I am stoned and feel like rambling, so don't mind if I do!
A few years ago I was in a really bad spot mentally. I have always had issues with depression; however, this time in my life was a lot more than just 'depression'. Several things in my life had caused me to spiral downward at this point; my roommate fatally overdosed and was discovered by me, the girl I was seeing was fucking around behind my back with a coworker, and my drinking habits were getting progressively worse.
Well flash forward half a year from that point. I have moved far away from where my buddy overdosed, switched jobs to escape the coworker that my ex cheated on me with and all that jazz. I still was not in a great spot mentally and actually had plans to end my life in 2014 as things weren't getting better fast enough.
A couple months into 2014 I decided to try online dating - it was something I poked fun at until that point, but I had never tried it. Figuring "fuck it" I signed up and began messaging Women. I met a couple Women, one of them was only trying to have sex and the other straight up lied about...everything. Feeling pretty defeated I messaged this one chick who was wearing a really rad leather jacket in her profile picture. Naturally I messaged, "rad jacket, dude". To my surprise this led to four dates in San Francisco and (so far) a three and a half year relationship.
Now, back to why I gave you so much information at the beginning of this novel. I had lost people in my life: my buddy overdosing was not the first, second, or third friend I had lost. Life has put me through the wringer, I know how to handle loss and at the end of every funeral there was a joint. I never had to announce it nor would I ever at a funeral; however, seeing as how it helped me cope it seemed appropriate. Other people would have a drink and mingle, I would go for a long walk and smoke.
As we were in the first couple months of our relationship she tries marijuana for the first time with me and a buddy. Her feelings towards the experience was, 'meh' at best. In her own words she preferred drinking MUCH more than smoking marijuana. Every now and then (usually after a night of too much drinking) I would jokingly ask her, "so, smoking or drinking". To which she consistently replied, 'drinking'.
Until four months into our relationship and about half a year into 2014 her mother, 49 years of age, passes away after coming down with pneumonia. Her and her entire family were at a complete loss. She had never lost anyone, let alone a parent.
The first day she was able to make it out to my place we sat under a tree looking at the night sky while smoking a few joints. Talking about life and its' purpose when suddenly she says, "smoking is much better than drinking."
We still visit that spot to watch the stars and talk, she claims the tree gives her comfort. Meanwhile witnessing her overcome her mother's death the way she did made my troubles seem much smaller.
tl;dr, I had issues, my experiences with these issues helped my girlfriend after losing her mother, weed and nature helps but doesn't cure. Helps me realize my problems are manageable.