After 3 years Behind Bars...

...this is what I learned and will share. I have a perspective you can never have, but perhaps can shake something loose within your mind.

Freedom is not just physical. Geez, I heard all the songs that referred to the idea that we can live in the prison of our own making, but really didn't ever stop to understand what that meant. Losing my physical freedom has opened my mind to what real freedom is and have concluded it has two parts to it. The first part is a belief that there is a place, reserved specifically for me, that I am supposed to take up in this world. The second part is when you realize where (not physically) this place is, we are free to show the world our real self...and this leads me to another epiphany.

"Happy", which seems to be the ultimate goal, is not what I typically associated with it - comfort, vacations, ability to spend, and people liking you. The best definition of happy that I am experiencing right now from my prison cell is "Working at capacity towards something meaningful." My association with comfort and happiness was a significant chain. Also, not everyone is going to like you if you are DOING something meaningful.

I can't be cancelled. As a person who has gone to prison and will be labeled a felon, I have already been cancelled. This provides the freedom to do meaningful things.

Back-against-the-wall adversity is damn real. I used to see the quotes "you find out what your made of" and, boy that is true as true gets. Adversity is a tremendous opportunity, and not to find out what your made up, but for the conditions it creates within that has the ability to set your path towards your place in this world. My adversity created a highly charged emotional state that I channel towards working at my capacity towards something meaningful.

Probably repetitive, but comfort stands in the way of unleashing your real self. I spent way too much time pursuing a comfortable life instead of a meaningful one.

Tracy Lawrence and Tim McGraw said it best in their song "Find out who your friends (and family) are" and it is one of the greatest gifts of life when you see a person stand by you, step up for you, or go to bat for you. You are not promised this, but when you witness it like I have, you will live the rest of your life with a sense of gratefulness that many are not able to experience.

All along, I had the ability to develop the inner strength necessary to face life's headwinds. There are many ways to do this I am sure, I happen to use fitness as a means to developing my resolve. In prison, there is no motivation to look good or be fit so use fitness as a practical way of developing my resilience that helps me work at my capacity to do something meaningful (seems to be my theme).

Prison sucks. It is inhumane and sad. I don't want you to experience it, which is why I write these things and am creating Selah Trails. Perhaps in a small way, my experience and/or the trail can unlock some freedom for you!