In order to stay peaceful, strong, and spiritually centered, I use visualization. I also remember my Native American Culture. I choose to be better. I choose to go home. I choose to be free.
TaShena, 31
Incarcerated: 2 years
Housed: South Idaho Correctional Institution, Boise, Idaho
The most beautiful place on this Earth is my grandma’s reservation. The drive is a long two hours on a single lane highway. It has dangerous winding turns, and free-range live-stock. However, once you hit the clearing there lies a small valley nestled between majestic mountains. The air is fresh and crisp. It’s not something you get in populated towns or cities. It’s so quiet in the valley you can hear the morning dew dripping on the cold hard ground. I can feel the warmth spread across my body. The sun is slowly rising; shadows of night are dancing on the mountain wall, and the valley slowly awakens. I can feel my heart beat faster, chills run throughout my body, and I’m at peace. I’m home.
Losing focus is easy to do, especially behind bars. The walls around me can be very hard, and I could either change for good or bad. In order to stay peaceful, strong, and spiritually centered, I use visualization. I also remember my Native American Culture. I choose to be better. I choose to go home. I choose to be free.
