Special shout out to my sista Lorenda "Lada" Mable. I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to express myself, share my opinion, advice and learning experience while incarcerated. Though these last years have been a challenge and I've come across a lot of adversity, what makes it so much worth is I've grown as a person. I was once told that "the best teacher in life is experience". I truly believe that...

With help and support from my close family, I've fought through some long years, not to mention, believing in my spiritual guidance, having faith also gave me the strength to continue my fight. The journey taught me so much about myself and others, how to love, how to communicate, how to cope with different struggles, acceptance, learning how to give and receive second chances, forgiveness, seeing others point of view and just so much more that I could go on with. But most of all, the importance of this is to, hopefully bring awareness to the young generation and show others that through aladalove (a lot of love), things can be changed, in people, relationships and everyday life.

One of the first struggles I've had to endure was being sentenced to 20- 40 years in a state correctional facility (jail) and accepting it at the age of 18. Owning up to my mistakes and accepting my punishment was one of the hardest things I've had to do but it put me at ease and allowed me to get closer to God. He had so much love and forgiveness in his heart, it was amazing... I don't want to force my beliefs on anyone but I would like to reflect on a verse and its meaning from the bible that I was recently reading before I leave this topic. In Hebrews 8:12, he said, " I will forgive their sins and will no longer remember their wrongs." But I bring that up to say, forget about those mistakes, and failures in the past, that's what God has done. And if he doesn't remember them anymore, why should you? Open your heart up and love just as much as he did. Before I go on, please don't for one second think that I am this super spiritual person and I walk a straight path cause ill be the first to tell you that I still have my faults. I'm a regular human being just like you, I just decided not to let my mistakes define who I really am.

Being as though I came to prison at a young age, it helped me mature into the person I am today. Not knowing what my future held, opened my eyes to the present and allowed me to see the best in every situation. After the lies, betrayal, hopes, worries and hurt, I still sort out to see the best in people. Love also played a major part in my life because its a powerful feeling. It can feel good, and hurt at the same time. Being on both ends of it taught me patience.

At the age of 20, about the time I received my sentence, I suddenly became numb to love. My absence from friends, family members, even relationships I had with females became non existent. (its true, out of sight, out of mind). It wasn't until a few years ago when I begin to rebuild my relationship with my lil sister Lada is when I started to feel loved again. Being in this type of environment, you start to become accustomed to the negative people and believe that nobody loves you and you're in this alone. My sista showed me so much love, gave me amazing advice, confidence and never judged me. That same love helped me cope with all of the adversity I was getting beat with. The denial of the courts and my appeal, to no longer having a support team, to just hopelessness. And through the mist of it all, Lada taught me how to use my voice and words to show my love because its not just physical, love is in so many different forms.

So now I ask that you use my situation as a testament to prove that under any circumstance, you can find love, show love and beloved, all at the same time. And always remember, "its better to have loved than to never love at all"...

Part 1...

Dae - Dae