Embracing Change - Softcover

Sullivan, Drako

Softcover

ISBN 10: 146691825X ISBN 13: 9781466918252

Verlag: Trafford, 2018

Inhaltsangabe

Embracing Change is the first of a three-book series about my journey to change my life, my thought process, and my conditions. Embracing Change will give you a closer look at the transition I had to make to find the path to a healthier lifestyle. My intentions are to motivate and encourage others to embrace a change that may lead to happiness and inner peace. Change is going to come, it’s part of nature. It’s part of everyday living and it’s part of our growth process. The effect of the change is up to you and can be positive if you so choose. When change does come, embrace it!

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

JORGE LANDRIAN, BORN IN CUBA CAME TO AMERICA IN THE 1980's. ARMED WITH A DREAM AND MANY TALENTS HE IS TRULY BLESSED TO BE LIVING IT. HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON HIS NEXT NOVEL" THE CUBAN CODE". HE RESIDES IN TWIN FALLS, IDAHO.

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Embracing Change

By Drako Sullivan

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2018 Drako Sullivan
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4669-1825-2

Contents

Foreword by Ebony Robinson, xi, 
Letter from Author, xv, 
Introduction, xxiii, 
Short Story, 1, 
Testimony: Grateful, but Change Doesn't Come Easy, 33, 
A Glimpse of My Past, 40, 
Journal, 30 days, 52, 
Goodbye Letter, 71, 
Conclusion, 77, 
Poem, 81, 
Afterword by Sabrina Wingard, 83, 

CHAPTER 1

Short Story

I decided to write a short story to share how I had a negative mindset against one of the, if not the best, programs I have ever participated in during my years of incarceration. The Residential Drug Abuse Program, better known as RDAP, is highly misconstrued and frowned upon throughout the system by inmates. The negative stories are passed along. Very few positive stories are shared. Many who speak against RDAP do not know a thing about it. I must confess that I was one of those individuals who ridiculed this program from the outside looking in. Now, I will be one of the first to say, this is one program every inmate should take before they are released. In RDAP, you are given tools to rationalize your thoughts, become conscious of your conditions, balance your lifestyle, successfully live with others, and begin a strong transition back into society.

This story is based on true events that had taken place prior to me signing up for RDAP.

Part 1 - Not Me

It is another one of those sleepless nights for me. Nothing bothered me more than the lack of respect that is given at this camp. It is two in the morning and these imbeciles are acting as if it is four in the afternoon. The sad thing is the only way I can get an intelligent conversation is to talk to myself. Something I found myself doing a lot of lately.

"What's wrong?" asked Mr. Conscience.

"I can't believe you just asked that stupid question," said Mr. Irritable.

"Try to stay positive," said Mr. Conscience.

"You been telling me that crap for years and what has it gotten me?" asked Mr. Irritable.

"You're at a camp now." stated Mr. Conscience.

"Psst ... this is what you call it. Look out that window ... What camp you know has a razor wire fence around it? Look at these pale, gray bunk beds and matching 3-foot lockers. And the only thing that is between these six by nine cubicles is 6-foot brick walls without any doors. Listen ... do you hear that? That is a symphony of snores and farts!" complained Mr. Irritable.

"Change is coming ..." Mr. Conscience began.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. It gets greater later. You've been saying that for years, too," interrupted Mr. Irritable.

"Things could be much worse," Mr. Conscience said.

"It could be, but I am not going to let it get to that," claimed Mr. Irritable.

"Well, it is good to see that we're still on our path to change," said Mr. Conscience.

"Yeah. ... yeah ... whatever," snapped Mr. Irritable.

"Just stay cool Drako," Mr. Conscience encouraged.

It was hard to find some sense of reason in this midst of madness. If it wasn't for talking to Mr. Harris or myself, I don't know what I would do for a conversation with substance. I have a lot of pain built up in me and it runs deep. It is hard not to be bitter after fifteen years in prison. The sad thing is, I didn't kill or rape anyone. I got all this time for drugs.

"Well, you were selling drugs for years and you did things you got away with," reasoned Mr. Conscience.

"That is my point. I didn't get caught," said Mr. Mollification.

"Just try to stay positive and out of trouble. Be grateful you're not back behind three fences with controlled movements and total chaos," said Mr. Conscience.

"I'm grateful but that don't mean I have to be happy. I am going to bid. I am smart enough not to get caught up in any foolishness."

I was talking to myself again and trying to justify my bitterness. A part of me was trying to stay positive and be optimistic about my situation. I even considered signing up for RDAP, but I quickly dismissed that thought. I was able to talk myself to sleep, just as I had done so many times before. Change was heavy on my mind and it was starting to seem like I couldn't continue to run from it. I was starting to feel like there was a purpose for me to fulfill. But a major part of me didn't want the responsibility and that personality was now in control. So, I didn't think about what was to come. But deep inside, I was realizing I couldn't keep running from change. The morning came swift. I was awakened by the counselor's voice blasting through the intercom.

"Attention in the camp! It's Wednesday. You know what it is! The recreation yard and education are closed! Report back to your housing unit and prepare for my inspection! No doubt, I'm in route!"

I laid there a minute and thought of how sick and tired I was of being in prison. I was disgusted by being around the same old things every day. Every week it was the same thing, everybody running around like headless pigeons. Just as I closed my eyes, in attempt to clear my head to get ready to face another day in this hell hole, I was interrupted.

"Yo, Drako."

"Wassup, Lil Hustle?" I replied to the gnat that was bugging me. He was known for trying to hustle everything he got his hands on.

"I got these milks. Stamp a piece."

"Aight, I'll grab one after inspection."

One thing about prison, everybody think they have all the sense. All Lil Hustle was trying to do was get rid of everything he was not supposed to have. Now, if I had bought that from him and during inspection the counselor finds it, I am out of a stamp and a milk. It never fails. He always find something wrong with my cube. So, there is no need to give him another reason to scold me.

I was finally able to shake the load off and get going. Now that my bed was made, and my cube was in order, I had to get myself straight. So, I navigated my way through the pre-inspection chaos to the restrooms.

"Wassup, Toops?"

"Ain't much Drako. Just another day in paradise."

"I feel you. Which side are you cleaning first?"

"You can brush your teeth in the last sink over there," said Toops pointing to his right and walking out of the restroom.

I was alone, just me and the mirror.

"You just don't give up, do you?" I asked Mr. Conscience.

"Why should I?" replied Mr. Conscience.

"You say something Drako?" Toops asked, stepping back into the bathroom with a mop bucket.

"Naw, Bro, just talking to myself."

"Give me a hit of that. Ha, ha, ha."

I guess it tickled Toops that I told him the truth. I was about to give him a piece of my mind, but I let it go. He stepped out again and I was face to face with me. I stared in the only set of eyes that I could never lie to.

Buzzz! Buzzz! Buzzz! Buzzz! Buzzz!

I guess it was for the sake of aggravation. I think the counselor got a kick out of holding that buzzer the way he did every morning. I wondered if there was a method to his madness. I have seen people get comfortable in prison, believe it or not, and maybe the counselor had his ways of making sure that inmates don't get comfortable around him. He was enough reason alone for me not to ever want to come back to prison. So, I guess his aggravation is a good thing if it gives me something to think about before I think about committing a crime.

"Inspection people!" yelled the counselor walking in the housing unit.

"There he go with all his mess," mumbled one...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Trafford
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2018
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 146691825X
• ISBN 13: 9781466918252
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 114
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: gpsr@libri.de; gpsr@libri.de; ; Friedensallee 273; Hamburg; 22763; Deutschland