To our readers and writers far and wide, greetings from The Beat Within! The weather outside may be frightful, but the writing of this latest issue is oh-so-delightful. As you’ll see, it’s our pleasure to showcase a range of writing dedicated to extending gratitude to ourselves and to each other – writing that honors how we came to be here, what we’re working towards, and the people and places we take with us along the way. Joining us in our editorial section are two interns we hosted this fall from Urban High School of San Francisco, Vaani and Leili. Vaani
Continue ReadingTaking Care of the Kid
by Sione, San Mateo When I first came here to the US, we lived with our uncle for almost a year or so. I met my mom’s best friend’s kid and he was very young. I loved the kid, so I started to be around him and treat him like my son. I got to know him better while I was with my uncle. There was another kid but he was older and more aggressive, and he liked to chase me with anything that would do damage or he would bite me out of nowhere. I tried to be nice
Continue ReadingI Worry About Her
by Worried Big Brother, Stanislaus The little one in my life is my little sister. The reason why I chose my little sister is because, to be honest, I don’t know. My little sister has just always been someone I had a heart for. When we were younger I used to share a room with her. My parents would have us take baths together. We always went swimming together. We ate dinner together. We just did everything together. But, a reason I’m always worried about her is because she is the only blood sibling I grew up with. I would
Continue ReadingThe Love I Give Out
by D, Sacramento Love is a tough subject for me in many ways. It’s something I’ve always desired, despised, fiended for and got the tough side of. I didn’t get it when I needed it and it was something I gave up on. It seems that the love I give out, I never get in return. Nobody shows the unconditional love that I do. The loyalty through thick and thin. It’s messed up ain’t it. Yeah now let me tell you what made me have the desire for love. I grew up without my mother because she died when I
Continue ReadingMy Turning Point Changed Me for the Better
by Michael Sperling, San Quentin State Prison, CA There’s been many events in my life that were turning points for me, such as leaving the gang or leaving general population and going to a “Special Needs Yard.” But one recent event that took place in the last couple months I would have to say is my biggest turning point and the one I’m most proud of. But before I tell you about it, allow me to tell you a little bit about my childhood. From the ages of three to eleven, my father severely beat me on the daily. At
Continue ReadingBeating a Drum to our Hearts
by Sausedo P, CMF in Vacaville, CA My motivation was sparked when I found out. I was lost because I would drug myself to a sleep-state of consciousness that I would forget my purpose in life. Yet I can still hear “the beat within my” heart. It calls out, “Remember your journey.” But I can’t hear it because I’ve drugged myself to a state of sleep, an unconscious state to where I forget my rules and purpose. We all were born in cosmic energy. We were sent by our creator to this world to protect and serve it
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Volume 28.43/44
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 28.43/44
Greetings to our Beat Within community! It’s a pleasure to welcome you back to another stellar issue of writing and artwork from the inside and beyond. For this issue, our community delves into the complicated feelings that can arise with returning home, what it means to live a healthy life, who we celebrate during this year’s Day of the Dead, how “responsibility” shows up in our life, quotes from John Lennon and Toni Morrison, and much, much more. The weather outside may be getting cold, but the writing in The Beat remains as fire as ever. As many of you
Continue ReadingBecoming Healthy
by Zariah, San Mateo When I look at my life and where I’m heading, I take a step back and pause. I know my life isn’t a hundred percent healthy, but physically I am healthy. Mentally and internally, I am not a hundred percent there. At times, I feel like I am internally fading away in the abyss. The people I associate with and call a relationship at least took a part of me. Every time I would try to make a healthy relationship, a little piece of my compassion for a person would fade away. My mind isn’t always
Continue ReadingMy Spiritual Journey
by Sergio, Santa Cruz My name is Sergio and I’m in here being charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor. I just recently got booked into Juvenile Hall. My trial hasn’t even started but I’ve made my first appearance in court. I’ve been a Christian almost all my life but for a while I started to separate myself from the church and even God. He’s been by my side my whole life, and I just took it for granted. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life but he’s always been with me. Even now that I pushed myself
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