ISSUE NO. 5
November 2024
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Letters

What Is the Meaning of Life? It’s All in the Mind

By
Thomas

Thomas writes from South Coast CC, in NSW.

Adrian Swancar

The Meaning of Life can drive scientists crazy. You are not alone. Our questions, our fears, our thoughts are like demands, tormenting our souls, afraid to face them. We bury thoughts like secrets, every mind like a minefield waiting to be triggered, to explode. Quick to put a label on mental illness, but never truly understanding what it is! Are they really just crazy thoughts or are you wired to a computer you do not understand?

I believe mental illness begins with the fight (or) flight mode that most masculine beings would rather use than the word “fear”. Whatever early traumas in our lives that led to these deep seeded anxieties are then amplified by drugs, and even by our lifestyle, environment and health.

Us criminals can’t seem to comprehend or fathom how great our own brains are. It’s almost as though consciousness is built as a protection mechanism for the body and the brain, receiving messages from all the senses in the body. It then adds up these equations (from people, steps, interactions, indifferences and so on), looking for threats to the body and, if found, will try redirect your path – you might recall a dream where you’ve had an altercation with someone, but even in the dream you dodge or stick up to that threat!

Those who lose control of the mind, like us, are afraid to look at themselves. Quick to judge everyone else’s flaws but run when the mirror is turned on themselves. Mental health is all about being willing to understand yourself, going back to your earliest memories and trying not to regret them, but acknowledging and understanding tears, every struggle, every decision, mistake and every feeling you were going through – they were leading you to the reason why you ended up in here.

So you can leave your mind scattered, those thoughts creating chaos. Or harness your thoughts, understand your demands, put that puzzling mind back together to be one like the cosmos in its proper cosmic cycle.

Though I have no degree, no masters, never graduated, nothing, I’ve had enough time in here and experience in life and all to reflect and see myself in my truest light. For memories aren’t stored to reminisce as most would think. The thing about why it is easier to find a traumatic event than a happy memory? It is so you know and prepare for your next hurdles in life. Those memories are not an experience that carries knowledge of mistakes you’ve made along the way in this thing called life. Those memories are now tools to overcome your future!

"So use it!"

Everything happens for a reason.

The Meaning of Life can drive scientists crazy. You are not alone. Our questions, our fears, our thoughts are like demands, tormenting our souls, afraid to face them. We bury thoughts like secrets, every mind like a minefield waiting to be triggered, to explode. Quick to put a label on mental illness, but never truly understanding what it is! Are they really just crazy thoughts or are you wired to a computer you do not understand?

I believe mental illness begins with the fight (or) flight mode that most masculine beings would rather use than the word “fear”. Whatever early traumas in our lives that led to these deep seeded anxieties are then amplified by drugs, and even by our lifestyle, environment and health.

Us criminals can’t seem to comprehend or fathom how great our own brains are. It’s almost as though consciousness is built as a protection mechanism for the body and the brain, receiving messages from all the senses in the body. It then adds up these equations (from people, steps, interactions, indifferences and so on), looking for threats to the body and, if found, will try redirect your path – you might recall a dream where you’ve had an altercation with someone, but even in the dream you dodge or stick up to that threat!

Those who lose control of the mind, like us, are afraid to look at themselves. Quick to judge everyone else’s flaws but run when the mirror is turned on themselves. Mental health is all about being willing to understand yourself, going back to your earliest memories and trying not to regret them, but acknowledging and understanding tears, every struggle, every decision, mistake and every feeling you were going through – they were leading you to the reason why you ended up in here.

So you can leave your mind scattered, those thoughts creating chaos. Or harness your thoughts, understand your demands, put that puzzling mind back together to be one like the cosmos in its proper cosmic cycle.

Though I have no degree, no masters, never graduated, nothing, I’ve had enough time in here and experience in life and all to reflect and see myself in my truest light. For memories aren’t stored to reminisce as most would think. The thing about why it is easier to find a traumatic event than a happy memory? It is so you know and prepare for your next hurdles in life. Those memories are not an experience that carries knowledge of mistakes you’ve made along the way in this thing called life. Those memories are now tools to overcome your future!

"So use it!"

Everything happens for a reason.

An Idea to Reduce Drugs and Violence in Prison

By Melissa

I have been in the system a long time. I believe that we as prisoners should be heard a lot more.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 20

1 MIN READ

We Want to Get Healthy in Prison – So Why Can’t We Buy Protein Powder?

By Joeby

Here at MCC we are limited to weight bags and medicine balls. We cannot purchase creatine or protein powders, training gloves or any other essential items that other prisoners at other centres can purchase.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 20

1 MIN READ

First Time In Prison, 3000km From Family

By Deanno

I just want to get back to my home state WA so I can do my time with my family support where I’m happy and have all my supports.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 20

1 MIN READ

Discovering Buddhism in Prison

By Chris

Buddhism teaches that pain is a part of being human, not a failure. Thoughts are not who you are, change is always possible because nothing is permanent. There is beauty in the idea that peace isn’t something you chase, it’s something you uncover when you stop clinging.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 20

2 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

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