Oct. 6, 2012 #32

Make up your mind, not excuses!

If we look we can always find an excuse for not attempting the difficult, or even the seemingly impossible. The thing that I have found is that the harder something is to do the more value there is in doing it.

Last year I was moved out of my nice semi-private cell to live in a emergency housing situation in the gym. If I went on to describe that situation it would take forever and would not be believed by many. It was horrendous! No room to stand, it was filthy beyond belief, zero privacy and just a nightmarish situation. There were eight tables, four seats each, for 240 inmates. There was drugs and booze pouring in as no one could really because in a open living situation who is to say what belongs to who. Add to that homosexual activity off the charts and it was bad for a guy like me.

I had just enrolled in three college courses when I was moved into that situation. I felt I had to drop out, at least for a while. A guy I barely knew over heard me say so, looked at me and just said "Really?" That was it, I through out all the excuses, and I had a long list of valid excuses! I decided to make up my mind not excuses and got busy. One of the courses I was taking was Ethnic Studies. The instructor wanted 10 five page reports, 10 two page current event reports, and a ten page bound report! Al for one course! As I was typing my very first paper two guys decided they needed to stab each other repeatedly, so they did just that.

I had my typewriter on a very small self about 24 inches off the ground and was sitting on a bucket, the code 1 went off for the fight so I had to get down, so I am on the floor, cops running everywhere, praying for the guys stabbed and holding my hands even with my forehead while typing. That is making my mind up!! peace. love. faith.