A lot of times when I hear guys in here talk about their lot in prison, they proclaim some version of the following: “They took my pride, my dignity, my self-respect.”
First of all, who is “they?” “They” are the people doing their jobs by locking up and guarding people like us, who have committed felonies and hurt others. What you might mean is “You” have done this to yourself.
Secondly, however, I don’t look it as having my pride, dignity, and self-respect taken away. Those things CAN’T be taken away. They are what you choose for them to be, and you control them. No one can take them from you but yourself. Or, even worse, when you base your self-respect on things that it shouldn’t be based upon.
Dan Turner
DOC #767569
Very wise my friend.
All you have is self respect and dignity. Once u let someone else have it, u might as well die.