We welcome you readers back to another double dose edition of the one and only The Beat Within. It’s OT coming at you guys live from the land that quakes and shakes, and the hot volcanic rocks of Managua, Nicaragua.
We have once again completed another great issue of our magazine filled with a lot of positivity, wisdom and great stories.
One of the things I like about reading what you young people have to say is that you are all very smart. When I was locked up at your age, I never quite expressed myself in the manner that you all do. Matter of fact, I don’t even think I wrote many positive pieces. I never thought about my future because I felt like I did not have any control over it. I remember writing a few raps, and pieces that reflected my negative mind state at that point in my life during my time in juvenile hall.
One thing I always loved about The Beat is having the option of writing whatever I wanted to write, not just on the topics. I remember back then a young Michael Krol (Einstein as some of you may know him as) would tell me to just let my pencil do the talking.
I am forty now, till this very day when I write I follow those words Michael has told me, whether it’s for The Beat Within or my own personal music, poems, and creative writing that I do. I just let the pencil flow, or in some cases I let my fingers tap dance all over my MacBook keyboard.
So, as I dip into the spill that I’m about to give y’all, I want to chime my two cents in one of our writing prompts, which is by Carl Jung.
“Loneliness does not come from having no people around you, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to you.” Carl Jung
Now, at first glance at this quote, I was being a bit ignorant when I asked myself, who’s this nerd? Why is he so famous? So, I decided to do what I always do when I don’t know much about anybody and at least google him. I read some of his life’s work, his story and what he was about.
I actually spent more time than I should’ve researching about his life, and it’s pretty interesting. I have to say I do agree slightly on his quote, (about fifteen percent) and the rest of my (eighty five percent) in my body strongly disagrees with him.
I don’t want to get philosophical, but we all change and evolve as we grow older. I remember having a conversation with Michael about this topic waaaaay back in the day when we used to work at the office.
I was on an ankle monitor at the time and fresh home from a county bid. I was conversing with Mike about loneliness and how being locked up in solitary confinement is a different type of loneliness than actually being in general population and interacting with other inmates. Also, that being locked up in a cell for extended periods of time can create that mind state of loneliness for people at those most vulnerable moments in their lives.
We went to a Beat Within presentation and we had a Q and A. That’s a young person asks me how can prisoners feel lonely when they are technically not alone. Then, without even letting me answer, the young man kept talking and went as far as to say that we had all the luxuries of the free world like TV, food, cell phones, for free on taxpayer money.
The fact that the youngster painted prison like Disneyland had me confused, but I kind of new where he was going with it. Really, I was fresh out, and sometimes, those kind of questions and comments to someone who had done real time and not in Disneyland, could be at the very least, disrespectful and insulting.
Stuck with nothing to say, Michael queued in immediately (rescuing me) answering the young guy and told him, “Grab your phone, your TV, your playstation, and everything you love that you have at home, and put it in the bathroom. Lock yourself in there, with no contact from your family and friends. See, if you can last a week in there.”
I never thought about like that, but it was a great perspective to give to someone who had no idea of what goes on inside the prison system. The kid hesitated a bit and then answered, I wouldn’t be able to do it. He said he would need they physical contact with his loved ones like hugs to his mom and dad and play with his little brother. The other things didn’t matter.
Michael’s point proven, and this is why I don’t agree with Carl Jung’s statement. Loneliness does come from not being able to hug your loved ones or play with your little sister or brother. Even arguing with your parents are regular things in your life that once taken away from you, you will miss for sure.
The fact that we get to go school, college, work, meetings, sporting events, concerts, etc, those type of environment settings allows us humans to have friends, classmates, co-workers, teammates and that could create sometimes life-long friendships and bonds. Those are the things that we all live and die for, a sense of community, and a sense of belonging.
But he does address something important with the second part of the quote which states… “but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to you.” The feeling of not being heard is probably one of the ugliest sentiments that one could feel, especially when you’re asking for help.
So, I lightly agree on that end. Loneliness is a mind state that we all go through at times, when we feel the most stressed out. We usually don’t feel lonely when we’re involved in an activity, going to the gym, playing a sport, going out to eat, having fun and having the freedom to do whatever we want. However, I do find plenty of people that even with the freedom to do whatever they want in life, they often feel lonely.
It may be because they have no one that they can confide in to talk about their problems. But whenever you feel lonely, don’t be afraid to trust yourself, and trust your mighty pen. Write down whatever it is you may be feeling.
When you’re in that cell, trust me it will get lonely. When you’re in court fighting a case, trust me, it’s a lonely process. When you’re hustling up money to pay the bills and put food on the table, it could feel lonely without help and support.
Luckily for those of us who are privy to see the inspirational words from our brave young writers, it’s just a small reminder that maybe you’re not as alone as you may think you are. Lean on the folks you trust and love, and the ones that love you back even more.
Remember, you always have The Beat Within, to help communicate your deepest thoughts. We’re listening…one love to everybody that’s a part of our community. The Beat keeps going and going…long live David. OT is signing out with the utmost love and respect.