-Wendy Fong, Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla, CA I became a parent at the age of fifteen. When I became a parent, I wanted to be a good parent. I thought about this for a long time. I realized I wanted to incorporate the values of my father without being too protective. I did not want to shelter my child too much because I knew being sheltered made me more curious and daring. I knew I did not want to just be my child’s friend because then there was no structure, guidance, or boundaries. I learned this because
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Volume 29.17/18
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 29.17/18
Welcome back readers and writers of The Beat Within! This latest issue is chock full of writing that recognizes the people we depend on to lift us up, what it takes to give and receive an honest apology, the redeeming power of love, our right to fair and equal access to services, imagining the day we will finally be free from the circumstances that bind us, and so much more. We know we say this all the time, but we really can’t say it enough — this issue is one you don’t want to miss! We’re turning our editorial section
Continue ReadingPeople Need Support
-JP, Sacramento Support systems are important. My family is my biggest support system and they come to all of my court dates. I think it’s important to have good support systems because if you don’t, people will not have good mental health. If I didn’t have the support I do have right now, my mental health would not be as good. My mental health is not the best, but it would be a lot worse if my family wasn’t able to see me. People need support even if they think they don’t. I believe they need them a lot more
Continue ReadingForgiveness
-Samantha, Marin Forgiveness. I always wish I knew how to forgive, truly forgive. My biological mother just came back into my life recently. For the first time since I was five years old, I hadn’t seen or heard anything about her since then. I was scared of her to say the least. She exposed me to things no child should ever be exposed to at that age. No person or child should ever, I mean never, be exposed to what she did. She ruined my childhood. I never will be able to really be a kid. At six years
Continue ReadingMy Story
-Daniel “Green Eyes” Galindez Jr, Correctional facility, Stockton, CA My name is Daniel “Green Eyes” Galindez from San Jose, CA. I’ve been locked up since the age of seventeen years old. I’m now thirty-one. I was that at risk youth who was lost to the streets, gang life, criminal ways of thinking, reckless and felt alone. I just want to touch on the topic of domestic violence and some thoughts I have on the matter — to let you know the different forms of DV and to let you know that you are not alone! Reflecting on my life as
Continue ReadingMake It Count
-Freddy “Mr. Positivity” Huante Jr, San Quentin State Prison, CA Man, hindsight is 20/20. I think back to my life and crimes. I wish so badly I could go back to the day I met Francisco Flores. I wanted to get money by any means, even though if I didn’t have any kind of knowledge of how, I just needed the money and didn’t care if someone got hurt in the process. I have so many regrets even before that. I think back even before I helped take a life from another human being. I think about further back, before
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Volume 29.15/16
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 29.15/16
As Spring brings with it more sunshine, longer days, The Beat Within is back again with another incredible issue for your reading pleasure through the extra hours of daylight. Our longtime friend OT, is back today, with a heartfelt story about asking for help from others. A topic that we can all relate to as I know it is often hard for anyone to ask for help. OT really lays it out in a way we can probably all relate to with the daily struggle. Memories From My Adolescence I remember when I first started high school, I didn’t have
Continue ReadingAwkward
-Sanguine, Santa Cruz I rarely receive any compliments honestly. The times that I do it’s often on my outfits or my taste in music. My usual response goes like, “Thank you.” I feel a little awkward after, like I should’ve said something different or my response was too dry. I don’t really know how to take compliments because, like I said, I rarely receive them. What I find even harder or more awkward is how to respond to people after giving them a compliment. Usually, when I give someone a compliment they usually respond with something like “Aw, thank you,”
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