The Shine Journal

Recovery

 

 

An iron door sliding shut was the sign God sent me to inform me my life had to change.  It was the first day of my new life.  It was time to leave the drugs, nightlife, and gangbanging behind.  “Can I do this?” I asked myself many times.  I needed to do this, but did I want to?  No, not at all.  

 

After the shutting of the iron door, I learned to sit with myself.  I had to learn to feel my feelings and live with my thoughts.  It was harder than reading Shakespeare, and I was a hardhead.  I didn’t want to.

 

I was miserable and my behavior showed it.  It took me a really long time to want to change, to want recovery.  I’m well on my way now, and I’m enjoying every bit of it.  

Thanks be to God.

 

 

 

 

 

I Am From

 

 

I’m not going to talk about...

How ashamed I am about causing you so much pain.

 

- I come from...

  Where your mother will sell the wick vouchers for crack and your father would sell your diapers for dope.

 

- I am from where your grandma is your guardian angel and your grandpa is your shield.

 

- I am from where eating peanut butter with no jelly and drinking cool aid with warm water.

 

- I am from stepping on syringes to crushing crack pipes with my feet as I walk

 

- I am from locked doors, blue shirts, white shirts, and counts.

 

- I am from bend over spread your cheeks and cough.

 

- I am from 120 makes 240 to 400 makes 1000.

 

- I am from little debbies, quarter waters and loosies.

 

-I am from sleeping during the day and running the streets at night.

 

 

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Bio: DAISY HERNANDEZ  has one son and is going to do Steps to Freedom- the program at Holyoke Community College. She is bilingual and likes to help others.