I've been away for a long time but I haven't :-)
This is my 100th blog! :-)
When I woke up this morning I didn't plan on writing a blog post. After breakfast I was set on working and then watering my gazillion of fruit trees and plants. Only 5 minutes ago I didn't plan on it either. I have a whole list of things to do and goals to reach, but I guess it's time to let everyone know I'm still alive and kicking and working on my websites and books and maaaaany other things.
What's New With ChristiDu?
A lot. Where shall I start?
Writing Projects
I published a new book which is based on a dream I had last year. It's a time travel fantasy with pirates, harpies, and a witch :-) I enjoyed writing it and I am happy it's finally out :-) I am working on more books now.
YouTube
I wrote fewer articles but started making more videos and I am getting better at it. Last night I watched another tutorial on how to improve and market videos using FB ads. Oh, those FB ads, that's a still a learning process, but I'll tackle it soon.
My House
The cement floor of my kitchen was poured a little over a week ago. Yippieh! Finally! Little by little we're making progress. Affiliate sales and book sales, it's time to come in big time, please!! :-) The kitchen's ceiling is up next.
Different Articles and Why
Some people may have noticed in the website comments thread that I suddenly started writing several articles about prisoner's rights, books published by inmates, and other related topics. I started doing that because I'm personally involved now. In February of this year I saw a video of people who wrote to prisoners on death row to bring them some kindness from the outside world. It had never occurred to me to do that but the video spoke to me, a lot! I decided to get involved. I ended up on a website that links you to inmates who are looking for pen pals.
When I picked the people I wanted to write to I did not look at the crime (the info is provided in the profile), but I looked at their description of themselves, the things they liked, if we had things in common, stuff like that. I wrote to four of them. Three of them have a life sentence. They all wrote back. After a few months two of them introduced me to friends of theirs who are incarcerated with them and hadn't written to anyone in years. I accepted and now I write to 6 people.
I started this to be a friend and support for them, and I never expected how this would change my life. Friendships are established, we talk, share stories, they worry about me living in the middle of nowhere ;), give me advice, I do research for them, I listen to them, am there for them. I now care for these men.
Three of them call me frequently. I sometimes send them books to read. Two of my pen pals asked to read one of my books, so I sent them one of mine :-) I am teaching two of them German (I am sending them German flashcards this month and I teach via email and 30 second videos I am allowed to send them) Two others are fighting for their freedom because they were wrongfully convicted and I am helping them with that. Hence, the articles and my promotion of their books.
Every kindness I give them, every time I make for them is so very appreciated, which is not the reason I'm doing this, but it makes me see how hard their circumstances are, how it is often forgotten that inmates are human beings too, and how they are craving kindness. Side note: Let's not get into the "they did the crime, so they do the time" debate, it's not as black and white as it is portrayed in the movies or cop series. I was a victim of crimes (yes, plural) years ago. If I can find forgiveness, move on with my life, have the willingness to show others kindness, and believe in their redemption, then so can many others.
My eyes have been opened wide, very wide about the "justice" system and its failures. And they are still opening. The statistics are shocking, the stories are ... I can't find a word for it, but they affected me. I could write a book about this, but this is a blog, so I'll do my best to keep it short.
A New Dog
Yep, a new doggie, rescued from a bad owner. His previous owner neglected him, the dog was always on the street, got hit by a car and the owner did nothing to help him and refused to let me help the dog. When he moved away he took the dog with him. My new neighbors told me that the dog was now living on a chain, abandoned on a parking lot. My heart broke for him. I offered to adopt him since the owner didn't want him anymore (note: the guy owns a restaurant and has the financial means to take care of the dog but he never did). So, the dog is now living with me. I called him Duke. Duke is so happy, he is living on cloud 9. He became good friends with my dogs and he loves his new human mommy ;-)
Recent Comments
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Thank you for the empathy you have shown to prisoners. Some of them are innocent of the crimes they have been accused of by a broken-down justice system.
I feel touched by the story of the dog and how you rescued it from its mindless owner. Thanks, Christine for having such a big heart
Thanks Dada!
Yes, shockingly, around 20,000 innocent people are imprisoned in the US, who knows about the rest of the world. Hundreds of thousands are over-convicted. It's a harsh truth to wake up to, so I help in any way I can.
Duke is a happy dog, he's home now :-)
Wow Christine what a beautiful spirit you have to reach out to prisoners seeing past their sins onto their souls. Congrats on the book, construction and your continued help with changing the system. All the best.
Hugh
I always read your blog posts here, so do keep writing now and then! They are so interesting.
This is one of my blogs with a beautiful experience with an offender We are the PRODUCT of what we tell ourselves - CHANGE the narrative! I hope you enjoy it as I did the experience
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Your article moved me a lot. What kind of left to help the prisoners feel better? I do not know if I can do it and then another dog rescue an incredible woman you are even worshiping in front of you to the ground. You are one woman with a huge heart to continue in the same spirit.
Thank you Lea,
Just being their pen pal / friend does a lot for for them. In many cases their family and friends have turned away from them or have no time for them, and just having someone they can write to, having this person in the outside world means a lot. Having this contact also reduces the risk of recidivism.
I help my two pen pals who are fighting their battle for freedom by sharing their articles and books. I also contact podcasts (have received no response yet), get book reviews for his books, so that ttheir rank rises on Amazon and his case gets more exposure.
One of my pen pals calls me a lot and we talk about what he's going through, the mental trauma of having been in an isolated cell for 14 years (he came off death row).
You don't have to do a lot, just be there for them, be a friend. It means a lot :-)