Daily Journal – Day 368 – January 3, 2025
I may be a “unicorn”, so to speak, as it pertains to inmates in my particular situation or “Adults In Custody” (AICs) as we are so affectionately referred to by Ms. Peters. What do I mean by “unicorn”? Well I was (am) a businessman and entrepreneur before my conviction and founded and/or acquired 20 companies. I was operating 11 of those companies when I was sentenced. I was able to transition and/or dissolve those companies before I self-surrendered. I was an early adopter of Bitcoin (2012) and had a large mining operation as well. I have a Masters Degree and PHD and 32 year business professional.
I have been able to adjust fairly well being that I spent 16 years in the military (Army – Service Disabled Veteran) and I was accustomed to being around a lot of men in close quarters for long periods of time. I was deployed 4 times during my military career for 12-18 months at a time. So my wife (35 years) and I associate my incarceration with being on a military deployment. That helps her (and me) to deal with the fact that I will be away for another 12-14 months.
I have built a strong support network, both personal and professional and I have received great support from them during this time. I have maintained these connections/relationships that will support a seamless transition back to society. I have also developed a 12 week financial literacy curriculum that I have been teaching for almost a year. I have had 60 AICs participate in the course.
As I reflect on my first full year in prison, I was able to get back to exercising and getting back in shape. I had not worked out in almost 3 years. I lost over 50 pounds. I think prison saved my life. This is probably the best sleep that I have had in over 25 years. I read 32 books and I will send in book reports for my profile under separate cover. I wrote 4 book manuscripts and mentored more than 15 AICs in the camp; not to mention the 60+ that attended my course.
I will write more later.
Ben
