4-19-11
Dear Outside World,
Has anyone out there ever looked in the
mirror in the early morning and said, 'There
has to be a better way?' I'm sure some of
you have. I say that to myself every
morning when I open my still curious brown
eyes inside this belly of the beast. There has
to be a better way.
I'm sick and tired of people telling me
how I should do my time and live my life.
Since I've been inside the belly of the beast (prison)
I've learned a lot about myself and what I want
and need from life. I finally figured out that
I rock! I'm solid as a rock. I'm a collection
of characteristics both physical and mental
that makes me completely unique. No one else
anywhere is exactly like me, and I realize
that not everyone who crosses my path will be
interested in what I have to offer. But my
strength comes from my belief that someone
somewhere can and will appreciate me for
who I am and what I am.
Stop telling me how I should act and
be!! No one can determine who I am but
myself. They can offer me advice,they can
guide me, but in the final analysis the problem
is completely mine for I have abilities that are
completely unique to me and the challenge is
for me to discover them, to develop them and
to use them, for then and only then will I
know who I am...
Now tell me, who's your self-esteem?
Is it other people who make you seem?
Is it what you wear and all that gleams?
Is it the color that makes you black, white
blue or green?
Is it ownership, borrowed, given or still
unseen?
Can you taste, touch, smell or even keep it
dirty or clean?
No it's you and all your thoughts in between
it's how you feel
and what you know
it's how you encompass your power
to change and grow.
You're the only one to make that personal
image work
even if you have a couple of secondary quirks
it's up to you to acknowledge it
and accept yourself as a gift
it's up to you to take that optimistic challenge
and uplift yourself...
Despite my circumstance
of being inside this belly of the beast (prison).
I am the boss of me! I can see, hear, feel,
think, say and do. I have to tools to survive,
to be close to others, to be productive, and to
make sense out of this crazy world. No one
can tear down what I've built up inside
of me.
I know I'm special and that I still have a
lot to offer. If people can't see that then
they are not only ignorant but blind also.
I'm strong but human!
By: Christopher Trotter