PRISONER EXPRESS

Sitting in this eight by twelve box day in and day out, without even a window to see the outside world, my personal source of strength comes from within, and is generated through my creativity and ability to adapt. Yes, it is much easier when you have someone you can talk to and encourage you-even through letters-that understands you and knows you like only your family can. Not everyone has that though. A person has to be able to find their own source of strength from within to truly be able to become the person they should be. Anything else is codependent behavior, and while there is nothing wrong with being slightly codependent (we all want to rely on others for something!), when it becomes your defining characteristic it becomes a problem.

Through creativity (to make things perfectly clear to all readers, I speak of personal creativity, not the religious belief system) I am able to expand my mind and challenge myself, which is a source of strength. There is nothing like accomplishment to make you feel better and stronger. It can be the simplest task: writing a good letter, finishing a drawing you've been working on, or even writing a poem. Accomplishment is not measured by how much you have done, it is measured by getting something done. It is easy to sit around in this cell, doing nothing but reading fiction books, playing games or just talking to your neighbor. These things could be productive, if a person would take what they've learned and apply it to a productive project, but often, this isn't the case. We are our own worst critics, and if you think "I can't do this" you're right, you can't! You are already defeated before you start, because you defeated yourself. Become creative, we all have the potential. If you facility has a unit library you can get access to (like most units here in Texas) there is a "non-fiction" section, full of self-help books. Take the time to read some of these, rather than the best-seller from Robert Jordan (although Robert Jordan is excellent!)

The ability to adapt is of paramount importance in here. Rules change, we age, people come and go and things change! Changing is not always a bad thing either, there is usually a reason for it. The ability to adapt is a source of strength because it enables you to broaden your perception of the world, and the more you know, the better off you are. There is no such thing as useless knowledge. True enough, you might know things you will never find a use for, but that 'useless' knowledge can be applied generally and is a source of strength itself. Those who are 'stuck in their ways' have a much harder time of it than those that can adapt. When I say 'adapt,' I don't mean conform, there is an important difference between the two. When you adapt, you adjust; when you conform you are complying (especially with rules and the like). There is enough brainwashing in today's society without me contributing to it though, so I will leave it at that. Yes, it is possible to adapt while complying, one goes hand in hand with the other, but most of us in ere have problems with authority, so complying is a sore topic. Learn to adapt, you will be better served in doing so. Adapting doesn't change who you are, it simply changes the way you look at something and interact with it. Make the effort, it will make you stronger.

Find your inner strength; you'll be better for it. Becoming a better human being should be at the top of everyone's list, especially considering the circumstances we are all in. If we become stronger, we can overcome our baser urges that have led us down this path we have chosen too walk. Your source of strength could be one book away, one letter away, one conversation away. It is up to you to put in the effort to find it and recognize it. No one knows you better than you know yourself on all levels, only you know what will benefit yourself the best. It is just a matter of looking within: to your source of strength.