October 14, 2008
Goals I Set For Myself Upon Incarceration
Within a few days of reporting to Taft Camp, I set a clear goal of reading at least 3 books a month. Since I was unsure what genre to read, I spent a ton of hours in the prison library skimming through hundreds of books. Many prisoners who had served time in other facilities told me that Taft’s library was the best.
My commitment to reading 3 books a month initially seemed a bit ambitious. Since I graduated from college the only books I read were on investments and sales.
The first two weeks were spent on the classics including Vanity Fair by William Thackeray, The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev. At 33 years old I figured it was time to read the writings of some of the world’s greatest authors.
The book Flow by Mikaly Csikszewtmihalyi has had a significant impact in preparing me for the challenges that await me upon my release. It helped me understand that I could enjoy life regardless of my surroundings. I’ve taught myself to take pleasure in experiences that many would find unbearable. I understand that my brief stay in prison pales in comparison to what millions have had to endure and those who will endure in the future. Flow provides several examples of heroic people who have struggled through treacherous experiences. Yet, during their tough times they managed to remain positive and disciplined. In a nut sell, those are my goals as well.
Justin Paperny
