Giving Everything You Got

by Efren Bullard, Ironwood State Prison in Blythe, CA

I gave everything I got when I walked away from that old negative life style. I gave up friends that I knew since I was a child. I gave up hanging with them because I understood that nothing will ever come from violence. 

The moment I walked away from negativity my whole world opened up to new adventures. I began to see myself free one day. I didn’t care what people had to say about me because this is my life and I’m the only one who can live my life. I began to accept responsibility for my actions. 

I became accountable for everything that I done on this earth to another person and to myself. When I gave everything I got, I began to understand (empathy) and how my violent behavior affected others and their families. I didn’t want to live like that anymore and neither should you. “GIVE EVERYTHING YOU GOT TO BE A BETTER PERSON BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE IS DEPENDING ON YOU NOT TO TAKE THEIR LIFE.” 

I didn’t give it my all in 1993 and I’ve been in prison for the last 28 years and 5 months for two Counts of Murder that I’m guilty of. Now I cherish life and the lives of others.