Sunday, October 26, 2014

The journalist I wrote about yesterday asked me a second question. She wanted to know how I mentally prepared for the day that I would be released from prison. I wrote her as follows:

As a consequence of visions I had at the start of my journey, I began to prepare myself for release at the outset of my 45-year sentence. I made a 100% commitment to prepare for a successful return to society, and that commitment carried me through 9,500 days of imprisonment. I had my plan. If would work to educate myself, to contribute to society, and to build a support network. The plan brought clarity. I simply had to execute the plan and I believed that when I emerged from prison, opportunities would await me.

During the first decade, I focused on education. In order to facilitate the possibility of making meaningful contributions to society, I would have to earn academic credentials. Further, if I earned academic credentials, I believed that others would find me worthy of their support. So I embarked upon the plan.

By the time that I reached my eighth year of confinement, I had earned a bachelor’s degree from Mercer University and a master’s degree from Hofstra University. Those credentials opened opportunities for me to begin publishing. The more articles and books that I wrote, the easier it became for others to believe in me. My support network grew. As a consequence of the disciplined adjustment, when I concluded my obligation to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, after 26 years of continuous incarceration, I had a number of income opportunities awaiting me. My work also generated revenues, which gave me a savings account. I married while I was incarcerated, and the support that I received from my wife helped me immensely. When prison gates opened for me, I was ready to begin the transition that would return me to society as a law-abiding, contributing citizen.

 

Days since my release from prison: 440

Miles that I ran today: 12.72

Miles that I ran so far this week: 12.72

Miles that I’ve run during the month of October: 164.31

Miles that I ran so far in 2014: 2,028.33

Miles that I need to run in order to reach my annual goal of 2,400 miles: 371.67

Miles I’m ahead of schedule to reach my 2,400-mile goal by the end of 2014: 57.33

My weight for today: 168