Brad's Letter

[Guest guest]

I received the following letter last week form an inmate in

Indiana. It's a tribute to the letter writing of two Circle of Love

Inside volunteers. Also it shows that there is an unassalilable

core of goodness in everyone, regardless of appearances and address

and it can be made to shine by something as simple as kindness.

 

12-20-07

 

Dear Friends,

 

…I received 2 cards today and I realized that I hadn't written in a

while. It's very easy to forget people who care while your world is

in chaos and confusion. For this, I apologize. You all have cared,

helped and stood next to me during the most tragic and life altering

time that I have endured, and I have been through a lot.

 

I've lost many friends and older family members. I've handled

everything in my life that was a serious loss or change—such as

being a ward of the state from 11 to 18, bouncing from children's

hospitals (long term) to group homes, not ever (being) able to see

my children, being shot in the back, being a meth addict, and

arrests—like it was a fashion statement. I've seen guys in here get

whooped, stabbed and killed. Nothing compared to the feelings I had

when I lost my father.

 

I suddenly realized how insignificant this world of violence,

drugs, prison and loose life really was. It led me to this cell and

it never helped anyone any more than it helped me. I rarely thought

of peace and love and only about myself. Losing my dad opened my

eyes. I lost 5 years of my life and gained a lifetime of knowledge.

(Prison) is where not to be anymore, and I don't plan on it.

 

Life looks more promising now than what I saw a year or two ago. I

see my path, the path my father saw and tried to take me down, the

one I should have followed in the first place. Prison won't stop me

from succeeding and living out the rest of my life comfortably.

Whenever I needed durgs, a car, money, a place to stay, I did

anything and everything I could until I got or found what I was

looking for. I never gave up until I got it. Now all I have to do

is use that attitude on my revival of a straight and good life.

Thanks to the kindness of loving and caring people such as

yourselves and others, it makes me want to succeed so that I can

make a difference in someone else's life like you did for me. It's

time I help bring peace in whatever way I can.

 

With all that being said, I'm proud to tell you that in less than

90 days (March 13, 2008), I will be paroled. I'll have only 9

months of parole supervision and then I am finished. I don't have a

home to go to so the Department of Corrections is setting me up in a

paid hotel room for 30 days. After that, I have to have my own

spot. I'll get a $75 check and that's it. Motel or not, I'm going

to be all right. I know the charity places to go to for food,

clothing and assistance. I have people telling me to come see them

when I'm out and they'll help me. I can get food stamps and bus

passes. I have an SACCI college scholarship and a vocational grant.

 

All this is far from drugs, guns, violence, arrests and deviancy

that I used to do. None of that worked and it gave me and many

others heartaches, pains, and shame. So, because none of that got me

anywhere, I'm doing the exact opposite.

 

I'm going to take myself somewhere. Wherever it is, I'm going to

defy the odds, stand up and not be a statistic. Wherever I go,

whatever I do, I'll take the same kind of love, kindness, care and

compassion that you've bestowed upon me and I will bestow that on

others. Thank you for everything, including your love and support.

 

Your friend,

 

Brad

Bunker Hill IN

 

There are 60 inmates on my Needs Letter Writer list right now. If

you would like to share some of the love you receive from Amma by

writing to someone in prison, please contact

circle.of.love.inside and introductory information will be

sent to you.

 

Jai Ma!

 

Aikya