Thanks and Giving

Holiday season is a time for giving and sharing with our family and friends. We also have the chance to give back to others. For some of us we have much to be grateful for. For others, life has not been exactly what we might have wanted. We all need help to get through life, and when we have the option to give back, we get an extra benefit that I call “Givers Gain.” It means that when you give, you get back even more. It’s a universal law. Have you ever experienced the feeling of goodwill? It is the same feeling you get when you see a child smile, a puppy wag, or a kitten purr. It just makes you feel good. Giver’s Gain is even more than that.

This is an opportunity to get that feeling. A lot of people need your help. I’ve done workshops in prison for the past few years, and I have seen the results of that feeling. Each time I go there, I feel there but for the grace of God, go I. We’ve all made mistakes. What we all needed was another chance. That’s what I want for the inmates of Valley State Prison for Women. It’s the largest women’s prison in the world. I’ve seen lives transformed there. What is needed is information and tools to change. That’s why I am doing a documentary of the process of rehabilitation in today’s prisons. We need to get the word out to bring the awareness of how we can change the world, not only for the inmates, but for the world at large.

We are all affected by the prison system. We all pay taxes to build prisons, and maintain the more than 2 million people currently incarcerated in the United States. That’s more than any other country. Just about every one I talk to knows someone that either is currently, was, or will be in the prison system. What got everyone into the system, is the same thing. They all made a bad choice.

Einstein said, “You can’t fix a problem with the same mind that created it.” So if you want to change minds, you need to give the understanding and tools to allow them to change. That is why I have done my Get Unstuck! workshop at the Valley State Prison for Women in Chowchilla, California. (The largest women’s prison in the world) The response was wonderful. The last workshop had 150 attendees. Here are some of the comments I received after the workshop:

“I feel that this has tons to offer. It helped me with self-awareness, and gave me insight into the “why” of some of my behaviors, as well as providing tools to change some of the negative ones.”

“What I got out of Get Unstuck! is change starts with me. If I change myself, I change the world.”

“I came to understand that I have a choice whether or not I allow someone else’s negative behavior, dictate my behavior.”

“Thank you for helping me out of my rut.”

I have seen the transformative power of this information. I am currently working on producing a documentary to show the need for more rehabilitation for inmates, and how this information can help change the system. This is a costly undertaking and that is why I created the “Adopt an Inmate” program.

I’m asking each person that receives this letter to join in this mission. My goal is to get each inmate a copy of the book Get Unstuck! The Simple Guide to Restart Your Life. To this end, I’m asking every person that reads this to invest a minimum of $25 and send an inmate their own copy of the book. In addition, you will also receive your own copy. And as a special thank you, I will also include a free 1 hour coaching session for each pledge. If you already have a copy, you may designate both copies be sent to the prison.

If you wish, you may include a message to the inmate that will be inscribed in the book! Just e-mail me what message you want to include.

You may pledge more and for each $25 another 2 books will be sent. You may choose a specific inmate of any prison that you wish, and it will be sent to them. Please specify the name and address of each inmate you wish to receive the book. Please know that as one inmate stated, “Everyone in the prison needs this information.” We are all connected, and when we help the least in the world, we help ourselves! Be generous. Help to change the lives of the forgotten, and watch the world change. A portion of the proceeds will be to produce the documentary.

Whether you can or can't personally afford to help, please pass this on to others that can. Offer others the chance to give.

Thank you for helping to change the world.

To make your pledge, just click on the link below. All major credit cards are welcome.

http://www.getunstuck.com/adoptaninmate.html