Today, before one lady left she came to my classroom looking for her friend, who is my student. She hugged a few people and told them goodbye and that she loved them. You could tell that it was a bitter sweet moment. Yes, she was ready to go home, but at the same time she created bonds with the women she was locked up with. These bonds are strong because these women have seen you at your worst. In here, you are naked, no mask. There is only you in your most vulnerable state.

Honestly, this time has been a much needed break for me mentally. I am realizing just how run down and tired I really was. Most of it was because of the stress of the case. Today, on my 60 day anniversary, I got up, did laundry, and went back to bed until 2pm. At home I would have never done this. Here, I give myself permission to do nothing.

In order for us to exit, I had to climb one flight of stairs to get to the main floor. As soon as I entered the stairwell I knew there was something strange happening. When I finally reached the outside of the building, just outside of the green sea of prison uniforms, I saw a van approaching the building. Then out of the van an army of guards exited and told us to line up in a single file line. That is when the fun began.

I am going to keep this short and sweet. On the inside, I DO NOT ENJOY THE WEEKENDS. LOL! This is completely opposite from how it is on the outside. In the "real world" everyone works all week and looks forward to resting and relaxing on the weekends. It also felt like the weekends went by so fast and the week's drug on. In here, it is completely the opposite for me.

The other night I finally fully shared my story, meaning I did not just tell them what my crime was. I was basically sharing my business journey. I got to the part when I got involved in the situation that led me to being involved in my case. When I got in the shower after the conversation I began to process my story and I realized how I got here.

Every day I am talking to women about their business ideas, current businesses, etc. Because it is not as easy to get a good job with a felony on your record so many people are opting to go the entrepreneurial route. Therefore it is only natural that they are starting to think about business while they are here.

"You are the GOAT, because you got these ladies really roaming around looking for answers in the middle of the night." I smiled and went into my room. I am aware that I am A TEACHER. Not just in training, but by calling. My degrees and work experience have only helped me sharpen my iron. But I AM AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A TEACHER.

MY TRIBE IS STRONG! And when I say strong, I mean iron strong. And here is the thing, when they (my tribe) asked me what they could do for me at times I had no idea what to tell them, but when I did they came through.

…my room is approximately 7ft wide and 11ft long. It resembles a dorm room. There are no bars or cells here because again, I am at a camp. The walls are painted grey and the floors are a tan schoolhouse floor. Myself, as well as my bunkie, have a small locker. This locker has ALL of my possessions, clothes, food, toiletries, books, etc. Everything I own has to fit in the locker or under my bed.

I am a hider. Yes, me. I try really hard to hide my truth. I try to hide my power, my wisdom, everything. Usually, I fail because I am always discovered. If my life were a game of hide and seek it is like I am the one hiding behind a curtain, but you can plainly see that there is something there. Even in here, I have been found out. Staying in my room, eating alone, walking the track solo...failed. The ladies are starting to see me and they are asking me to step up.

I have also incorporated riddles into the class to promote critical thinking skills. On Friday the riddle was, "People buy me to eat, but never eat me." Of course, one of the student's answer was "A prostitute." Yeah, no. Not quite. The answer was actually a plate. LOL! This is just one example of what I have to deal with on a daily basis. Needless to say, I stay laughing and my day goes by very quickly.

“A man does not come to the almshouse or jail by the tyranny of fate or circumstance, but by the pathway of groveling thoughts and base desires. Nor does a pure minded man fall suddenly into crime by stress of any mere external force; the criminal thought had long been secretly fostered in the heart, and the hour of opportunity revealed its gathered power.”

I now know the memories and moments are priceless and often free. In the past, I focused so much on providing material "things" for my family that I missed a lot of moments. I missed moments of conversations where my innocent children wanted to ask me for permission to do things like curse. I spent so much time working, building businesses, and seeking degrees to get me better paying jobs so that I could provide. This came at a cost. It cost me some memories.

I am the bird, FREE! Free to truly explore the depth of me.

This incident really made me think about how I handle conflict. It made me reflect on how I do not always speak up when there is an issue, which eventually leads to bigger issues. "Feelings buried alive never die."

So yeah, this is what my life has come to...missing pineapple. Luckily, I am too busy teaching hood alchemists to prep for the GED using real life, relatable examples.

I have made more friends here now. We have been staying up, sharing our stories, and our dreams for what the future holds once we leave Atwood. My tribe is growing.

I have to keep reminding myself that I am here for a purpose, to learn something, and once I have learned those lessons, then I will be released on all levels.

Probably the most exciting part of my day was having a great conversation with two ladies about our views on spirituality. As I continue my spiritual journey, I have been seeking to increase my studying and understanding of the bible.

Today was another reminder to take the time to play. To find joy in the little things.