Loud Is Who I Really Am

Writen By, Martha S.

The start of my sobriety from weed coincided with the end of my 24-year-marriage to the man who was originally my gay best friend. We had adventures. We survived 9/11, left the City to start a small farm in the mountains, adopted an infant from an African country (both of us parents white and idealistic,) sold the farm and raised our boy; he is 18 now.

Now I am single and back out as lesbian. During the marriage I always identified as a lesbian married to a man, to those who cared enough to know. I was continually high except for the first 9 years of our son’s life.

When my son’s father and I started being lovers, the sex was divine and stayed so for about 3 years—but it was always penis-centric and I never got past missing a woman’s body. He did not use cannabis or much alcohol. I used pot daily and alcohol to bring myself down enough to sleep. The marriage survived a long time with these imbalances.

Recently, alone and sober, I attended a jazz concert at an intimate venue. I whooped and hollered with pleasure at the performance, and when the lead artist asked where she could get a cup of tea in this small town at 6AM, I raised my hand and said I would be honored to bring her some. In the past I would do impulsive, noticeable things like this and my husband would be ashamed of me. I would be ashamed of myself because I thought it was because I was high. But now I know this is who I am: a loud, generous, lesbian weed addict who is clean by the grace of my higher power and the MA rooms.

Published in A New Leaf – July 2026

  • Turning 40

    Written By, River B. My birthday is in the fall, often landing on or shortly after the autumn equinox. This year in celebrating with a weekend at my parent’s cottage on the shores of Lake Huron with four of my closest friends, who have all agreed to a sober weekend in support of my new…

    Turning 40
  • Breath of Fresh Air

    Written By, Jules M. While meditating one day, I had a realization… I wasn’t craving cannabis, I was really craving a deep breath and the relief that accompanies it. In active using, I was constantly doing breathing practices. I would take the biggest inhale I could, hold in my breath, take a couple more sips…

    Breath of Fresh Air
  • Heard in a Meeting

    Even if I don’t get this, I may still get something.

    Heard in a Meeting
  • Sober Bell Rock

    Written By Tiffany A. Sober Bell, Sober Bell, Sober Bell RockSober bells bling andSober bells ringAbstaining while cravingAnd fighting the urgeT’is the sign that it’s time to purgeAll of the bongs and roaches you storedParaphernalia, regalia too…Sober from doja’s the Number 1 doorFor your life anew! What a bright time What a right time To write resentments down Such…

    Sober Bell Rock
  • The 12 Step Questions Mash-Up

    Written By Rich C. Is my life unmanageable? Am I powerless over marijuana? Who is God? Who is my Higher Power? Do I now believe or am I open to believing? Can I turn my will and my life over to the care of this God, that I do not truly understand? Can I take…

    The 12 Step Questions Mash-Up
  • Personal Story

    Written By Jess A. I started smoking pot my freshman year of high school. I was an off and on smoker for 40 years. When I was on, I was on. As time progressed and weed got stronger, quitting became more challenging and my ability to live a normal life got harder and harder. I…

    Personal Story