JAIL STORY
This morning while
working on my songs here on the veranda, I couldn't help but think of
the women I met while teaching songwriting in the prison. One of my
newer songs is the true story of one of those students.
Interestingly, it took the natural kindness of those women for me to realise how much I needed some kindness myself. Too many years of nursing dying people, followed by the sad situations within the jail, finally left me very drained and in need of repair.
Rural life, my continued meditation practice and other beautiful blessings have ensured the success of such a repair. Now I sit listening to the frogs by the creek, birds singing from all directions and the breeze blowing gently through the trees. I am feeling blessed but missing some of my students.
While working in the prison system, we are told not to get too close to the inmates emotionally. I do understand the logic behind this, especially after working inside for some time. But since I was teaching songwriting from a healing perspective, and not being one who is able to follow systematic rules too well anyway, I just taught from the heart and allowed the relationships to bloom naturally.
As a result I saw how much the system does not work. It treats the effects, the person's actions, not the cause, their wounded histories, lack of self-esteem, and other tragic conditioning. Although it is called a 'Correctional Centre', I don't think that much is corrected in there. Don't get me wrong, there are some fabulous people working in the system who do truly care. But they too are up against the system.
So I think of the women who touched my heart through the songs they sang and stories they shared. And realise that my class contained some of the kindest people I have ever met. The situations of these women were heartbreaking, yet they gave of their love so easily. We all cried in the class at some time and we all laughed. I've written more on this subject in my article Inside the Walls. Yet today I wanted to write about them again, as I miss them.
Some would be out by now, still struggling against the odds in many ways, but hopefully stronger and now enjoying time with loved ones. Some would still be in there, living through the same awful routines every week, every month, every year.
For anyone, it can take a lot of strength to keep inspired even in regular life. But to not slide into a darker hole when you are imprisoned day in and day out, is a big ask of anyone, let alone people with little self-esteem and a life of abuse and tragedy. So rather than judge them, please spare a kind thought for women and men inside prison systems all around the world. It is not always as it seems.
And to Julie, Devina, Victoria, Sue, Clarissa, Liz, Tina, Auntie Cath, and all of you from the songwriting class, please know you are thought of often, loved dearly and are worth a hundred times more than your history has led you to believe.
From this sunny seat on the veranda, I say thank you to you all for everything we shared. And thank you to Joan and the team for making it possible in the first place. Bless you all.
Interestingly, it took the natural kindness of those women for me to realise how much I needed some kindness myself. Too many years of nursing dying people, followed by the sad situations within the jail, finally left me very drained and in need of repair.
Rural life, my continued meditation practice and other beautiful blessings have ensured the success of such a repair. Now I sit listening to the frogs by the creek, birds singing from all directions and the breeze blowing gently through the trees. I am feeling blessed but missing some of my students.
While working in the prison system, we are told not to get too close to the inmates emotionally. I do understand the logic behind this, especially after working inside for some time. But since I was teaching songwriting from a healing perspective, and not being one who is able to follow systematic rules too well anyway, I just taught from the heart and allowed the relationships to bloom naturally.
As a result I saw how much the system does not work. It treats the effects, the person's actions, not the cause, their wounded histories, lack of self-esteem, and other tragic conditioning. Although it is called a 'Correctional Centre', I don't think that much is corrected in there. Don't get me wrong, there are some fabulous people working in the system who do truly care. But they too are up against the system.
So I think of the women who touched my heart through the songs they sang and stories they shared. And realise that my class contained some of the kindest people I have ever met. The situations of these women were heartbreaking, yet they gave of their love so easily. We all cried in the class at some time and we all laughed. I've written more on this subject in my article Inside the Walls. Yet today I wanted to write about them again, as I miss them.
Some would be out by now, still struggling against the odds in many ways, but hopefully stronger and now enjoying time with loved ones. Some would still be in there, living through the same awful routines every week, every month, every year.
For anyone, it can take a lot of strength to keep inspired even in regular life. But to not slide into a darker hole when you are imprisoned day in and day out, is a big ask of anyone, let alone people with little self-esteem and a life of abuse and tragedy. So rather than judge them, please spare a kind thought for women and men inside prison systems all around the world. It is not always as it seems.
And to Julie, Devina, Victoria, Sue, Clarissa, Liz, Tina, Auntie Cath, and all of you from the songwriting class, please know you are thought of often, loved dearly and are worth a hundred times more than your history has led you to believe.
From this sunny seat on the veranda, I say thank you to you all for everything we shared. And thank you to Joan and the team for making it possible in the first place. Bless you all.
