It has been quite some time since I last wrote a post.
So here we are. I look around now, I see a lot of confusion and many people that are not happy at all. This I can understand for when I look back on the years that I was in prison, I remember many times when I began to wonder if this would ever end.
You see, we were in solitary confinement for 9 months. This was pretty tough and when I look back, after the beatings, there was simply nothing. Just a cell with a bed and a small hand towel. The cell was bathed in light 24hrs a day. That was it.
I know that perhaps the hardest part of solitary confinement is fought in the mind and the more good things you have to keep your mind occupied the better. Of course, I did have my faith and this was a big part of how I managed. However, I had led a most remarkable life up to that stage and along with many, many happy memories of family, friends and loved ones, I was able to keep myself sane.
Much like many of you at the moment, I found time appeared to be dragging on with no end in sight. This will pass, believe me. As fate would have it the cell that I was placed in had a single row of bricks, one brick high cemented into the middle of the floor (about 2 meters long). I used this for my daily exercise of walking up and down the blocks (30 times, three times a day). To ensure that some day I would be able to walk properly. I had been shot in my right thigh and this did work.
The next thing I did was to look up at the concrete root of my cell and I noticed quite a few shapes. I could see a lion, ship, map of Africa, motorcycle, etc. 17 items in fact and I would count them 3 times day. If I missed one, I would start again. Now it is more important than ever to fill your time with positive thoughts and actions. There are many opportunities to exercise, learn to play a guitar, paint, take up a new hobby, go on walks (it does not have to a long walk at the beginning). You will be amazed at how wonderful nature can be, very therapeutic and also good for the body. Give it a go.
As I settled into my new routine, I because more confident and wrote 3 songs while I was in prison (we had no pen or paper, so everything had to be done in the mind and remembered, both the verse and the chorus). I wrote one to my wife and one to the family. Lastly I wrote about the world from my window. This at first confused the guards, but after a few weeks they would come to my cell in the early hours of the morning and ask me to sing for them. When I asked then which song, they would always say, “Not the sad one”. I do know that this did have a marked effect on the relationship between our guards and the rest of us.
You will be amazed how quickly your mind and body will respond to a change in your routine and I can promise you that you will reap the rewards of a little perseverance. Something very small can keep you occupied and fill your days with positive and happy thoughts. We used to get either an apple or an orange on Sundays and I asked permission for myself to grow a seed from my apple one day. I did not realise that this would turn into such an exercise, however, once I had convinced them that there was no ulterior motive for my request, permission was granted and I proceeded to grow an apple tree from a pip. This gave me a lot of joy.
I would encourage you to use this time that had been forced on you wisely and look to new pursuits or hobbies. Writing is also very good for the soul.
Until the next time, keep happy and safe and my God bless you and your family.
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