Listening to some wisdom spoken by inmates

[Patrick Frank]

"I can change where I'm going, but I can't change where I've been"

(Spoken by a Wabash Corectional Center inmate, IN)

I am sure that all of this have been through some form of real trauma or have committed acts that they are not proud of. Unfortunately (or fortunately) we are not perfect beings and, in addition, things are not pretty that are done to us, often by people with no conscience or a deficient conscience.

For our part, we may have gone through periods of life when our conscience was in a kind of haiatus condition. At those times, we may have hurt other significantly. If someone completely lacks a conscience, this little essay will have no meaning, and they are not likely to change.

The quote, above, I heard on MSNBC's lock-up. This African-American inmate has that insight, but it is too late for him to avoid incarceration. Another inmate had this to say:

"Some don't ponder the outcome of what they say or do, they just do it." This is where the development of "mindfulness" comes into play--an Eastern concept that has Western application.

Obviously, we can't change the past, but each day is truly a clean slate. If we are depressed, we can do certain things to relieve it or seek professional help. We can take action instead of just procrastinating. We can create something new, like a poem or essay or painting, or sing a new song. Creative work often the exert change on our concrete existence--if we let it.

If you listen to inmates closely, they can express a lot of wisdom. The problem they have had is in living it out.

I like to approach each day as new. If I choose to wallow in past mistakes, well, that's on me. But some may need profesisonal help to transcend the trauma that can result from grievous errors.

[Jeanne Sathre]

I think there's a lot of wisdom to be gained from inmates. Sometimes their crime is truly a blip in an otherwise well lived life; sometimes there is real understanding, and remorse, and rehabilitation; and sometimes we can gain insight into how things can go terribly wrong.

[Patrick Frank]

Thanks for the comment.

[onislandtime]

This is thought provoking, and insightful. I really appreciate that you tie the Buddhist concept of mindfulness together with lack of conscience. I have believed for years that at the core of our increasing rates of antisocial and narcissistic personalty disorders is due to our culture's edging away from teaching and reinforcing mindfulness. You can call it the golden rule, etc., but really it is awareness, and not simply awareness of self, which can turn into pure navel gazing. Nice post, Patrick!

[Patrick Frank]

My impression is that there is a rise in antisocial behavior among all social classes. Thanks for your comment.