When I had escaped death (actual or metaphorically) is when I left my past behind. Where there muck, there’s luck. I only learned to move through life with such ease in recent years.
Teaching the Intakes (on C unit for 40-60 days) to create with colored pencils their own bookmark might be my job. We are not allowed the use of scissors on C unit (only J unit), so I fold and tear to make bookmarks.
There is a calmness to a time lived in gratitude. Relaxation is the body’s natural antidote to stress with coloring and drawing. This causes us to cope with our new prison community and rules. Bookmarks facilitate individual expression. Beyond being a creative outlet, often also a personal outlet, a means of speaking out. Expressions and preferences are reflections of our unique identities. Bookmarks are imbued with hope working with hands and eyes, they can even be enjoyed as your art.
The best things in life aren’t things! I plan on living forever. So far, so good. | CS