6.22.09

“Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.”  Richard Bach

I remember I used to drive so close to empty my gas gage would sit at the bottom even when there was lots of gas left.  One time I was hurrying to get my daughter to an important appointment when the truck sputtered and died.  As we got out to walk to the nearest bus stop she changed her ten year old mind and refused to leave the truck.  Well, I got back in to try to coax her out, and then finally–exasperated from arguing–tried the starter just to demonstrate that the truck would not go!  And, of course, it started right up.  There was plenty of gas and the motor had just stalled.  And I can still see the big grin that would appear on her face whenever I tried to argue after that.

6.23.09

“What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?”  Robert Shuler

Aside from trying flying to the moon, or inventing ways to make myself invisible whenever I want–or putting a stop to all the poverty in the world–I think I’d just like to try to help my family have a good life when I leave here.

6.24.09

“The one thing you can’t take away from me is the way I choose to respond to what you do to me.  The last of our freedoms is the ability to choose one’s attitude.”  Victor Frankel

One of the things that used to irk me about my TC program was that you had to act “as is” to keep your attitude up.  They’d say the only two things we really have any control over is our attitude and effort–and, of course, that a bad attitude just infects others.  Well, I know now that I still have the freedom to have a lousy attitude and respond to everyone lousily–and to enjoy it–or I can make some effort, put on a half way polite face, and try not to bum people out with my lousy mood.  And I prefer the latter.  I think trying to treat others with respect (no matter how I truly feel at the time) is what allows me the ability and freedom to choose my attitude and not let it choose me–by respecting myself for respecting others.

4.19.09

“We are creatures of habit.”

I am a creature of habit.  Due to my bunk spot being in the noisiest area of the unit I usually make up my lack of sleep at night with an afternoon nap.  Today our no-napping rule is being implemented and my body has conveniently retaliated with a chest cold and aches and pains–of course to justify an argument for a nap.  Just amazing how powerful the habit of a nap can be!  When I think of worse habits even more addictive…well, I just want to lie down and take a nap!

4.21.09

“Education is something they can’t take from you.”  A. Bermensolo

A good education is a lucky thing.  After I was laid off at the rail yard, I was able to go to college on a JTPA retraining grant–whereupon I got my degree.  It’s unfortunate that I became incarcerated shortly thereafter, but my education has served me and others well, nevertheless.  Not only am I able to obtain work as a tutor and be a help to the guys, but I’m also treated with a level of respect here, too.  Education has given me safety in a dangerous place, plus it’s made prison a place of study rather than a place of punishment for me.  It’s been like luck they couldn’t take from me.

4.22.09

“You can’t escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”

I’m not usually a procrastinator, but I do have my weak moments.  Last week our unit received a new rule forbidding any napping during the day.  Naturally my eyeballs continued to evade their responsibility of following this particular rule.  And, try as the rest of me did to catch them at it, the responsibility to obey all the rules continues to hunt my eyeballs down every afternoon–only to be told they’ll try harder tomorrow.