Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingMonth: November 2020
Ed Note 25.45/46
Greetings friends! Welcome to another stellar edition of The Beat Within. This latest double issue is full of solid writings from our friends and colleagues (free and incarcerated) around the great state of California and beyond. It is such an honor to create this platform every two weeks and have the ability to share the art and writings from so many good hearted people, many we know and some we only know through their writing submissions. We owe a big thanks to you contributors, as you all are a part of history, when submitting your work to The Beat Within.
Continue ReadingA Lil’ Part of My Life
by Kenny, San Mateo Grew up in the city, man, that’s where I was born, went to school in the city from K through fifth grade. I went to Longfellow. I don’t really remember much or anyone, yet alone the teachers or anything, like that from back then so it’s hard to tell y’all about it. But after fifth grade I moved to Daly City. I was mad though because it felt like I was leaving my whole life behind. I moved to a nice little three-bedroom apartment, better than my old house fo’ sure. Back then I was living in
Continue ReadingRisks Are Everywhere
by Alan, Sonoma A lot of people are scared or afraid to take risks and do things that they think they can’t accomplish. They have a fear pushing them back from being successful and they give up on their dreams. They don’t realize that in order to be successful and they give up on their dreams. They don’t realize that in order to be successful, you need to take risks to learn something new. Each day you live is full of risks, whether it’s driving to work, or getting a new job. Or learning a new sport. You just don’t
Continue ReadingMom’s Passing Changed Everything
by T, Sacramento I enjoy being around all my family members – uncles, cousins, grandparents, and all. Even friends ‘cause they all help me when I’m down and boost my spirit up. Even in the situation I’m in right now. They visit me, write me, send pictures, put money on the phone, and don’t let it run out. Without them, I feel like I would be empty on the inside. I’d have a nasty attitude every day. But when I was younger, we used to spend every holiday together – Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthday parties, and all. Even trick or treating
Continue ReadingDear My Life
by Cam, Santa Clara I know I been in and out of the hall. But sometimes I got to make poor decisions. I didn’t choose to live the “life of a criminal.” This life chose me. I know it sounds like I’m blaming something else for my decisions, but it’s true. Some staff in the hall say that I been through some very hard stuff that a normal person would of killed themselves going through the same thing I did, from twelve years old all the way to now. I try to help my mom out with rent. I didn’t
Continue ReadingIt Is OK To Ask Someone For Help
by Angel Ruelas, Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, CA Playing sports has always been my identity. I remember running home from elementary school, just so I could get ready for my little league baseball games. I played all sports, from baseball, football, soccer, wrestling to even being on a swim team called Soledad Sharks. I just enjoyed wearing all of the uniforms and feeling like I was a part of something that was much bigger than me alone. I recall when playing football back then that I would put on my cleats and a rush of excitement would start
Continue ReadingSecond Chances
by Ernesto Alvarez, Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, CA How many second chances do we get in life? I have laid here in my prison cell thinking about that many times. I am not just talking about second chances in life after you have done something that completely derailed the course of your life, like taking your freedom, but even the second chance in life that may seem so irrelevant at the time like going back and finishing school. Second chances are what make life worth living because it is what drives us to become better people if we
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Volume 25.43/44
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 25.43/44
Greetings frends! Welcome to another amazing double dose edition of the one and only The Beat Within! We are truly proud of the great work you are about to read inside this important issue of writing and art. As was the case in the last couple issues, we have asked our dear friend and colleague, Omar “OT” Turcios to write this latest editorial note. FYI, as this issue goes to print, we are still uncertain as to who will be president of the USA going into the new year. What a week! Watching the numbers and hearing and reading about
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