Acknowledging that serving out a sentence actually had a great impact on the way I live my life and opinion, how I strongly believe it has an effect on my/our communities on a national scale. My entire outlook on how I viewed the world with everyone in it! The prison system has an old saying which goes as follows in English translation: “The prison system takes its piece from every man/woman who enters.” This quote changed my life forever!!
What negatives have I taken from my whole experience?
The trauma and regret of being incarcerated has an effect on everyone, including the victims of criminals. No longer would I look at a person without analysing what they are about and what their intentions are, and how is it actually going to affect me as if I’m reading them while at the same time aware somebody else is reading, most possibly doing the same to me. Constantly be in a state of awareness, including, most importantly, oneself.
The festive season at the end of each year is when the prison system happens to be at its greatest capacity, never mind over capacity!! The correctional services are normally running their annual clean operation, which adds a lot of high tensions inside amongst most inmates, making this the most unpredictable time of the year.
An important skill to get by inside and also was part of my downfall because I constantly thought I knew everything. I always had inmates from different walks of life reminding me not to allow what was going on in the environment around me and emotions of all what may be going on outside become too overwhelming that I do something stupid and act on emotions. Prison can happen to anyone, and anyone can be a criminal; there is no real kind of look or race.
What Positives Have I Taken from My Experience?
Looking back, it’s those stressful times that enhanced my awareness. It only through my higher power that I gifted with the inmates that actually reminded me to keep my when things got too much. In order for me to live the life I want, I need nothing greater than my higher power, aka God consciousness, to have a clear mind before taking any course of action, no matter the situation.
I am grateful for those wardens who go that extra mile and treated myself and so many other inmates basic human respect. That actually played a great role in preventing me and so many other inmates becoming savage and losing our humanity.
Should you wish to assist in the rehabilitation of former inmates and help put money into the pockets of those who have struggled to earn a living during and after incarceration, click HERE
This project in collaboration with RESTOREcurrently works with formerly incarcerated young men in the communities.
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