New prisoners don’t always self-surrender here with hopeful spirits, and I’m always inspired when a man transforms his life from inside these boundaries. Mike Levy, an acquaintance I wrote about previously, surrendered to Taft Camp weighing nearly 340 pounds. During the three months that he’s served so far, Mike has dropped nearly 70 pounds. The dramatic weight loss has boosted Mike’s spirits, and I can understand why. I’m certain that he feels much healthier, and he’s motivated to reach the goal of weighing less than 250 pounds before he concludes his sentence.

Weight loss and improved fitness represent a positive adjustment. My friend Tom, a former CEO who used to live in Alaska, is another example of improved fitness. He told me that he read my blog before he self-surrendered, and yesterday I had the privilege of meeting his sister in the visiting room. She is inspired by Tom’s positive adjustment, which she can see by his weight loss. What she can’t see are the positive ways that her brother contributes to the lives of others in Taft Camp. While I’m writing, I frequently share space with Tom as he tutors other prisoners in math and accounting.

Obviously, no one wants to serve time in prison. When individuals struggle through the justice procedures they endure the worst part of the journey. When they’re in the earliest stages as criminal defendants, they live in complete blindness, totally dependent on defense attorneys for guidance. They don’t have any concept about how onerous the sanction will be, nor do they know how life will change for them as prisoners.

Men like Mike and Tom and other prisoners I’ve met who recently began serving sentences at Taft show that the human spirit is remarkably buoyant. Some may live with anxieties about how time in prison can sink a person, yet those who face the challenges with courage and perseverance always triumph. It is possible to create hope through positive attitudes. Even at this stage of my confinement, they inspire me.

Ran 10 miles / 5,092 miles over 571 days

700 pushups / 73,000 pushups in 2010

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

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