by Genaro, San Mateo When I look into the mirror, I see myself and I see I need to make changes. I saw a new man with different ambition and expectations that needs to be met. My first day here at Hillcrest I wasn’t happy with what I was seeing, but as days went on and Bible study went on, I saw a change needed to be made. A reason change needs to be made is my age. I’m too old to be getting in trouble, also the effect I made on my parents like the sadness I caused them.
Continue ReadingMonth: April 2022
Real One
by Kezo, James Ranch, Santa Clara I was raised to show sympathyBut I show the oppositeMy life was a cringeBut no one showed empathyThey laughed at meAnd said be tougherWhat I did was never rightSo I started making people slumberI mean fightI can’t lie, I can’t stand peopleSo I brought a chair and satOn the rear windowDamn I hate my reflectionIt scares me bro‘Cause how’s a kid who’s been to hellstill smile through that mirror?My heart had been shatteredLike broken glassI’m not flatteredIf someone close to me turns into a ratI’ll reorganize anyone’s matterIf he plays with my heartBecause for
Continue ReadingThe Mentor I Need
by V, Sacramento I’d like to meet the world’s richest man on the Earth, not just the USA. Why would I like to meet them? Because they have lots of discipline to be able to save their money or know where to invest it into. I know that they also can take me in almost as a young protégé or an assistant. And not just give me a handout, but also show me how he became not one of the world’s richest man, but the world’s richest man. And then eventually I can come up with my own money, ideas,
Continue ReadingWhy I Write
by Leo Cardez, Dixon Correctional Facility in Dixon, Illinois There is nothing exactly like living in Hell, but there is something close to it: Jail and Prison. In my Hell, where I lived for most of 2015, there is, as Dante understood, no hope. People think the worst part of being locked up is the loss of freedom. They are wrong. The worst part is the loss of hope and purpose. You wake up every morning realizing your nightmare will continue into your waking hours. The loss you have suffered is permanent. Life will never be the same. In many
Continue ReadingA Collaborative Conversation, Part 1
by Armando R. Gonzalez and Floyd D. Collins, San Quentin State Prison, CA Ok Mr. Collins, the topic is “Building more trust.” Man, where do I begin? I guess first off for me, when I hear “Trust” I really hear vulnerability. When I think about trusting, I feel a mix of feelings, hurt, anxiety, excitement, longing, anger and hope. In my past I believed trust was a sucker’s bet. Today, I see that trust is not a feeling. It’s a choice. A decision that sometimes is made intuitively but often needs to be re-evaluated and remade. This might include communicating
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