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October 20th – For Fun and For Free
“We are simply addicts of equal status, freely helping each other.”
– Life with Hope, second edition, page 89
I first attended an MA meeting at the urging of my therapist, and after a few years clean, I decided to enter the mental health field myself. Therapy was a lifesaver for me—it both got me into, and enhanced, my recovery—and I was excited to share that lifesaving gift with others!
Once I entered the field, Tradition Eight took on a new meaning for me. I was taught by my sponsor and others that my 12-Step work with newcomers should always be for fun and for free (a.k.a. “nonprofessional”), while at work I learned that not every client with a marijuana problem needs or wants a 12-Step answer.
Now Tradition Eight helps me remember that when I attend a meeting, I get to be just one recovering member among many. My recovery experiences can help me have empathy for my clients, but at MA, I get to take off my therapist “hat” and focus on just taking care of me. What a relief!
Final thought: What “hat” am I wearing when I attend a meeting? Am I trying to play the expert, or a member among members?
Living Every Day with Hope – Copyright © 2025 Marijuana Anonymous World Services. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Marijuana Anonymous groups have been granted limited permission to quote Living Every Day with Hope.
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A New Leaf – Online
Where Marijuana Anonymous members spark creativity by sharing experience, strength, and hope.
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