Reflections

It feels as though I am in a perpetual state of turmoil, as I am now in a world of criminals and feel as if I don't belong here.Where I once thrived I now find myself with anxiety and realization of what life is really about. But yet I'm trapped in this world and it is going to be a constant fight to someday regain my freedom.

So this last week having time to myself, locked in a cell, has really made me reflect on life and where I'm at. While I am not happy about my physical location, I am happy about the man I've become. Looking back on who I was, I don't even recognize that boy anymore.


I have become a man that is respectable, and I like the person I see when I look in the mirror. I believe I can be a productive member of society, I believe I can give back to the community to outreach the youth of America and show them that I am living proof of change.


I believe in another chance, especially for people who were so young, and have shown a change.


The world in which I live in, within these walls, is very much against my ideals and to change. I often receive criticism for the way I operate and conduct myself. Sometimes referred to as "soft", or "scared", a "square", "not down". I will be all that but I'm proud of who I've become. A man of morals, not the morals of a criminal, but the morals of a good person.


We are always going to have those who criticize and condemn. The ones who want to hold you down. But I always look to rise above, beyond and move forward.


If I were able to enter back into society, given a second chance, I know that I would do great, I have a great support system of family and friends. I know who I am, what I want and I know where I am going. With my dark past, I can do only one thing, that is to continue to move forward toward the light.


And I won't stop,  I will continue to work hard every day for the betterment of myself and those around me. Not through words but by actions. To lead by example as I have done and I'm doing right now being involved in positive things such as furthering my education (I have 3 certificates related to Small Business Management and I'm currently learning a second language), my artwork which I enjoy sharing with the outside world, and volunteer programs such as "Build a Bear Program" in which I have been involved for more than 2 years. In addition, I will be helping to teach painting. As you already know Art is my passion and I want to share it with my fellow man around me.



Thank you for your time. Please feel free to contact me with questions.
Have a wonderful day.

Taylor Conley

Valentines

This weekend I was able to spend the whole weekend for 4 days with the love of my life :).
Today is our third day and it is the most special day since is Sunday 14 of February 2016, Valentines.

This valentines is the greatest valentines I have ever had. Spending it with such an amazing woman.
The things that we share together reach far beyond these walls. It is as if nothing else is around us. Our time is magical. And we are able to really communicate an a level that I have never experienced before. Looking into her eyes and holding her hand. Hearing her sweet voice. It let me know that our future, wherever it takes us is going to be a bright one.

I know in my heart our lives came together not by coincidence rather by fate, should you believe in destiny. I happen to believe, the evidence is irrefutable to me, that is what has led me to several changes that have transformed me, accepting that everything happens for a reason and when the moment comes is your choice of what to do with every chance,  I saw the "light" so to speak, to guide me on my way.

Everybody should get a second chance, I'm not saying that it should just given to me or to anyone else. It is about earn it and work for it. Anyways I hope that everybody had a happy valentines day.

Tom Taylor

Ya jive ass turkey

Let me tell you a funny story I was thinking of that happened awhile back. It was one of the funniest things I've seen since being in prison.

Ok, So this guy "John" gets out of the hole after being told on by a guy "Carl" that is in the unit, and in here they decided to put them back together in the same unit. Go figure right, anyways "Carl" was on the top tier, and "John" starts to go up the stairs to confront "Carl", well when "Carl" sees "John" coming for him, he takes off moving fast down the teir and then "John" starts chasing him and yelling, "get back here, ya jive ass turkey" I have never actually heard somebody use that phrase in a real situation but it was funny, so he chased the guy back down to the day room and then "Carl"ran up into the podium where the cop is and tried to hide behind the cop, well "John" chased him up in there, and the cop apparently didn't want anything to do with it so he ran up out there and at that moment "John" started to attack "Carl", well  "Carl" ended up beating up "John" and  that is why he was the one who end up being sprayed with mase by the cop, considering that he was the one who was trying to ran away in order to avoid a confrontation.

I've got to tell you it was surreal watching this all unfold. Like is this really happening right now. I had a front row seat, I was sitting at a table nearby drawing. And it was probably the funniest thing I've seen. Nobody was really hurt. I mean I've seen a lot of things, but I'd thought I'd seen it all, but this could of been on a blooper movie of prison confrontations.

Not that I condone that behavior. I do my best to operate in a way to stay away from confrontation. I am different than I used to be before, I used to look for confrontation without caring about the consequences. Now with a more mature outlook I realize the error in my ways and  care about myself, and my family and loved ones. I guess what I am getting at is even in a world filled with negativity, hate, and violence, there is a way to navigate and operate above that. And to look to surround myself with people who are like minded, with a similar mindset. Focused on building us up, to better ourselves, which it is not so easy.

One last thing feel free to ask questions, I am thinking about getting some content from other people I know to post, would you like to read that? Thank you for listening, thank you for your time.

Tom Taylor