- Spent time with friends in our lounge.
- Pando app: Marriage comedy session “Laugh Your Way To a Better Marriage. -Pando app: “King David’s Jerusalem” and the movie “We Believe”
- Girl gives me the book “12 Rules For Life” to borrow.
A woman in my dorm is going home very soon, after decades of prison, and wrote me a character witness letter after being granted parole herself. I listened while she gave me advice that I politely listened to, but will not take:
Her advice was to forget the outside/free world. For years, she didn’t watch TV. She didn’t want to see the free world. She warned me not to have my mind “out there” or I would “go crazy.” It’s interesting, because she added that now that she’s close to release, she has to think about the free world and feels extremely scared and overwhelmed. I smiled, thinking about how Michael Santos has spoken to his students, like me, about this very thing in his lessons.
This is the worst advice to give someone in prison. It does not prepare me for success. If I followed her advice, I’d be doing my husband a tremendous disservice by a) not having things in common with him and b) making things harder on him to deal with when I’m home. The advice/mindset provides a lack of hope or motivation. It creates more of a handicapped situation for me ON TOP of the obstacles I’ll already have.
Being released is already emotionally challenging for those around me. They feel anxious, worried, and scared. They won’t admit that it’s “fear” but they claim it’s just anxiousness or worry. I will stay connected to the “free world” and stay informed on the news, technology, and on the things my husband and loved ones are interested in so I can connect with them deeper.
My husband wanted me to watch the WA Commanders game, since that’s his favorite team. I’ve always hated football, but I watched the entire game, learned a lot from Coach who watched it with me (she explained things happening).
