A life on the prison yard impacts so many. A poet, a writer. An LWOP, a fighter. Whether you are inside or outside, you know what losing hope feels like. You know what a taste of freedom feels like. The things you do to feel free.

I have come to realize freedom does not have one singular definition. Being in prison you wouldn't think there is a sense of freedom at all. As a woman not-so-free, I know what it feels like to look for things that make you feel free. A walk, a run. A sunrise, a sunset. Reading, writing. The truth of the matter is, when one lacking freedom others close to them carry the weight. No one wins or loses here. In fact, there is no winning at all.

Life isn't about winning or losing but it is about finding a sense of freedom within yourself. Shaping a new mold. Building a foundation for liberation. In Brene Brown's Rising Strong, she talks about "wholehearted living." The top 5 guideposts are "cultivating authenticity: letting go of what people think cultivating self-compassion: letting go of perfectionism cultivating a resilient spirit: letting go of numbing and powerlessness cultivating gratitude and joy: letting go of scarcity and fear of the dark [and] cultivating intuition and trusting faith: letting go the need for certainty" (Rising Strong, 272). When I think of prison and life itself I think of all of these things. There's a lot to swallow here, but it all screams relatable. The level of scarcity in prison is obvious, but how do we let go of it?

Looking back at it, the guideposts are in order for a reason. When we let go of one, we replace it with the next. When cultivating authenticity, we must cultivate self-compassion. To cultivate resiliency, we must cultivate gratitude. Freedom to me has a lot to do with letting go. Whether you are letting go, or the one being let go, you are freed. Freedom is about giving the next person a piece of what you never had. Give the gift of freedom, and you will be freed.