Untitled-345 by Jay Goodman
I’ve been talking about what would everyone do if we were given a second chance? In my last few chapters, I have written about the effects of prison, life, and how it needs to be revamped.
Without a doubt, if big changes don’t happen crime in the United States will get much worse. But for the prisoners reading this, what will your life become? I have wondered many times if the people in here had ever even given it much thought to the outcome of your lives if you continue down the path that brought you here? As I look around me at the prison, I am at, it seems to me that if they don’t ever think about it, it’s something that they’re not giving much thought too. Why the federal bureau of prisons is to blame for how it’s run.
In the end, everyone that’s in here is responsible for the outcome of your life. Why 90% of all people who are released will come back, there is that small percentage he will go on and live a life free from ever coming back. Has anyone ever wondered why that is? Could it be that some see the truth about this type of life, why others continue to live in a fantasy world? I have used that word, “fantasy world.�? a lot throughout my book. Because the truth is, most prisoners do live outside of reality in their mind. How could anyone with a half a brain not see the truth when it comes to living the life that brought them here? While everyone in life makes mistakes, usually after a few times most people understand that whatever mistake they’re making doesn’t work, and go on to something else. It’s like something that plays with fire, after they get burned once they quickly learn not to do it again. But for some reason that doesn’t seem to work for around 90% of all prisoners, even after once, or twice to prison. Well, some people who keep coming back to prison will have 1000 excuses, truthfully, they will not change because they believe in their mind. This is the only way they can become rich. They continue to lie to themselves over and over again.
For some, it’s a fantasy that they live in their mind, they’ve grew up listening to rap and watching videos or movies, or listening to a family member or friends about how cool it is to live this type of life. This shit has been fed to them all their lives, until it becomes a part of who they believe they are.
I have seen with my own eyes how when someone is shown that they can become rich and successful another way, they will listen, but instead of focusing on that, within a short period of time, their focus will turn right back to their old way. They never stop and think it’s what keeps them in the same state of life, never moving forward, only living out the same mistake over and over again.
They never stop and realize that successful people seem to be able to do everything well. This is not because of some freight chance, but because of the foundation upon which they build their lives. The foundation of their lives is a strong commitment to personal development to struggling to become the better person. They know they can be in every area of their lives, which intern transforms their lives, and their family, relationships, country, and the world. Truly successful people have character. Part of that character is an unwavering commitment to excellence. Plus, they know the art of discipline. Successful people just have better habits and the rest. Every one of us becomes our habits.
And if someone thinks that what I’m saying is crazy, just look around you at the people in your cell block. If a person sits around all day, eating a bunch of sweets, what does he look like? More than likely he’s fat and out of shape. If a person is in here doing drugs every day, what happens? Every minute he is awake, he is doing everything he can to say hi. Now let’s take a look at the prisoners who are in here working out or reading books that will help them grow mentally. They are doing things that will help them to change. Each of these people created habits that lead them to the person they became. It’s easy for me to look around in here at the people, or listen to their conversations and know, without a doubt what’s going to happen to them. Through the years I told people what’s going to happen to certain prisoners when they left prison, very rarely have I been wrong. Very often our old habits get in the way in to a certain extent, can prevent us from choosing happiness. These habits made manifest as eating, too much, drinking too much, watching TV instead of exercising, hanging out with the wrong crowd, or any other type of behavior that causes us to become a lesser version of ourselves. Some people wake up each morning and just stagger through the day and I see it around me all the time.
If prisoners could stop for a moment, and really take a good look at themselves. Not the lies and fantasies they dreamed up in their minds. If they could let go of all the shit that has polluted, they’re thinking, and really take a long look at who they really are, and what they want out of life, that might be the beginning of change for them. It’s important to know who you really are.
In my 18 years of incarceration, I’ve never met one person who likes prison. But oddly, 90% of all prisoners will come back to prison. Does that sound like they understand who they are or what they want out of life? Why every prisoner dream of being free again, they want to see their family, play with their children, dream of being wealthy, and having all the toys that come with having money. But their actions in here say these thoughts are only dreams. I can see people in here that truly miss their loved ones, who worry if they’re OK. But instead of making changes in their thinking so they can get out so they never have to be away from them again, they sit in here, doing nothing, but planning on doing the same thing that brought them here to begin with. As I’ve said, and many chapters, a lot of fault lies on the federal prison system, and the way they will allow the prisons to be run and operated. But even though that is a fact, the prisoners in here are more at fault. They have a weakness of not looking at their faults and mistakes, and doing what is necessary to change. Most people don’t want to look at their weakness, this is excepting a life of mediocrity. It’s only by facing our weaknesses. Can we grow and mature into a better human being. The great leaders of our past understood their weaknesses, they face them head-on, and they walk early each morning and went out to face them, because they knew their weaknesses were the key to their richer, more abundant future. If you want your future, to be bigger than your past, start to transform your weaknesses into strikes. If all the prisoners could really take a long hard look at themselves, they would see this is not the place they want to spend the rest of their lives.
If you don’t see that now, you will by the end of your life. Especially if the end is spent in prison.
They say the darkest hour is right before the dawn. But the darkest hour gives birth to the greatest children of light. From the dark hours of history are born legends, heroes, champions, profits, leaders, stars, great teachers, and seats. The future will be what you make of it.
