“The people in MA seemed to have a long-term solution to the problem of marijuana addiction. I wanted what they had.”

– I Came to Life, Life with Hope, third edition, page 108

When I walked into these rooms I was sure that I was Not an addict. I thought I had a great Big Life. I thought I was a hard worker in an industry that I loved. I thought I had an amazing lifestyle. I thought that I was the life of the party and had so many friends. I thought I had it all and I thought that I lost it all when I hit rock bottom. Not once had it occurred to me that I lost it all because I was high from when I woke up to when I went to bed. I really wasn’t doing my best work. I worked just hard enough to get by and stay high. I always left those friends or they left me when the weed was gone. I was alone and lonely and I didn’t even know it.

I walked into these rooms for a long time and just sat down and I listened. I was hearing stories of other recovering addicts having the life I wanted. After showing up to weekly, sometimes daily, meetings, reaching out, getting a sponsor and working the 12 Steps, I have my Big Life: a life of connection with people of stability, trust, and not only liking myself but loving myself and the person I’ve become.

Final thought: Today, I am grateful to be an addict because I have learned the life skills I never had and could have learned only in MA.