These simple steps can help struggling men develop more patience.
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How can a man cultivate more patience?
Believe in silence and be more tolerant of one’s faults and mistakes. Channel them into positive growth and be patient of oneself — go inside oneself and know that one can do better and be more enlightened by knowing and being oneself.
Look out and see oneself in plants, water, air, and elements of Mother Earth. Cultivate silence. Listen to patience in that silence.
How does poetry help men?
Poetry, for me being incarcerated, is a guiding light in darkness that connects me to the world on many, perhaps all, levels.
The world of humanity and the human condition anywhere.
Poetry connects me to the raven, to geese, sparrows, deer, and coyotes I’ve seen, and connects me to Mother earth, the universe.
Poetry connects me to all the arts: prose, dance, music, singing, painting. Poetry frees me to be cool and real despite living in the belly of hell and unrealness.
Poetry takes me on journeys across the world, and worlds seen and unseen, imagined and unimagined. Teaching poetry in my classes turns on lights and realness and inspiration in other prisoners — awakens them to know they can create art.
In what ways has your character grown?
My character was asleep and robotic before my imprisonment. Now it has awakened and has become real and full of expression and full of truth and love. I had no idea of what character was before my journey began in prison. I am hard working and strive to be the best me I can be and not block anyone else’s sunshine. Character has to be unique and found on one’s journey in life an it enables one to grow continuously.
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Photo: Kitty Terwolbeck/Flickr