Prison

19
942 followers

I was inspired by a post a friend (Steve1958) posted this morning regarding the movie Shawshank Redemption. Prisoners want freedom. What do I want? What imprisons me? In the movie, several long term convicts were given their freedom, just what they wanted right? One hanged himself and the other, although petrified by the “freedom” he desired, pushed through. What was the difference?

A friend of mine who had a prison ministry spoke at our church once. He changed his focus from a Salvation and coping inside ministry to a Salvation and coping on the outside ministry.

On the inside a person is required to make only a few decisions per day. Whether we realize or like it, the decisions we necessarily are forced to make on a day to day basis are what make us into the people we are. When that decision making process is taken away from us, it has a debilitating effect on us mentally.

When these people get out, they are faced with more decisions walking down the cereal aisle in the grocery store than they had to make in a day on the inside.

The two guys in the movie were faced with the same challenges on the outside. One had no hope, no dream. The other had hope and a dream.

I am retired like many of you here at Wealthy Affiliates. Or maybe you are someone who just stumbled onto WA. And like many of you, I had a very successful and satisfying career. But after retirement, we can get locked into the “prison of idleness”. Sure we can play lots of golf, dominoes or bridge. We can volunteer at a hospital or nursing home. These are good things but do they keep us stimulated like our careers did? Do they keep our creative juices flowing?

When I first looked at Wealthy Affiliates, I had no idea what html was or a widget or SEO. I was petrified (not really, but intimidated) by it all. However just like Morgan Freeman in the movie, Kyle (Tim Robbins) has given me a DREAM and step by step instructions of how to get there.

Just like in the movie, there was a support group of encouragers and cheerleaders pushing them on, and applauding every success. We are those people for each and every person here.

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Recent Comments

20

Hi Dennis, very enjoyable post. Irv.

Thanks irv

I am glad you have found something which makes you get up in the morning - other as what you would think is left after retirement. Eternal learning and curiosity keeps us alive!

Golf etc... are a far fetch cry for what an inmate ponders my friend!.

Well written. Thank you for sharing... What an awesome movie.

Thanks, yes it is a great movir

Excellent Dennis!

Unlike the physical prisons, the ones that reside in our minds are so much more powerful, because they can go undetected for years, and can cause far more greater damage.

I've watched that movie so many times, it really has a powerful message.

Thanks Dennis!

I agree Veronica. Movies like that never grow old.

Thanks for sharing, Dennis.

You are welcome Rog.

I loved this post, Dennis. What imprisons us...great analogy. Yes. We help keep each other's dreams alive. :)

You are so right Jeannie.

Great share, and do not stay idle,

Gotta keep chugging Mike !

Great post, Dennis! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Rebecca's and congrats on the top 200.

Thanks for sharing Dennis, yes it is true to say that we are very easily lured into the world where everything is seemingly easy without giving much thought as to how we would have to move from point A to point Z.... ?. - WA, as you say, gives us that fantastic opportunity with a helpful community second to none. There is quote by Napoleon Hill that comes to mind here - "If you have no major purpose in life, you are are drifting towards certain failure"
Take care,
Johan.

Thanks Johan. That is so true.

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