Living Every Day with Hope
April 15th – The Fourth Step: A Writing Exercise
“The Twelve Steps of Marijuana Anonymous are to be lived, not just discussed in meetings.”
– Life with Hope, second edition, page 43
When I first approached the Fourth Step, I spent much time talking about it, but little time actually writing. I took a piece of paper and wrote, “This is my Fourth Step” at the top and then promptly put the paper away. I sure talked a good game at meetings, but I did not work the Step.
Finally, my defects caused enough pain and I was able to work this Step. The majority of my work on the Fourth Step occurred on a long Saturday afternoon when I just wrote and wrote. I did additional work on it. I looked at my resentments, my fears and my sexual conduct. I put pen to paper. I had to keep reminding myself that this was my inventory, NOT the other person’s!
It was hard work and brought up many feelings and reminded me of things I had forgotten. I was as fearless and thorough as possible. Soon after I took the Fifth Step with my sponsor, the closeness to Higher Power I felt at that point was beyond belief.
Final thought: Today, I will actively work the Steps, and not just talk about them at a meeting!
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.
Hope Delivered To Your Inbox
By subscribing to Daily Dose of MA Recovery you receive via email the meditation of the day from Living Every Day with Hope and additional announcements from MA World Services.
A New Leaf – Online
Where Marijuana Anonymous members spark creativity by sharing experience, strength, and hope.
-
Dear Mary Jane,
Written by, Anonymous I am done. I’m done wasting every single moment of every day getting high. You will not steal any more time away from me. For the last eight years of my life, you were my best friend, my partner, my home. You were my safety. You were everything to me, but you…
-
Forgetfulness of Being
Written by, Sail R. Forgetfulness-of-being Did you forgetthat surrender comesat the foot to the well of being? Did you forgetthat the womb is a woundand not a home for the orphan? Did you forgetthat bubbles burst forthlike new egos,tenuous and awaitingits own destruction? Published in A New Leaf – July 2025
-
Little Victories
Written by, Ernest F. I remember someone saying to share at a meeting. Someone may be going through what you have been through or have known personally. Victories should be shared even if they are little; it provides others with a sense of looking forward, or hope! Meditation has gotten better for me, I use…
-
Durable Insight
Written by, Sashank V. I imagine the brain to be an intricate Rube Goldberg machine, where a tiny stream of water flows over tributaries, spinning little water wheels, and setting tiny parcels afloat or aground based on the tide and logic of the day. Smoking marijuana is like setting a fire hose upon this delicate…
-
Why MA?
By, Chuck R. A lot of people in other 12 Step programs ask the question, “Why Marijuana Anonymous?” I tell them that for twelve years, I was in and out of AA and NA and could not put together any length of sobriety or stop smoking pot. I tell them that I could stop drinking…
-
Notes from a Newcomer
By, Terri R. I will always remember my first MA meeting. I was scared and nervous, but I remember all of that melting away as the meeting started. Soon I realized, “This is where I need to be.” I could relate to what I was hearing. Listening intently, I was amazed that there was a…
Copyright © 1989–2026 Marijuana Anonymous World Services—All Rights Reserved
—Marijuana Anonymous World Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, does not endorse or accept contributions from any outside enterprise—