“It is not necessary to acquire a major God consciousness to be able to cease using. All we need is to maintain an open mind and a hopeful heart. It is not necessary to say yes. It is, however, important to stop saying no.”

– Life with Hope, first edition, page 7

In my compulsive use of pot I had become incredibly isolated from the world; I kept saying “no” to opportunities presented by life. I recognized that I was powerless over marijuana and began my recovery. The final sentence in this passage became my personal slogan and guiding principle under which my life opened up to the world again.

Final thought: Today, I practice the principles of open-mindedness and hope.