Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 29.37/38
Greetings far and wide to our Beat Within community! We’re back with another double issue of groundbreaking work from our incarcerated community across the country. We’re turning our editorial note over to our longtime friend and colleague, Omar Turcios. Take it away, Omar! This is the only OT tasked again with bringing you the message for the week. First off plenty of blessings and love sent to each and every one of you. The advice topic was really popular, and I had a feeling it would be. All you readers, young or a little bit older, said some great things
Continue ReadingChallenging Myself
-Christina, San Francisco Something I changed a lot about myself is my actions and accountability. Also known as following a program turned my life to God, and preparing for the worst but preparing for the best. Another thing I changed is going to school more, got back on my feet learned to write, draw. Even throw my past life away which was the biggest challenge I had to overcome. Started to eat little more, a lot of fruit and actually gave food a shot. Engaging programs. The people I thought were my friends aren’t my friends. A challenge was to
Continue ReadingNeglecting My Problems
-DZ, Albuquerque Most of the time I focus on others rather than myself. My need to fix other people’s problems and struggles is the burden that I carry. Even before I got locked up, I had to be the person to solve problems and the person everyone could count on. That made me neglect all of my problems and eventually I got hurt. I am an extremely caring and loving person, but I have learned that I can’t help anyone until I help myself first. I have finally decided it is time for me to put the love, energy and
Continue ReadingLord Please
-Michael leak, St. Louis Correctional Facility, MII’ve seen blood stains that don’t wash awayAnd strung out junkies that score everydayI’ve seen little girls get sold for drugsAnd their momma praised these horrible thugsChasing that blow with a check addicted soulStanding on the corner in the middle of the coldThen those little girls grew up into a gangSo visualize the funerals and the songs they sangI speak from black tears that cry the bluesAnd I write my tomorrow’s before the five o’clock newsBecause everything today will repeat once againSo I write my tragedy with a black penI write my tears upon
Continue ReadingSpending Time with Those We Love
-Bishop, San Quentin State Prison, CA What if you could spend time with anyone, who would it be? When you think about answering this what if question, picture the person, put a face to that person, and then see yourself with that person doing whatever it is you enjoyed doing before you became the person who you believe you are today. When you do this, ask yourself what would you be doing with that person if that person was someone who knew that there was something special about you and who genuinely believed in all you could accomplish? Where would
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Volume 29.35/36
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 29.35/36
This is the only OT tasked again with bringing you the message for the week. First off plenty of blessings and love sent to each and every one of you. The advice topic was really popular, and I had a feeling it would be. All you readers, young or a little bit older, said some great things about who you take advice from. You even detailed situations, and many of you shared an example of a time you took some advice. I was really inspired by all you guys and gals, writing, that I want to go ahead and touch
Continue ReadingA Surprise Trip
-L, Sacramento When I was like ten, my whole family took a surprise trip to my family’s home town in Mississippi. My dad never told me or my little brother about the trip, we just woke up early one morning and we went to my auntie’s house. Then, we got in a big van with the rest of my family and we started a long drive to my uncle’s house to pick up family, and even then my dad still didn’t tell us where we were going until we got to my uncle’s house. After the long three hour and
Continue ReadingMy Joy Is on Mondays
-Spaz, San Francisco The joy in my life is that you guys come every Monday and we write about different topics so that we can express ourselves. It helps me express myself and I can show my ideas to other counties and places. Maybe somebody reading will like my writing and sponsor me. I like to read the magazine when it comes. I like to see who has Pieces of the Week. I like to see when my pieces are in the magazine, they are usually in the front. I just try my best every week so I can get
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