by Adam, Albuquerque, New Mexico The one thing that I haven’t done that I really want to do is spend time with my daughter. She is about to be six months in a couple of days. This has been on my mind ever since she was born. I have a couple of pictures of her, and I can’t stop looking at them. She’s the one that keeps me going. She made me realize the purpose of my life. She made me a better person. To see my daughter, I will have to get out of JDC. I need and want
Continue ReadingA Letter To My Victim
by Lalo, San Francisco I am writing this letter to share my sincere apologies to you for the incident on February 2021. I am really sorry for what I did. I feel your struggle and pain and I’m sorry for putting you and your family through these moments. I didn’t want to do what I did and I wish I could take the day back and things would be different. That night, things happened so fast that I did not think. I just acted. At first, I thought I had killed you and I panicked. I remember when I got
Continue ReadingSculpting My Image
by Gucc, San Mateo I’ve been reading a book on psychological improvement. Actually, I finished the book recently. So, I’ve been working on myself in every aspect. I’ve been doing a whole lot of introspection, seeing who I really am. I also have been practicing meta-cognition and if you don’t know what that is, it’s being aware of your thoughts so basically thinking about thinking. Some people don’t ever question their thoughts. They just think that that is themselves talking. But truthfully, your mind isn’t you. Even though it sounds strange, it’s true. On average a person has 50,000 thoughts
Continue ReadingNo Short-Cuts In Life
by Ray Sanchez Jr., Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, CA Not so long ago, a friend of mine earned his parole. I say “earned” because he did not just sit and wait for his time to run out, he actively sought to change himself and enrolled in activities that not only helped to shorten his sentence, but also improve his life. He did not begin his life, “working hard”, or with a will to “give it back,” as Hank Aaron admonishes us to do. Quite the opposite. He was a young black male, and he was exposed to a
Continue Reading“Everything In Your Life Is A Reflection Of A Choice You Have Made If You Want a Different Result, Make A Different Choice”
by Efren Bullard Prison Yard in Centinela State Prison I found that quote and thought it would be nice to share it with some people who could really use something different in their lives. We all have said, “I wish I could go back and do this or that, or relive my life?” Time and life doesn’t work like that. We can never go back and change what has been done. So, when you make the choice to rob someone what you are doing is forever changing that person’s life and your life forever. When you make the choice to
Continue Reading
Volume 26.25/26
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 26.25/26
Greetings! Hard to believe we are now in the month of July! Half the year is gone!! We hope 2021 is moving in the right direction for you all! We can’t thank you enough for your continued support, as readers and stories. The recent work coming from our very insightful writers is so impressive. We are honored to showcase the amazing talent and heartfelt writings from our young and old, who courageously step up each week to teach and share through their journeys, free and incarcerated. This latest double issue, 26.25/26, will truly not disappoint. We are incredibly moved by
Continue ReadingThen and Now
by JU, San Francisco If you can use one word to describe who I am right now, I would say I am ready. I am ready to push through whatever I need to. I am ready to do whatever I need to do to get through the next phase of my life. I’m ready to knock the rest of my sentence out, and ultimately, I am ready to get out and be a productive member of society so I can provide for my family. I want to put an end to all the stress I have caused from being locked
Continue ReadingHigh School Diploma
by Jeramiah, Albuquerque, New Mexico The hardest task that I had to do was getting my high school diploma. I say this was the most difficult task for me because I would never try or push past my limits. It took many sacrifices and being in trouble for me to realize that I need to get my life straight. It was not easy, but I got through it. I thank my mom and family members so much for their support. If I didn’t have them around, I don’t think I would have made it this far. I also had many
Continue ReadingPush Me To Do Better
by Carlos, Santa Clara One important man in my life is my father. He always tries to push me to do better than I’m doing. He is also a motivational speaker, always telling me to think ahead. He means a lot to me because he makes me re-think my actions and consequences. We always have a good connection but not when I’m in trouble. He likes to say if I get in trouble then he doesn’t want anything to do with me, but I feel like he only says that so I don’t get in trouble. He really pushes me
Continue Reading