“The only requirement is a desire to stop using marijuana.”

– Preamble, Life with Hope, first edition, page xi

One of my character defects is that I can be quite judgmental. When I was getting high, I thought everyone should live like I did. I thought I was just smart at finding the key to living a hedonistic, selfish life. When I got clean, I would judge people who introduced themselves as addicts. Didn’t they know how to pick their poison, their “drug of choice?”

I was glad when the dangers of cross addiction sunk in. I finally realized that my years of “white knuckle abstinence” as a solution was an illusion. Years had been added to my suffering—and my loved ones’ pain—because I dragged out my lack of surrender for so long. I have a tendency toward behavior that reflects a bone-deep addiction. I get addicted to substances and attitudes, feelings, and opinions.

Thank God, I have other addicts to talk to, so that I can recognize when this type of obsessive behavior comes up. We get honest, we share our experience, strength, and hope. We get a good laugh and sometimes a good cry. We get real and get a life beyond our wildest dreams.

Final thought: Today, I have freedom from my addictive behavior, self-talk, and attitudes.