Standouts - The Beat Within

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Page 49
Stop Getting In Trouble
My New Year’s resolution would be to stop getting in trouble and
stay out of the system. I would also like to control my drinking and
smoking habits. I would also like to focus on my physical health.
-Josh
From The Beat: We have a hunch that the best way to accomplish all
of your resolutions would be to focus on your drinking problem. And
the best way to do that is to ask for, and accept, some help. Millions of
people have learned how to it. And so can you. Our best wishes to you.
Trippin’
This shhh’s crazy,
I think I’m trippin’.
I’m about to go to another placement.
This time I’ll come up missin’.
I’m sorry momma,
But these squares keep snitching.
Next time things get sketchy,
I need to stop, look, and listen.
-Giant
From The Beat: Hey, take your own advice before you decide to “come
up missin’ ” when you get to your placement. Please……
Do Good
My New Year’s resolution is that I’m going to do good while I’m
locked up because I’m probably going to be locked up for awhile.
So during that time I’ll just try not to get in trouble and get with the
program. I might as well make the most of it while I’m here.
-Ivan
From The Beat: Write on, Ivan. Now make a list of what you’ll do “to
do good”. Good intentions add up to a good start. But next comes an
actual plan for what you hope to accomplish while you’re locked up.
Change My Lifestyle
My New Year’s Resolution is to change the lifestyle that I’ve lived in
the past. Also to become a better man, the kind I need to be to look
for a job and actually support my family with money and food.Also,
I want to become an example for my siblings - and actually be come
somebody in life. I want to live happy and free.
-Guillermo
From The Beat: Wonderful, thoughtful resolutions. We wish you well,
Guillermo.
My New Year’s Resolution
I wish I could have a New Year’s resolution, but I can’t because I am
going to be locked up for New Years. But I am not going to be here in
the hall. I am going to be locked up somewhere else for three years.
I have been locked up for two years, going into three years, in
the hall. I am not going to get out for a few years. Then I will make
a New Year’s Resolution.
When I get out I want to get a good job and have my own house
and my own family. I want a baby boy or a girl. I really don’t care
what I get. Whatever God gives me I will be happy with. I would also
like to get married with the female of my dreams someday.
-Bam-Bam
From The Beat: We’ll make one up for you. If you like it, you can have
it. Here it is: I resolve to read two books a week and learn three new
words each day, so that when I am released, I’ll have learned over three
thousand new words. Because I know that studies have shown that
folks with large vocabularies tend to earn more money than folks with
small vocabularies. Ok, there you have it – a New Year’s resolution ….
Yours for the taking.
Standouts Santa Cruz County Volume 17.01/02
The Free World
Man, I’m really hoping that I will be out soon so I can be with my
family and my lady. I really miss them all kinds. So please, Dear
Lord, help me out here. Forgive me from my sins. Let me be free
so I can be back out in the free world and I promise You that I will
change my ways to be a better man in my life but also to my family
and my lady.
So please, Lord, make that big miracle happen so that I will be
out soon. Amen.
-Change Boy
From The Beat: Review your personal history, Change Boy. What’s
prevented you from making these changes before now? Be very honest
with yourself. Then make a list of small things that will keep you on
the right path. And stick to it.
Steady Steppin’
Now I’m back,
Back again,
Because of a boy,
Who thinks he’s a man.
But he can’t do things,
The things that I can.
And he don’t know,
Just who I am.
Before you go,
You must come.
Become you know it,
You can be gone.
But coming back,
Is never fun.
Steady steppin’.
-Giant
From The Beat: Sounds like you’re telling us you’ve grown a bit. We
hope so.
Moments
The safe place would be my house because my mom and dad are
there. I know that they will keep me safe, no matter what happens.
The other safe place is my room. When I get mad or stressed out,
I’ll listen to music. I will put it really loud or play some war video
games.
And here, locked up, it’s a pretty safe place - but at the same
time sad - because you’re away from your family and loved ones.
Right now, I feel really depressed and really sad!
-Homesick
From The Beat: Those are normal feelings to have, now and then,
even on the outs. Here’s a trick: next time you’re feeling sad and/or
depressed, say to yourself – “I’m feeling sad and depressed”. To talk
about our feelings, to put them into words, changes those feelings,
ever so slightly, or maybe even, a lot. That’s why, when you’re feeling
really good, you should simply enjoy the experience and not talk about
it during the experience.
Smoke
I smoke till I’m gone.
I hear voices in my mind
Telling me to stop.
But I can’t,
Because my skull is so addicted to smoke.
Look at me -
I ended up in this place,
Lost everything
I had.
-Smokey
From The Beat: You haven’t had a smoke since you’ve been locked up.
And look at this cool poem. So – you can function very well without the
smoke. Maybe you needed this experience to prove it.