We welcome you readers back to another double dose edition of the one and only The Beat Within. It’s OT once again coming at you guys live from the land the quakes and shakes, and the hot volcanic rocks of Managua, Nicaragua.
Once again, we have completed another wonderful magazine. We have some great writing this week and some very good topics. One of my favorite topics of the week was making up for lost time. This was a very interesting topics as for all those that find themselves locked up, time becomes an essence. It’s measured in days, months, years.
Some may argue that being locked up, away from loved ones, is a waste of time. You’re not physically present to watch your kids grow up. You will miss birthdays, holidays, and all kinds of activities. Time, (sigh), what does that really mean? What does making up for lost time mean?
If time is lost, how can you get time back. Technically you can’t unless you have a time machine, right? Or can you? Time is something that we really can’t control. Whether you’re locked up, or whether you’re free, time passes. We get older, our kids get older, we see people we love pass away, and time keeps moving on. How much time do we have on earth? Only God knows, so we got to do everything within our power to make the most of it.
So, what does that mean exactly? Do you have to live life everyday like it’s your last? It’s important to try to be the best version that you can be, and I mean all of us. Whether you’re in jail, a group home, or reading this comfortably from your desk in your apartment, we all must strive to be better in taking advantage of the time we have here in this world.
There are many different religions in the world, and I don’t know if you happen to be a believer in a higher power, I do. But I don’t necessarily view things from your traditional way of thinking. But to all those who believe in life after death, and the consequences we will have to face, none of that is for certain until you go.
But in the meantime, while you’re here, you have to make the best of it. Don’t think for a second that this time doesn’t count. Every moment counts, every second counts, every minute, ever hour, every day, every week, every month. Every decision you make, every choice you make, everyday will determine the outcome of your tomorrows.
You want to make your life better? It all starts with a choice, and a decision right now. If you make better decisions and use your time wisely, you will see the fruits of your labor fruition and come to life. Go to school, finish your educational endeavors. If school isn’t for you, try vocational programs that can help you get into construction jobs, electricians. Maybe you want to be an artist and draw, write plays, compose music.
In this life the only one holding you back from reaching your true potential is yourself. There are many people who took nothing and turned it into something. But it took time, effort, dedication and hard work. Don’t think that you’re just gonna sit on your two butt cheeks and things in life will come knocking on your door, or on your cell.
You have to venture out, meet new people, and surround yourself with people that are doing the same thing you’re doing. Hang with people that are taking advantage of their time and not wasting it away in negative things and scrolling down the screens of their gadgets and watching stupid shhh on TIKTOK and Youtube. Because there are many things that can waste your time and you will never get back, besides committing crimes, gang banging, drug dealing, you can also be party heavy, a social drinker who drinks every day, going to every concert, using drugs every day because it’s part of the way you deal with the everyday stress of going to work and paying bills.
Time waits for no man. Time lost is time you will not get back. There is no such thing as making up for lost time. In reality it means, when you lose an opportunity, whether that be to change your life, or the opportunity to tell your loved ones how much you love them, make sure you don’t lose that same opportunity again.
This applies to many things in life. This could be for a job opportunity, an educational opportunity, or maybe the opportunity that I received here right now. I got the chance to be a father again. I have a son now. He’s nine and a half months old.
I have twin daughters in the Bay Area that I absolutely love and are grown now. Because of me being in the streets, I caught a case while they were four years old, which led me to prison, and then which lead me to get deported here to Nicaragua. I had to see them grow through letters, drawings, and five minute phone calls a month for me being in the hole.
Now, I obviously talk to them through the phone and chat, but them over there, and me over here. This second opportunity that I have right now to be dad, I’m not going to screw this up. So, I’m not going to make up for lost time, I have to be here in the present.
I’m making decisions that will help me be a better father, a better brother and a better person overall. I have the opportunity to really raise my son and have him learn from all my mistakes, so he could be better than me. I’m not going to waste it. My dear beloved brother and founder of this magazine used to always, say “Time is of essence.”
So don’t waste it people. One love to everybody going through the struggle. The. Beat keeps going and going. Long live David!
OT is a wonderful strong father that will continue to provide for his beautiful family and baby Jaden David through his example of love, compassion and hard work. OT, thank you for reminding us to make the most of every day. Often, we get so busy, we forgot to be kind and to try to connect with people around us and be our best every day. Time is of the essence, so don’t waste a minute.