What inspired you to read the book?
This book was sent to me by a very important person in my life, who had read the book earlier this year, and wanted to know the effect it had in me after reading. Reading and talking about stories has been a great motivator to read more, and a way to engage in conversation. Even in jail, a book has the power to connect you with loved ones, it is a way to still do something together.
What you learned from reading the book?
The realization that although a romantic relationship may not exist, a life long friendship is something of equal or greater value. It has also taught me that the magic and the chemistry that exists in any relationship, is powered by love, friendship, and the belief in one another to do great things. As Sam said, “Things have a different energy when we work together,” this to me is the power of friendship. The “energy” to encourage one another, to never give up, to laugh at each others stupid ideas, to reject each others thoughts and do everything in each others power to succeed together. As I reflect on my life; I realize the great accomplishments I have been able to do, could never have been done without having a great person by my side.
How the book will influence your life and prepare for success upon release?
A quote from the book, “You have had many lives… A machine is breathing for you… You are not awake, but you are not asleep either. You can see and hear everything. You remember the usual. People’s names and faces, birthdays, song lyrics… You remember the slightly more unusual [things]… You remember the names of people’s parents, children, pets… You remember scars of ex-lovers, times you’ve said the wrong thing, and the clothes people wore. You remember what Sadie was wearing the first time you met her…” I cannot count the many times in jail, or in life, I have felt very much the same; alive but not living, thinking of everything I have missed, everything I have fucked up, everything beautiful, everything good and everything bad. That chapter made me see life as something far more profound, accept that life goes on. Focus my thoughts and actions, on the things that I have the power to control. Feed positives into life and the lives of the people I love. It is important to “Never stop loving, know that when one phase of a relationship ends it can transform into something else. It is to acknowledge that love is both a constant and a variable at the same time.”
What was the most inspiring quote?
“Why wouldn’t you tell someone you loved them? Once you loved someone, you repeat it until they were tired of hearing it.”