Daniel Gwynn Blog Update
Date: 01/29/13
Subject: "Spine Check"

I overheard an antagonist's comment the other day that, "He don't have no spine, no backbone". Most prisoner's ride off their reputations (street credibility), or they make a name for themselves in here. I couldn't understand how he had thought this applied to me? All I did was choose to not engage in a frivolous argument, so how does this make me "spineless?"
I have no "street creds" or a violent history that would gain me any jail-house respect. I had renounced my former self for a more positive one. I chose to rehabilitate myself, and one aspect of that journey was learning to love and respect myself again. Accepting that I had any worth was very difficult after the number my parents did on me. But I learned that I do have worth, and am still growing in it.
The next thing I did was to change my attitude about life by taking responsibility for who I am and what I do(did). I shocked many people by admission of my former life as a "crack addict". There's nothing but shame in my adventurous tales from the dark side, but the truth must be told. I then had to learn to respect life, especially other people. Respecting other people has been a challenge; but the basic is to treat others as I would wish to be treated. And life in general is so majestic and commands respect for it's beauty and ferocity. Nature feeds us and inspires us, but also spanks us when we get disrespectful. Good or bad, "Life is what we make of it" and we only have one life to. So why take one second for granted!
I choose to make my life mean something; a positive contribution free of conflict and hostility. I don't feel I need to be the tough guy on the block, or prove anything at all. So does this make me "spineless"? I don't think so!

Signed by Daniel Gwynn