Oh my word! The delusion of so many prisoners makes me so frustrated! I hear lots of stories about the lack of opportunities in here but actually that isn’t true.

The longer I am here, the more I realise the importance of driving patiently. Prisoners need to have the determination to make things happen but we need to to it with patience and intelligence.

Guys whinge and whine about not being “given” opportunities as if there is some right that they have to be gifted something. Part of this might be the current Rights Agenda but a lot of it is a total submission to the state. They seem to actually believe that The Authority bears all the responsibilities and decision making. It’s like some sci-fi novel with a totalitarian governing force.

I’ve asked a few of them what responsibilities they have in here and most of the time the answer is that they have no responsibilities and they argue that point quite violently. When I do get a different response it tends to be that they just need to do what they’re told and comply with all instructions.

Now I have no doubt that the prison would prefer that we do exactly that. They wouldn’t want us to think too much. However, the fact of the matter is that we must take the responsibility to develop positivity and part of that is to root out opportunities that do exist and maximise the potential of prison to grow as a human.

The main opportunities we have are education, spiritual and health. Yet,, if I went out and said this to many of my current associates I would be met with a high degree of resistance. The reason for this is that the prison doesn’t give educational opportunities, instead we have to make them ourselves. It doesn’t give many opportunities for spiritual development but I can guarantee they are there if you are determined. It doesn’t give healthy options but, again, if you drive then they certainly are there.

The time it can take is sometimes crazy but do prisoners not have time? Actually for many people, it’s the only thing we do have.

The simple truth is that laziness is rife in here. Many prisoners want everything to be given to them and they refuse to take any responsibility to make things happen. So those of us who do drive with determination and patience manage to develop positive opportunities. And then, of course, the lazy guys jump up and down and say it’s not fair – how come he gets that and I don’t?

I hear the expression all the time “I just want to sit back and do my time.” I rather suspect that’s how they led their lives on the outside, too. Apathy, laziness and submissiveness might seem and odd mix of characteristics but it’s what I see all the time.

That isn’t me, though. Because, I am not a number!

NaN.