“Our message is one of hope and promise that any addict can stop using marijuana, lose the obsession and desire to do so, and find a new way of life by following spiritual principles one day at a time.”

– Life with Hope, second edition, page 82

This message, as part of Tradition Five, is the golden goose of recovery. The thought of staying clean for a lifetime would weigh me down and feel heavy on my heart, but through the practice of taking the program just one day at a time, the weight of recovery is lifted. The pressure to stay clean becomes more manageable, easier to handle, and downright doable. I also used to think that I would never be able to stop using marijuana and would continue to drown in obsessive thoughts of using for the rest of my life. I thought there was no hope for me and that I’d be an addict for life. I didn’t think there was any possibility for me to stay clean, because I thought I was different.

In all actuality, I fit right in with my fellow addicts in recovery. I have been navigating this new territory called “A Clean Life,” and all I had to do was to follow a set of principles outlined in the 12 Steps of recovery, leading me toward my spiritual awakenings and long-term sobriety. The most important piece to it all is ODAAT, “One Day At A Time.” There is hope in these rooms. There is hope for each and every one of us who struggles with marijuana addiction. We can live a life with hope–one day at a time.

Final thought: Today, I practice the principles of the program one day at a time.