“I always had a life. Thanks to Marijuana Anonymous, I now have a life worth living.”

– A Life Worth Living, Life with Hope, third edition, page 143

When I was using marijuana, vacations were basically smoke-a-thons. I chose vacation destinations that would make scoring and using marijuana as easy as possible and I spent as much time as possible smoking, which was even more than what I usually smoked! This caused me to miss out on a lot of fun because of the need to be hidden away smoking, and then the lack of energy that came from using so much.

When I got clean, I was actually afraid of vacations. Would I ever be able to stay clean on a vacation? Would I even be able to enjoy the vacation? What would happen when I returned home? Thanks to Marijuana Anonymous, today I can use the tools of the program to plan and enjoy clean vacations. I can take an inventory on how I approached vacations in the past and learn what my part was in making past vacations smoke-a-thons. Since the marijuana fog has lifted from my brain, I can choose destinations and travel partners wisely.

Because I don’t stay clean by myself, I can ask my Higher Power, my sponsor, and friends in the fellowship for wisdom and support. I can even attend MA meetings while I am on vacation, whether in-person, on the phone, or online. When I return home, I can check in with my MA support network to help with any “post-vacation blues,” then I can gratefully share my experience, strength, and hope with others who want to plan and enjoy a sober vacation.

Final thought: Today, I will use the tools of the program to imagine, plan, and/or enjoy a sober vacation.