Heart 2 Heart with J.J.

A new day dawns.  Yesterday is gone.  It’s a fresh start and today will be what I make of it.

What have you done with your day?  Can you look back on it and smile?  Did you spread some love, lend a hand to someone in need, or give some words of advice?

Have you gone out of your way to bless someone who is less fortunate than yourself?  Do you consider yourself a giver?  When was the last time you gave?  How did that make you feel?

…Something to think about.  That’s what I do these days – try and make people think.

Before prison, I was stuck in a rut like most people are.  My life was different than most.  However, that was my rut.  Wake up, get high, stay high, make some money, try and stay alive so I can do it all again the next day.  What a sad life to live….

That’s why this is your wake-up call.  Get out of that rut.  Give something away and see how that makes you feel.  Show some love.  Contact an old friend, tell them they were on your mind.  You never know, maybe they need that.

Swallow your pride and make amends with someone who wronged you.  Wow, now that’s a little harder, huh?

How far are you ready to move away from your rut?

I don’t doubt that I offend people from time to time.  That’s not my intention, I just want to make you think.  They way I see it, I have a lot to give back.  On the street, I lived life for me.  You and your feelings were your problem, not mine.  I was a very selfish person.

Coming to prison has forever changed the way I view life.  One of the biggest changes was the things that matter to me.  I was a worldly person who wanted possessions.  Big trucks, fast cars, flashy motorcycles - I really felt like that’s what mattered.

When I came to prison, I lost all my worldly possessions.  In a sense, my life started back at zero again.  Today what I have is rock solid relationships with my friends and family.  My pride and joy is no longer a motorcycle – how sill is that anyway?  No, today my joy, my smile, the love in my heart is from my people.  …The people who call me son, brother, uncle, cousin, or just friend. 

My sister and I started this project only a short time ago.  Today I am blessed.  I feel that even from here, I am able to reach out.

For years I was drowning.  When I first came to prison, I had to get my mind right.  Like a person who is under water, trying to break the surface to get fresh air.  Today I feel my mission is to reach out.

My life is out there for you to see.  I had to start at the beginning to get to today.  J.J. is my plan to reach out.  You are special to me.  I may never know you name.  We may never meet in person, yet here we sit, having a heart-to-heart conversation.  I have given you a chance to meet the man who sits on this side of the fence.  Have you shared a laugh with us?  Perhaps you’ve shed a tear.  Am I making you feel?  Do you stop and think about what really matters in life?

My sister and I are both silly.  We have had so much fun putting this thing together for you.  I work hard on my art, and it’s been cool to see how many of you enjoy it. 

My stories, well, I don’t work so hard on them.  That part comes easy, talking shit comes natural to me :)

I hope you will continue to be part of this project.  I try to keep you all on the edge.  At first I counted our hits.  Now I’m blessed to see how many of you are friending us (or liking us on Facebook).  You keep coming back.  That’s awesome!  I’ll keep writing and drawing.

I enjoy your comments.  If you have a question, I will answer it.  Do you have an idea for a picture?  Let me know, maybe I’ll use your idea.  Talk to me, I’m all ears.  Once again… thank you, my friend.  Until next time,

Your friend,

The Jailbird.