Thursday, January 22, 2009
Maintaining Perspective From Federal Prison
I couple of days ago I blogged about two struggles I have had to accept in prison. The first was the passing of my dog Honey and the second dealt with a new lawsuit pertaining to my criminal conviction. Certainly, my ability to better cope with life's difficulties helped me better stomach these blows. I also recognized that I was in prison with men who had suffered losses of far greater magnitude.
Men with whom I share space have told me countless sad stories of being abandoned, without warning, by wives and children. Others had to struggle through news that their homes were being foreclosed upon and that their families were being evicted. Men who had been removed from their families through years of confinement had to confront the reality that they would not provide effective guidance to children who were succumbing to drugs, gangs or other improprieties that could bring detrimental consequences to their lives.
I will not downplay or discount the discomfort I had for my own struggles. I acknowledge that some were the result of my criminal conduct, while some are just part of life. Like the 500 plus men around me at Taft Camp, I long for the day that I can deal with life's struggles outside the boundaries of a federal prison. I must recognize, however, and maintain proper perspective. My struggles pale in comparison to so many of the fine men with whom I am confined.
Justin Paperny
