Riding the Waves of Highs and Lows

Greetings All,

Been awhile since I last sat with you,so I thought I'd start our chat with Ups and Downs over the past year. In class we call them Highs and Lows and we talk about them daily in the Tyro Dads Class.That's one of my Highs. I just recently joined the Executive Board of Tyro Dads.It's a Ridge Project program that gives support to guys leaving prison to try to help them not come back to prison.I would have been a part of that when I got out, but as you know the parole board decided I should do three more years before they consider releasing me.

Since I didn't get out they gave me a place on the board here and are allowing me to facilitate classes. Another good is I made level one! That's the lowest level you can go when you are doing well. And it shows the parole board that you are doing well. Don't know that they pay it much attention to it though. As I've been doing good all along, and they still claimed my attitude hasn't changed. 

I have most of my reintegration programs completed.What takes everyone else three years to complete has taken me one year. I'm doing the AA and the NA classes even though I don't use drugs or drink.I take them in the event I run across someone who needs my help that does indulge.I took an art course that brought the artist out of me. I'm about to start my Solar Panel Installation course, Edwins and the Janitorial course to help make myself employable. If I end up having to do the entire three years, I will complete the Arborist Course they have here and a Business Course at Ashland University.

Since I have a parole date within three years it opens the door to all the courses they have here, and they have many. With all that I can do here, I can actually turn this into a college experience rather than just a prison experience. And I'm trying to get the younger guys to see this.They can actually come out of this with a good experience, rather than it just being a prison stay. This prison offers so many things, but too many aren't taking advantage of it.That's one of the jobs I take on. Getting them to change directions.

So those have been my Highs. My lows? I have a few complaints, but nothing that can bring me to a pause.I have my eye on the place I need to be and I won't let anything keep me from there.God has blessed me well to put me in the position I'm in. To put the people in my life that I have. I won't be letting anyone down. I especially won't let me down. I will ride this wave God put me on all the way to shore...As always, thank you for listening.

Stay blessed...

Yours,
Arthur