Another issue I have been dealing with is the whole delay gratification thing. A key case in point is waiting to receive letters from the outside world. You have mentioned how much easier e-mail would be, but, again, one must learn that some things in life require a certain amount of effort before the pleasure phase kicks in.

I remember always complaining, OK, whining, to my Mom about people making fun of me, or teasing me about stupid things I did. She would always lay the old "sticks and stones" thing on me. Of course I sort of agree more with the revised version: "but names will really kill me"!

It is easier in today’s world for sure to label, poke fun, and generally build one’s self up at the expense of others. The strength lies in being able to have your own sense of self-worth, and in the process, to be able to bring others up with you, or at the least not lower them any.

I will probably jot some more thoughts down over the weekend since it is now 10:00 AM Friday and the mail does not go out until Monday morning at 6:00 AM. We need to have it in the unit mailbox by 11:30 PM Sunday. Then the night shift CO (Corrections Officer) gets to read it and seals it up for mailing the next morning.
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