by Curry, San Francisco We have all heard the phrase, against all odds. The dictionary defines this as if you do something against all odds, or against all the odds, you do it even though there were many problems/challenges, and it didn’t seem possible to do. I can relate to this topic right now because I am betting on a NFL football game, in which the San Francisco 49ers are playing the Los Angeles Rams at the 49ers home stadium. As of right now, the odds are stacked against the LA Rams because the 49ers have a history of beating
Continue ReadingThe Beat Within
by Efren Bullard, Ironwood State Prison in Blythe, CA Hello to all the youngsters who find themselves locked up. It has been a while since I last sat down and spoke to you guys. I have been trying to free myself from prison. On November 6th, 2022. I will have been incarcerated for 29 years. At the time of my incarceration I was eighteen years old. I will be 48 on November 19th. I was sentenced to double life without parole plus 22 years for the murders of David Happas and Scott Evans. Now, even though I would love to
Continue ReadingFamily Trumps All
by Aaron Begay, California Men’s Colony State Prison in San Luis Obispo, CA What you decide to put into life is what you’re eventually going to get out of it. For me, it was the moment I decide that I was going to put everything I believed into living life of crime and selling drugs at a young age. That itself would eventually have me living behind bars, and because of that the only thing I got out of it was 15 years to life in prison. Growing up as a teenager that came from having nothing and coming from
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Volume 27.41/42
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 27.41/42
Greetings friends! We want to welcome you readers back to another edition of The Beat Within. This latest issue truly shines with plenty of great writings from our weekly workshops with the young people (and the adults) inside and outside of the system. We are very proud of the great work coming out of our groups and want to extend a big thanks for all of you contributors. It is hard to believe the year is ending soon and 2023 is right around the corner! We must thank our partners, friends, collaborators and you writers and artists who step up
Continue ReadingThe Survivor
by Tanaj, San Francisco Tanaj is someone who’s lost, back-to-back trauma is all he knew. After losing his mom, everything went downhill. He started stealing cars, and hanging out with the wrong crowd. One night he stole another car not thinking much of it, like those other nights, but not knowing tonight would be different. He picked up a friend, someone he called his brother not realizing it would be his last time seeing him. They went off to the beach reeking of weed, cursing the words of a song they loved so much without a care in the world.
Continue ReadingMy Heart
by Bethany, San Diego My heart looks through my eyes. My heart will touch you through my body. My heart will be shown through a laugh, but my heart can never care or beat for someone who did me wrong in the slightest way. It’s hard to explain, but when I get angry, I have no heart and no pure mind. I only have anger and the way it comes out is through my body. My mind shuts off, my eyes black out, and then I seem to wake up when people are pulling me off. It’s different when I
Continue ReadingThoughts on Loyalty
by Daniel, Santa Clara Loyalty is something that means a lot to me and I’m sure it means a lot to you as well. Relationships tend to be more successful when there is honesty and loyalty. It don’t matter what type of relationship it can be a relationship with your homie, girl, or family. Imagine having a friend that you can’t trust. I say that because there can be no loyalty without trust. I’ve been trying to figure this out. If you can’t trust that person can you even be loyal to them? If I can’t trust you to turn
Continue ReadingThe Ideal Job, A Clinical Psychologist
by Jon Goldberg, San Quentin State Prison, CA I have just recently discovered my ideal job would be a clinical psychologist, specializing in family/couples therapy. All my life I searched for my “one person” that could be my wife and start a family. At age 26 I quit looking and concentrated on my property. I decided my dog and I didn’t need anyone else. The minute I stopped looking she found me. By 27 years old I was beginning the most serious relationship, the one I always dreamed of. A year later I proposed. A year after that I was
Continue ReadingI’ve Found the Cure for Depression Is Action
by Flo, San Quentin State Prison, CA Years of trauma and tribulation went into the development of my depression. Even now, with the depression and stress management tools I have acquired, very recently, doesn’t completely eradicate the deep rooted depression I have. However, the lessons I have learned about depression, the details I have learned about myself, the advice from wise people that I’ve accepted has helped me manage stress and depression in a way that I likely wouldn’t have, had I not put forth the action. Today, I’m still learning myself, still, figuring out what works. I’ve learned it’s
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