Reclaiming Power

- by Ryan

Prison doesn’t just strip away your freedom—it strips away your dignity if you let it. But there comes a time when you have to stop letting it break you and start using it to rebuild yourself.

I’ve been through enough to know one thing for sure: if you don’t take control of your own life, no one else will. People say they love you, they say they’re here for you, but when it comes down to it, they show you who they really are. That’s when you have to make a choice—let them keep dragging you down with their excuses, or stop tolerating the lies and start setting boundaries that protect you.

I reached out to my sister recently, asking her to reach out to my mom for me. She doesn’t have a Securus account, and I can’t reach her directly. Simple request. But instead of support, I got excuses. “I have my own family.” “It’s hard with my husband and kids.” All the reasons why it’s too much for her to take five minutes to help me out. And the same old tired words—“I love you” and “I’m here if you need me”—only to be followed up by the same crap every time.

I’m done with it.

I told her straight up that I’m tired of all the excuses. Tired of the same old bullshit. I’ve never asked for anything more than a simple request, and I’m tired of being treated like my needs are just an inconvenience.

I don’t need anyone to fight my battles for me, but I do need people to stop pretending like everything is okay when it’s not. I’m the one who’s been the black sheep, the one who’s always taking the blame. But you know what? I’m done being the scapegoat for their failures. It’s time for them to start taking responsibility for their role in this family too.

And you know what else? I’ve got my own family now. My wife. And that’s where my loyalty lies. So, from this moment on, stay the fuck out of it. If you’re not willing to step up and be real, don’t bother pretending like you’re part of my life anymore.

I used to think that being a part of this family meant enduring all the drama, all the bullshit. But I’ve realized something: I’ve got to protect my own peace. I’ve got to stop letting the same people who’ve hurt me keep playing that same damn game.

And it’s not just my family. It’s with everything and everyone. Life is too short to keep fighting for people who aren’t fighting for you. So, from now on, I’m only putting my energy into what’s real. Into the family I’ve built, into the people who show up for me, into the future that I’m working toward.

Prison may have taken my freedom, but it’s not going to take my dignity or my power. I’m reclaiming both. And I’ll keep moving forward, no matter who stays behind.