We make memories every day. Whether these are the best, looking back on them, or the worst, still we are memorialising our life journey.
Being incarcerated is not the end, it could be a rerouting to a greater path in your life.
Just make it your mission to leave the old ‘you’ behind and start working on a better, upgraded version of yourself.
Be brave and make that good, hard self-analysis and take that look in the mirror. “Who was I?”, “Who do I want to become?” and most importantly “How can I do this?”.
But, I must tell you, it will not always be easy.
Be a pioneer and explore resources within and outside of the prison. What education or short courses can you do. Can you ask for a college grant. Faith bases programs will help you grow spiritually. Find a job, save money and keep on tithing.
We live in a community in prison, we may not get along with everybody, but it is still very important to give to those around you, whether it is a sleeve of crackers, a noodle soup or an old T-shirt. While we may be over eating, the person in the top bunk may be going to bed hungry and cold.
Write letters to your loved ones if you cannot afford email, phone calls or video visits. Keep the communication channels open. We made mistakes, but we have dragged our loved ones with us in this whirlpool of emotions. In a way, they are doing time too.
Budget your finances well in prison, you do not have to spend the full Commissary spend every month. Do you really need 10 T-shirts and 5 pairs of tennis shoes, not to mention al those costs to alter your clothing to make them body fit…
Do you really need someone in prison to clean the room, which is hardly larger than a postage stamp?
Maintain your sense of duty, responsibility, I cannot stress this enough, this will be your life line on the outside. You may dream of a career with a company, or start your own business, but will you be able to hold on to a job if you do not have a single healthy habit?
All my life, I have woken up at 4:30 AM, I pray, work out, prepare breakfast and lunch for my family and be out the door by 6:30 AM. I have maintained a similar routine in prison. When the guards do the 5 AM count, I am ready to go to the showers, get dressed, make my coffee and leave the cell clean and organised before I go to work. The more you stick to a healthy routine or habit, the more it becomes 2nd nature and will cost no effort whatsoever. Be very disciplined in all you do and challenge yourself constantly.
Our bodies and minds work like memory foam, but we need to maintain them in a healthy manner.
Plan your future, a house is built brick by brick, but without a plan, it will never turn out right.
Take control now and not tomorrow!
Sherida Nabi
