-JSM, Sonoma What I would tell my younger self is to enjoy school, be involved in the community, and to be yourself. I would tell myself to not be scared to choose a path in life as long as it’s a good, successful path. Go on forward, and don’t be scared to face your fears and challenges. One last thing I would tell my younger self is to make wise choices, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or take another step forward to better yourself in any way. Don’t be scared to spread your wings.
Continue ReadingDeveloping a Healthy Life Plan Helps Me
-Johnny Rodriguez, Stockton, CA Developing a healthy life plan helps me stay the course of my personal short and long term goals. Realizing that I am responsible for a realistic healthy life plan empowered me to be accountable and not circumvent my accountability or responsibility for my healthy life plan. Healing my mind of ignorance and the spirit of indecisiveness lets me think out a realistic plan, especially more than one addiction to manage my recovery cultivating my sane judgment and not deviating from reality. Becoming educated was key within drawing upon healthy mental insight to think out a plan
Continue ReadingWe Are All Unique
-Ricky Kong, San Quentin State Prison, CA “Every single year, we’re a different person. I don’t think we’re the same person all of our lives.”-Steven Spielberg So true! My body takes longer to recover, I am getting wrinkles, and white hair starts filling my head. I don’t look the same! The way I think, and value has changed. I am not the same person, as I was yesterday. As a human being we are evolving physically, mentally, and spiritually. We never stop learning. In each moment of our lives, we face many challenges and opportunities. These moments allow us to
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Volume 29.39/40
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 29.39/40
Welcome readers! To another fantastic double edition of the one and only The Beat Within. We are still going strong getting the issue out to you all, as quickly as possible every other week. First of all, I would like to extend a warm embrace to all you participants that are a part of our writing community, from all the editors, volunteers, typists, teachers, counselors, and to all the participants both youth and adults that step up to the plate speaking your truths, week in and week out. This is to all of you that make The Beat Within happen.
Continue ReadingSharing What I Got
-A, San Francisco One thing that makes me feel good about helping is when I help my friends while we are locked up. If I’m able to get something from the staff, I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. I like to give something to my friends. Even if I’m not very close with someone, I still like to share what I got because at the end of the day, even though some people are going through more than others, we are all in a similar situation while we are locked up. Everyone is going through something. Whether it’s some
Continue ReadingHoping for Another Chance
-JR, Albuquerque How my life changed after coming to JDC was it all happened so quickly, like in a blink of an eye. The day when everything happened, that’s when I started fighting for my freedom. The first few months here were stressful, overthinking my situation. The food in here is horrible. I’m barely getting used to it till this day. After one year still here, I am waiting to go home to have freedom and to spend time with my family. I will never give up to get a second chance in life. Day by day, I try to
Continue ReadingOvercoming Fears
-Z, Sacramento “Those who are successful overcome their fear and take action. Those who don’t, submit to their fears and live in regret.” -Jay Z The most important part of being scared is to overcome your fears. One day you could simply stop being scared of something or realize that fear is part of you. It is very important to overcome your fears because if not, you continue being enslaved by that fear. It doesn’t let you act fully; it handcuffs you at the most unsuitable moments of your life.
Continue ReadingDon’t Forget About Us
-Matthew Graziotti, United State Penitentiary Tucson in Tucson, AZ I spent many years remodeling my small starter home, painstakingly ripping out the old and slowly rebuilding as time and funds allowed. I rebuilt the bathrooms, completely redesigned the kitchen, and replaced all of the closet shelving. From painting to gardening, I plugged away at the never ending to do list. It was not only fun, but rewarding when a project was finally completed, and I could enjoy the fruits of my labor. There were plants still in starter pots and products still in their original packaging, when all my efforts
Continue ReadingA Common Thread
-Betty Martinez, Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, CA Hey Beat, this topic is a common thread we all share. If you’re reading this right now, it doesn’t matter how old we are, where we come from, what we look like, or what we identify as, we all can relate to being wrongly assumed upon. You know what though, you don’t even gotta tell ‘em any different. Do you, be you (the real you) and in time it will come out, their mistake. Holding wrong assumptions can stunt us in getting to know someone for who they really are and
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