What brings me comfort: Hearing “I love you” from friends and family
What I’ve learned about myself while incarcerated is that my need for power and control over my environment tends to surface when I do the following:
- Interrupt someone during a conversation in order to change the subject
- Say “the way I see it is…” in hopes of persuading someone to join me in an activity
- Let my belief that people shouldn’t behave a certain way disturb my peace of mind
What makes me happy is:
- Speaking with confidence as I facilitate group discussions and activities
- Taking an interest in my peers’ lives by asking questions and learning about their experiences
- Having friends and family who communicate with me by phone and text
I want people on the outside to know this about me:
- I’ve learned that I have options when it comes to the people I choose to affiliate with
- Pursuing money is no longer my focus, that’s been replaced by a desire to pursue education
- I began to understand the impact of my crime through the grief I experienced after my mother’s death
What brings me comfort:
- Hearing “I love you” from friends and family
- Jogging laps
- Revealing my secrets in front of others without being judged
- Believing I gave a task my full effort
- Confessing my sins and asking for forgiveness
- Meditation
