Prison Journal: Day 8,126
November 8, 2009
Last year I made a friend here at Taft Camp. His name is Justin Paperny and he served a year with me. Justin was a stockbroker who received a modest sentence for violating securities laws. More important than the white collar crimes that brought Justin to prison was the productive ways that he used his sentence to bring meaning to his life.
Justin recognized that he couldn’t sit around moping over the time he served. Instead, he had to use the sanction as an opportunity for introspection. Through that better understanding of himself, Justin was able to create a schedule while serving his sentence that would lead to a more fulfilling life upon his release. I admire what he did, and I was happy to receive a letter that describes the career he’s been building during his first six months after release.
While serving his sentence, Justin wrote a book that he titled Lessons From Prison. He wrote the book to help other white collar offenders understand the system, and to use the book as a teaching tool that would show other professionals the consequences that frequently follow unethical behavior. He’s now leading a niche business speaking about ethics and consulting with others who want to make the best use of their time.
When I read about Justin’s success, I’m encouraged at the opportunities that await my release. I don’t know how much time I have remaining to serve, but I have 267 months of prison behind me, and I feel strongly that the lessons I’ve learned will be of value to others who face struggle in their own lives.
This morning I ran 10 miles and followed the run with 350 pushups.
[consecutive running log: 2,944 miles over the past 330 days]
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Related posts:
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