became a cornerstone of my mindset. I wore the Ranger tab inside my pocket over…

    Sober Creed
  • Heard in a Meeting

    “For a long time, I thought I was consuming cannabis, but then I realized, cannabis was actually consuming me…” – Anonymous Published in A New Leaf – April 2025

    Heard in a Meeting
  • Osmosis!

    By John J. of District 19 You wanna fight crime in a skintight suitYou wanna stop time and detect the truthYou wanna ray gun, wanna turn to stoneYou wanna be the one who saves the universe aloneYou wanna be fast like MercuryTravel to the past and fix historyYou wanna jump buildings, you wanna bend barsSee…

    Osmosis!
  • Liking How You’re Living

    By Rich G. There’s a sudden and half-expectedhit of joy that comes with it—a familiar jolt in the heart’s funny boneletting you know you’re back to bumping along the right corridor.Sure, there’s room for improvement,many rooms, in fact,unused in the sprawlingmansion of your remaining days,waiting in furnished gloomfor a bruising to flay its ripened dust. Published in A…

    Liking How You’re Living