No matter what challenges you are facing cancer, caregiving, addiction, behavior disorders and many more there are local and online support groups where you can talk to people who understand. Those who are struggling with similar situations, others who have found ways to cope, and professionals who often facilitate meetings can all provide a shelter where you can express your honest thoughts, hear what has worked for those around you, and find compassion and strength in the words of other people.

Gatherings sponsored by reliable organizations will emphasize confidentiality and respect for all members. Usually, there are rules that keep one person from monopolizing the time and also allow for breaks. Facilitators, professional or peer, are there to help conversation run smoothly, not necessarily to give advice, unless there is a special informational topic. Just talking can ease the burdens you carry.

Schedules vary, and meetings are held in community centers, hospitals, churches, and other places. It is okay to telephone the contact person before you visit if you would like to ask questions or get an idea of what the group is like.

Most support groups are offered free of charge to participants. Many are for adults, but some like those at The Link Counseling Center in Sandy Springs, Georgia include specific groups for children and teens among their programs. Other grief groups may be general or divided by type of loss (spouse/partner; child, for example).

You may live in a rural area with few opportunities for this type of support. If so, consider an active online group. Open chat or forums that work much like message boards create communities where members get to know each other even if they keep their real identity secret.Giving too many details, posting pictures or including other identifying information are not good ideas online. Forums are open 24/7/365, and members will answer whenever they can. Check to see when the most recent posts were made to get an idea of how active the group is.

Your needs are also unique. Ask your health care provider, local hospital or mental health center for recommendations. Many medical centers provide community education for supporting those with diabetes and other health problems, as well as exercise programs though some of these may have an associated cost.

One example is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Search their national website for local chapters. These meetings, usually monthly, offer tons of information about mental illnesses, medications, and related issues.

Their education programs range from help for parents taking care of those younger than 22 with mental conditions to a 12-week course (also in Spanish) for family members and friends. There is advice for and help with understanding those in the military who struggle and also specific information for law enforcement and other first responders.

Adults with mental illnesses or behavior disorders can find practical suggestions for coping in todays world, whether related to self-care, handling jobs, or social interaction with family and friends. NAMI encourages advocacy and helps address legal issues and legislation while seeking to comfort individuals and families.

At meetings, you might find books, informational pamphlets, activities and other local resources or events that could help you. Ask questions. Listen. Sometimes, a topic may be suggested, but most of the time, the group members take the conversation where they need it to go.

If you want to attend but are not ready to talk about yourself or your situation yet, it is normally fine just to listen until you feel more comfortable. Emotions can sometimes cause people (including you) to feel embarrassed, but that is just a feeling. Thoughts and feelings are often not truth. Some are based in negative comments heard from other people; some come from fears that can be handled. Change is possible. A support group meeting is one of the few places where people really do understand because they can relate to you. Theyve been there, too.

Never be ashamed of seeking help. If you do not find what you need in one group, try a different one. But plan to attend a few times first to see what the group is really about and how it works.

Stepping out like this does take courage, and that is something you can find within yourself. If you have a friend or family member who would go with you, that is an option. But you will soon feel a warm and friendly welcome when you walk through the door. Finding the right support group is a lot like finding new family members, new friends who will assist you in what you are trying to do.

It is easy to be your own self-critic. The interesting thing about that concept is we are often much harder on ourselves than we would be on friends or family members in the same situation. Remembering that can make joining a support group easier. Be open to shifts in your perspective.

Life is so full of stress and unexpected obstacles that everyone probably needs a good support group at one time or another. You are making your life better; that is a very worthy goal. Be your own advocate, and find your way through the problems you face.

Take all of the help you can find.

Related Articles

Link:
Support Groups: Are They for You? - PsychCentral.com

Censorship in prisons is the biggest First Amendment violation in America. Yet it remains one of the least talked about and least examined.

[W]ith prisons, weve created an opaque system. Until recently, not many people witnessed the day-to-day activities inside of prison and thus our perceptions have been guided by the most outlying vignettesfictional portrayals of prison life, like in Oz, or media coverage of riots and other violence. So when prison censors tell us that something is necessary to maintain security, its easier to believe that security could be easily compromised and that these guards have the expertise to assess the risk correctly, said Michelle Dillon, a representative of the Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) and Books to Prisoners.

Paul Wright, Director of HRDC, is more direct about why theres such tremendous censorship in prisons. [W]e live in a fascist police state where the control of the population through armed state violence is paramount and that includes restricting the flow of ideas and writing and reading itself,

It is steadily increasing and this mirrors society at large with the exponential expansion literally and figuratively of the police state and the surveillance state and this ranges from the obvious (more cops, prosecutors, guards, more prisons, more jails, etc.) to the technological of having better, cheaper means to surveil, control even kill people, he added.

As part of Banned Books Week in 2019, PEN America drafted a policy paper that goes deep into the realities of censorship in American prisons.

Its become increasingly clear to us how widespread and systemic this problem is, and how the national trend is towards more restrictions on the right to read, not less. We wanted to try to help re-orient the conversationtowards the necessity of upholding the right to read, and pushing back against these restrictions, said James Tager, Deputy Director of Free Expression Policy and Research at PEN America. One of the reasons we felt so strongly about the need for this report is to highlight how this is an issue of access to literature, not just a prison reform issue. We want readers and writers across the country to get upset about this.

Key findings include the reality that books about race and civil rights are among the most likely to be banned; that theres no meaningful insight into what and how books are banned (this job is often relegated to the mailroom and arbitrary decision making occurring therein); and what content-neutral bans are, as well as how being selective in the vendors from which incarcerated individuals can receive books further hinders access.

PEN America notes that, despite the fact those in prison can argue for their First Amendment rightsparticularly when it comes to book bans and censorshipmany do not because of the fear of retribution.

As more reports surface about the reality of prison censorship, and more organizationsnonprofits, newsrooms, legal, and othersstep forward to advocate on behalf of the populations behind bars, more needs to be said and done about one of the biggest hindrances to change. Prison book donation policies across the U.S. vary by state, are inconsistent, and willfully create barriers that make even understanding the vastness of the problem incomprehensible.

The lack of open reporting, of open access to banned books lists, and the silence to those inside the system, as well as outside it, further harms this sensitive population who, as research continues to show, are less likely to experience recidivism when given access to books.

This period is one of the first times when these restrictions are being examined by a wide audience; in other words, a lot of the conferred latitude has happened by simple lack of both internal and external oversight, said Dillon.

A letter included in the book Dear Books to Prisoners, a compilation of letters sent from incarcerated individuals to prison book donation organizations, reads: [Its] the only chance of hope to escape the madness prisons are known for. I am free as I chase word by word, page by page! 500, 1000, even 2000 pages are never enough.

Each U.S. state operates their prison systems independently, meaning that the policies about what they do and dont allow in the mail for people who are incarcerated vary. The policies tend to be state-wide, and as outlined in the PEN America report:

[P]rison officials generally have broad latitude to ban books based on their content, including the prerogative to develop their own rationales for why a book should be blocked. They usually do so on one of several grounds:

As the report states, many of these guidelines are not inappropriate. But because the decisions about materials are made within the prisoneither in mail rooms or by committees comprised of those who work for the systemthere is significant latitude in interpreting these policies. Weve seen this in prison censorship cases in states like Ohio and New Hampshire, as well as in Washington state, where it became clear that scanning for single words without context led to the removal of material with no rhyme or reason, despite claims that it was because of contraband being smuggled in the books.

That latitude thrives in the prison system. Operating as a hierarchy means that censorship can happen across many arenas, without communication between and among individuals within a given prisonand even more so on a state level, despite state-wide policies meant to be uniform. PEN notes that content-based censorship often occurs in the prison mailroom or in the prison libraryon the individual level. In the prison mailroom, individual officers are empowered to decide whether a book will be allowed to reach its intended recipient, or not, and there arent formal processes for such decisions. The decisions dont require explanations or meaningful insight. This means there may be zero documentationas to why or how certain titles were deemed unacceptable.

Trager notes that by virtue of the system operating like a system, censorship becomes an ingrained part of the process. But it doesnt need to.

[J]ust because censorship thrives in such a system, does not mean we need to accept it as another fact of life. More meaningful review mechanisms, more transparent and clearly-defined rules over what constitutes grounds to ban a book, more consistent application of these rules, a standard of review that recognizes and values the literary merit of a challenged book, training and regulations that explicitly incorporate First Amendment principlesall of these represent steps we should take to help ensure that the urge to censor is not running rampant in our prisons.

In addition to individual-level censorship, theres institution-wide censorship. As PEN describes: Individual prisons may create their own institution-specific rules about which books are allowed. As a result, certain books may be allowed in one prison and banned in another.

Theres also state-wide censorship. PEN notes that this is where banned books make a state list, following the removal from individuals or individual institutions. They explain: State departments of correction may have a list of banned books, which often include thousands of banned titles. Such lists often codify and formalize the practices of prison mail rooms towards certain books, turning institution-wide norms into an automatic statewide ban. Its at the state level where states like Arizona, Florida, and Illinois, among others, have developed such lengthy lists of banned books.

These banned books lists are not made public, except for in a small number of states. Those states dont make them readily available, though, requiring Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) requests to acquire them. What a FOIA request might include, though, is anyones guessand updates to lists that do exist arent necessarily made public or accessible, either.

Organizations working on behalf of incarcerated populations, and not to mention the general public (including loved ones of those who are incarcerated), are left in the dark as to what books are allowed and which arent. Its quite likely that despite how much information has been requested and collected by advocacy groups, there are even steeper realities of censorship in American prisons of which were completely unaware. A lack of documentation, oversight, and procedures further hinder the First Amendment rights of those behind bars.

The Human Rights Defense Center has tracked state-by-state policies. According to their records as of writing, only two states have their banned books lists available online: Pennsylvania and Washington state. Pennsylvania updates their list quarterly, and Washington is known to update theirs frequently.

The work done by HRDC, particularly through their legal actions, as well as various prison book groups and advocates has forced some states to become more transparent about their policies.

Prison book programs are better networked and can share information about suspected restrictions and we have more people who are interested in prison advocacy in general. Digital portals and email have made public record requests easier than the days of physically mailing letters back and forth, so we have better access to these banned books lists, says Dillon. She notes that states like Colorado and Washington have made changes to their own policies in the wake of litigation.

An ACLU-led lawsuit in 2000 reached a settlement in 2004 in Colorado, which led to more open records about the scope of prison censorship, while Dillon notes that Washington is responsive, particularly to prison book advocates, because [they] have been sued into oblivion by HRDC. A complete list of HRDC-led litigation in the manner of prison censorship gives some insight into where, why, and how some states are less opaque in their polices and processes.

Such is not the case in other states. Alaskas DOC required $2000 for access to prison book ban logs when requested by the HRDC, with similar charges requested by Kentucky and Idaho. Alabama requires $25 for any public records request sent to their DOC, meaning that it costs $25 to be told they probably dont have them (as Dillon notes, they had to be persuaded not to charge another $25 for a follow up explanation). New Mexico, like many states with little oversight into their processes, regularly misunderstands information requests, sending organizations like the HRDC into a nonstop email chain with no answers to their initial inquiries.

When books are banned, theres no precedent for how review occurs, were one requested. The U.S. Supreme Court has said that prisons must have an appeals process wherein the original reviewer isnt part of the final decision, but as PEN notes, there is no requirement that this reviewer be independent of the prison system, nor are there any other meaningful criteria regarding the reviewers qualifications. The result is a review system that fails to operate as a serious check on prison censorship.

And further, with the power in the hands of the states, there are additional complications when it comes to record maintenance.

[P]ublic record laws, being state-based, are often very weak and so its difficult in general to get information from a state. Because of the general culture of policing and prisons, which creates an us and them, and prison advocates may be seen as opposition trying to undermine prisons and the livelihood of staff, or to criticize them; its a defensive position. Or maybe because theres no national requirement for data collection, especially on this issue, so a lot of prison systems are genuinely at a loss how to respond to a request for non-existent data, said Dillon.

Another challenge is the means by which books are allowed to reach the incarcerated. PEN calls these content-neutral bans and defines them as often implemented as part of a Secure Vendor program, by which the prison allows incarcerated people to purchase packages only from certain pre-approved vendors. Because these restrictions are based not on the content of certain books but instead aimed at restricting books-as-packages. These, PEN states, are actually far more damaging than the blanket book bans.

A letter published in Dear Books to Prisoners from Books to Prisoners. Demetrius shares what books have meant to him while incarcerated, with a pull quote on the left reading Sometimes I feel without the books I receive I might go crazy.

With content-neutral bans, as seen with banned books lists, the information varies state by state. They include:

Content-neutral book banning policies are becoming more and more restrictive, and it seems like every few months we find out another policy has been quietly rolled out somewhere in the country, says Trager.

What each state determines as an appropriate vendor indeed sometimes makes little sense at all. In some states, such as Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming, set up one of their requirementsand in some cases the sole allowancebooks to be sent from the publisher.A number of the previously-listed states, along with a handful of others, include book stores, approved vendor, and book distributors among their restrictions. Some states, like Louisiana, allow each facility to determine from whom books may be received (though in Louisiana, family are not approved).

Jackie Snow, volunteer with D.C.s Books to Prisoners program, which has been in operation since 1999 and sends nearly 6,000 packages a year to people in prison across 35 states, notes that these vendor limitations are one of the biggest emerging censorship issues.

We are seeing more prisons try to do tablets or restrict to certain vendors (who they might get some sort of financial incentive for each sale). A lot of the stated concern is about contraband being smuggled in via books. Our group goes out of the way not to send any books that prisons worry about, like books with water damage, which could be dissolved drugs, or any coloring books with pages already colored in, which is also a way drugs have been smuggled in. More prisons are restricting the books we can send to only being in new condition, which makes our work a lot harder since most donations are not brand new books. Being in D.C. doesnt help since most of these issues are decided state level, she said.

Requiring a book come from the publisher is a significant hurdle for prisoners, and it privileges some materials over others. In some states, its made more difficult with language that doesnt distinguish what publishers are allowed to send materials and which arent.

Its a huge obstacle for people who are incarcerated and limits their access to a full range of reading materials. This is also a big component of the litigation by the Human Rights Defense Center, since so many prisons have an inclination to: (a) Disbelieve that a publisher is actually a publisher (think of all the tiny publishing houses out there) and will falsely reject books because of this rule, and (b) Not understand that many publishers dont necessarily sell directly but may sell to book stores who then provide books from a central distribution hub, explains Dillon.

Wright adds, The reality is it deprives friends and families of the ability to share books and to the extent prisoners are overwhelmingly poor and their families are as well it imposes additional barriers to access books and information. The corollary to this is policies that ban used books, even if they come from book vendors or sellers.

New Hampshires policy for books to prisoners, for example, notes that materials may be introduced into the mail by a bona fidepublisher or bona fide bookstore and prepaid by direct subscription only. The policy does not note what bona fide means when it comes to a publisher or to a bookstore.

In 2018, New Yorks limitation to books from publishers brought light to how restrictive these policies and relationships can be. The approved list of publishers included only six options. The policy was overturned, in part because of significant media attention and the work of advocacy groups like Books Through Bars NYC.

Michigans current policies for books to prisoners are among some of the most restrictive and most challenging to shift. No used books are allowed, and new books must be purchased through one of three vendors approved by the state. The vendors include Edward R. Hamilton Bookseller, Prison Legal News/Human Rights Defense Center, and Schuler Books & Music. Additionally, those with visual impairments are allowed materials from National Library of Congress, Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and American Printing House for the Blind and those seeking certain non-used religious publications have a list of approved vendors as well.

The HRDC is currently pursuing legal action against the Michigan Department of Corrections for its censorship to the incarcerated.

As was seen in Ohio earlier this year, these pre-approved lists of vendors can lead to more questions about the nation of the relationships between the institution and the vendor. If a vendor has a monopoly, they can increase the prices of their materials to the already-vulnerable population who likely could not afford the book.

Public outcry has been beneficial in these censorship cases, as has been seen in places like Washington state.

Its heartening that many of these policies are scrapped or revised after public outcry, says Trager, but we cannot have public outrage as our most effective means of oversight. We need systemic change to address a systemic problem.

I personally do believe that advocates are being more vocal about this issue. But we have to remember that there is little public visibility into this. There is zero doubt that there are many more instances of arbitrary or irrational book banning in our prisons, of which we are woefully unaware, he adds.

As a result of the lack of transparency about books being banned in prisons, the creators of the censored books are often unaware that their books have been restricted. Authors who write booksforthis population, hoping to offer them guidance, insight, education, and hope, frequently do not know their titles have been withheld, unless they seek out the banned book lists by state. Even then, with documentation inconsistent and frequently out of date, the reality of the situation can be unknown.

Terri LeClercq, the author of Prison Grievances, which was banned in Kansas and Illinois until intervention, finds her book still unavailable in other state institutions.

Writtenforthose experiencing incarceration, LeClercq worked with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice while writing her book over the course of ten years.

After staff in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice reviewed my early draft and made very helpful suggestions (no censoring at all), I finally (10 years from beginning to publication) got it self-published and ready for sale. A lawyer friend here offered to buy a copy for each TDC unit. The very first book I sent to a correspondent was banned. I learned that because he said he didnt get it. He checked the mail room, and they said it was on the banned list so they destroyed it, she said, noting that destroyed in this instance meant the book disappeared all together without explanation. It was not returned to her, and when she followed up, the mailroom reached out to the incarcerated correspondent, asking if he could afford the postage to return it to sender (No one can, of course, added LeClercq).

Having a 10-yr project, written directly for the very audience that was not allowed to get it, was a tremendous blow. I had had ups and downs in the project [] But this was the bottom of hell.

Her awareness of the situationand her investment in helping those who are incarcerated know their rightshas led to further work on prison censorship. With the help of a student assistant, she pulled together a state-by-state list of the quantity and quality of books prisoners are allowed and where those books may be acquired.

While all of those who are incarcerated have access to a Law Library, most also have access of some capacity to a leisure library. But the extent of those libraries is, as PEN reports, varied and inconsistent, The American Library Association has a recommended set of standards for adult correctional institutions. They suggest a minimum of 15 books per person, or at least 5,000 titles for smaller institutions. In 2000, U.S. prison libraries held only 7 books per prisoner, according to one estimate. Since then, with the dramatic increase in mass incarceration over the past two decades, it is widely understood that prison library book acquisitions have fallen even further behind this standard, although comprehensive data is unavailable.

The report continues, outlining the realities of prison library funding:

Prison librarianslike any other librarians in under-resourced locationsmay find themselves hustling for book donations to sufficiently stock their shelves.100 Meanwhile, funds for prison libraries are often the first to go when state officials cut budgets. In Illinois, for example, an Illinois Newsroom investigation found that, in 2017, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) spent a total of $276 on new books. For a system with 28 facilities, thats less than ten dollars per prison. [] the state of Maryland has approximately 129,000 books in its libraries, or approximately 7 books per incarcerated person. The state spends approximately $16,000 per year for new books for an incarcerated population of more than 17,000 people. [] In Georgia, an investigation this year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution analyzed the book catalogues at 12 state prisons. Among their findings: four prisons had less than four books per person, with the prison library at one prison offering fewer than 2,000 books for approximately 1,000 prisoners.

Even within those poorly funded, under-staffed libraries, the reality is even starker. The books on shelves do not reflect those who are incarcerated. As PEN notes, when the Atlanta Journal-Constitution conducted their report, Although nearly two-thirds of Georgia inmates are black, more than half of libraries have no books on Martin Luther King Jr., and two-thirds of them dont have anything on Malcolm X.

And prison librarians, despite their own best intentions, can become part of the system as well. LeClercq found this to be the case when her book was finally allowed in Texas facilities.

Following a meeting and discussion with Texas Senator John Whitmire, who she notes is one of the few senators working on prison legislation, LeClercqs book was reinstated. The next Monday the head of TDC called and told me he had given approval for the book to be placed in the general libraries. It was, although in a crazy turn of events, some of the librarians seem to place it on bottom shelves, unlisted. Some unit libraries then decided readers could use it for only 15 minutesits a 5th grade graphic novel, but who could absorb all that legal information in 15 minutes? Not me, for sure, and I read rather fast. Its as if the prison culture has pervaded even the people who are supposed to help inmates, like librarians.

Authors can do nothing. Zero. Zip. We cant learn which prisons have banned us [] This hidden and nefarious censorship will continue and will grow, says LeClercq.

The quantity of material each individual is allowed to have while incarcerated is not only limited by financial realitiesimposed by forcing them to purchase materials through outside vendorsbut theyre limited, too, in the format of books. Hardcovers are more expensive than paperbacks. New books more costly than used. Further still, the restriction to a certain number of books per person, in conjunction with underfunded and poorly developed prison libraries only hinders their First Amendment rights more deeply.

Advocacy groups like Books to Prisoners, Books Behind Bars, and others, all serve a crucial role in getting books into the hands of those who are incarcerated. But, in addition to the inconsistent policies and book bans which happen without clear reasoning or process, the fact that many state policies disallow used books to get into the hands of individuals is a challenge. Michigan is one of the states that does not allow any used books into their facilitieseither for individuals in the system or the librariesand, as noted previously, their restriction to only three vendors for purchasing titles has meant that not only are prison book donation groups not active in the state, but the HRDC has stepped in to sue the state over prison censorship.

State policies remain vague here, too. North Dakota disallows books that have been previously read (as something separate from used), while New Mexico sets a hard limit on the number of books, magazines, and religious texts (what separates a book from a religious text in this case and/or what restrictions does that place on certain religious faiths). The ability to leave these up for interpretation gives significant opportunity for overreach on the part of the Wardens or those they assign responsibility to, as has been seen before and will continue to be seen in the future.

And for advocacy groups and prison book donation organizations? The ever-shifting policies are compounded by the fact each group is often treated differently by the same facilities.

Were all volunteers with full time jobs and other obligations. In the past, various prison book programs have tried to create centralized lists of known restrictions at prisons, but we just ended up with more confusion because it turns out that every prison treats every group differently. One group might be accepted at a prison; another group might be restricted to new books only; another group might be fully banned. In many states, like New Mexico and both Washington and Ohio until recently, every warden was given latitude to make their own rules. A new warden would mean a new set of rulesbut, of course, we werent generally privy to either regime changes or policy updates. It is a mess, and thats why were all fighting to get better standards and oversight so that we dont have to waste time, energy, and postage money on finding out that a prison has changed its rules yet again, said Dillon.

I put together a list of books I wanted and wrote letters to hundreds of organizations and famous people I read about in magazines asking if they would donate one of those books to the Patuxent library. Can you imagine how special that was to hear the library got a new book and realize it was one I asked for, and that someone donated it because of me?

I didnt just live forthat library. I livedbecause of that library. The Patuxent prison library saved me from crushing despair. It saved hundreds of other guys, too.

Chris Wilson, formerly incarcerated author

Because of better tools of communication, connection, and time, awareness of the depths of prison censorship is growing. This means that, thanks to the work of advocacy groups, on-going legal challenges, and reports like those done by PEN and similar groups and individuals, more information exists. And this information means that the average citizen can get a better handle on how they can act and stand up for the rights of those experiencing incarceration.

In my capacity with Books to Prisoners, we do this work for several reasons. Many of us are librarians, book store employees, and other pro-book people; we want to see the joy of reading spread as far as possible. We also do this becauseespecially as we work with these groups longerwe see the profound isolation and deprivation experienced by people in prisons and we want to remedy that in even this very small way. There are a variety of perspectives in books to prisoners programs, from those who see this as prisoner support and abolition work, to those who operate from the framework of rehabilitation and want to see prisoners gain access to tools for job training and higher education in order to better themselves and decrease recidivism, said Dillon.

She noted that the most commonly requested books include dictionaries, Spanish language learning, black history and fiction, how-to-draw, manga & comics, vocational training (including plumbing, etc., as well as how to start a business), genre fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, thrillers, and horror in particular), ancient history, mythology, occult, legal self-help, and games (sudoku, crosswords, D&D).

Whats the average person to do? In what ways can the work continue to push forward?

Step one is getting to know who is in charge of prison oversight and speaking up against these behaviors on a state level.

[T]hese actions and abuses continue because we continue electing politicians who endorse or appoint the people who do them. Governors are responsible for the prisons, sheriffs generally for the jails. If there is a political price to pay these practices may stop. [] it doesnt take a huge amount of support or outcry to get prisoncrats or jail officials to back down on small limited issues. The reality is we have a police state with little in the way of accountability or transparency at any level, not just around censorship, said Wright.

Likewise, understand what the policies are within your state when it comes to book censorship. Reach out to your states DOC and ask for them. Ask about policies and procedures, as well as lists of titles and reasons. As noted, the chances of receiving an answer easily are slim to none; but collective action and effort move the needle.

One way to make this process a little easier is to develop a series of email templates asking for information that can be copy and pasted.Keep those, as well as all correspondence, in a file for record keeping.

As Wright notes, understand your state governors stance on prison oversight. Again, write letters. Know what policies local and state-level sheriffs follow and know the chain of commandwho does the sheriff report to? Thats who to write to when answers dont come back and/or you want to know more and are seeing nothing from the sheriff.

Weve seen the power of elections and the necessity in voting. This is not just true on the national level. In many ways, those state and local elections are equally, if not more, imperative.

Dillon emphasizes that the fight begins locally.

The average citizen can start by connecting with a local prison book program, higher ed in prison, or other prison advocacy group, if there is one in your area. If theres a prison book program that you can join, help answer requests for books; learn firsthand about the difficulties of providing booksthe arbitrary returns, the proactive self-censorship to try to avoid assumed restrictions, the dedication of other activists. Use that community as a potential launching point to collaborate on a statewide campaign if you find that one is necessary (for example, were having issues with overall book access in Indiana and Michigan right now, and nearly every state could use a push to create better publication review committees and publicly available lists of censored materials).

Whatever talents you have, those can be put to use in protecting the First Amendment rights of people in prisons.

[A]re you a great graphic designer? Do you know state politicians who might be interested in talking about these issues? Can you write persuasive letters? This is a community fight, so find your community first, Dillon added.

Organizations like the HRDC are great places to donate money, particularly as they have long and successful track records of litigation. Their work has a traceable paper trail and leads to changes as seen in states like Washington.

Snow says, There are acouple dozen programslike ours across the country, all powered by donations and volunteers. I recommend this volunteering to anyone. The letters we get can be thoughtful, funny, or a small delight when someone asks for a book by your favorite author that you can fill, and the notes we get back are wonderful. Even if you dont live near one of these groups to volunteer your time or drop off books, buying books fromwishlists like ours is something that keeps us going.

[T]here is something free that interested people can do: keep an eye on their states rules around sending books to prisons. Many states are trying to restrict packages just from vendors like Amazon, or even going to tablets that force inmatesto buy the expensive technology and books that can be marked way up, even books in the public domain. We have had success pushing back,most recently in Maryland, but it will be an ongoing fight that people can help by contacting their representatives and Governors to let them know they dont agree with policies like these, added Snow.

Public outrage has been instrumental in reversing recent policies across the country. Its vitally important to help demonstrate to prison officials that the American people do not support overbroad and arbitrary restrictions on literature, or policies that severely limit access to books. Overall, people should absolutely be speaking with their elected officials about this, says Trager. He adds that local reporters played a significant role in uncovering book bans and bringing them to the attention of the publicthe endnotes of the PEN America report highlight the value that local media outlets have in making these acts of censorship known.

This is a story that is often first uncovered at a local level, sometimes well before it reaches more national attention, he adds.

When the realities of prison censorship come to light, its too easy for those without the knowledge or understanding of the depths of the problem to make light of the situation. But its not joke. Certainly, books can be weapons and can be tools used for transporting illegal substances into prisons.But these instances are exceptionally uncommon.

Whats far more common is for the First Amendment rights of the incarcerated to be denied.

Its been proven that access to books reduces recidivism. People make mistakes and commit crime. They serve the punishment given to them by a judge and/or a jury. During this time, they have an opportunity to better themselves in whatever ways necessary so theyre prepared for life on the outside again, be it in six months, six years, or sixty years.

For vulnerable populations within an already-vulnerable populationblack men and women experiencing incarceration in particularhaving access to materials about the prison system, racial justice, and their rights is crucial. Already unjustly targeted, they face further challenges in and out of the school-to-prison pipeline, due to bigotry, racism, classism, and denial of tools for rehabilitation. Listen to those in this community and rally in support of their rights.

Trager adds, We need to shine a light on how useful, inspiring, and dignity-enhancing book access is for those who are incarcerated. Pragmatically, access to literature has been shown to help reduce recidivism rates. But we need better protections to support the right to read and access to books in prisons. We need more meaningful review mechanisms, more transparent and clearly-defined rules over what constitutes grounds to ban a book, more consistent application of these rules from prison officials. We need a standard of review that recognizes and values the literary merit of a challenged book, training and regulations that explicitly incorporate First Amendment principles and affirms the basic right to readall of these represent steps we should take to help ensure that the urge to censor is not running rampant in our prisons.

If you want to know more and go deeper, there is a range of incredible material available. Heres a small selection of outstanding reading:

See more here:
Why and How Censorship Thrives in American Prisons - Book Riot

Michael Rosen likes to play a game where he sees how much of the dishwasher he can empty in one breath. As a boy, his brother and he used to try to get from the lavatory to the kitchen before the sound of the flushing had stopped, all while holding their breath.

Play, make-believe, nonsense talk, it all comes naturally to us when were young. As one of our most beloved childrens authors, poets and storytellers, its a knack Rosen has never grown out of, even at 73. The sort of play he enjoyed as a child has informed his imaginative world, and enriched ours.

The vast majority of us, though, hardly stray into those unknown realms anymore. Play is something that in adulthood is largely banished...

Read the original here:
Michael Rosen: It's time we all relearnt the art of play, whatever our age and here's how - Telegraph.co.uk

ILLUSTRATION BY WENTING LI

First Person is a daily personal piece submitted by readers. Have a story to tell? See our guidelines at tgam.ca/essayguide.

Dare we get a cat? My husband asked.

Have you gone completely mad? No way! I hate cats!

Story continues below advertisement

Wed tried everything peppermint oil, food in airtight containers, electronic rodent deterrents, humane catch and release traps. Finally, our tender hearts admitted this dilemma required the brutal snap mouse traps that would make us murderers. With a heavy sigh, we went to the hardware store and stocked up.

Much to our dismay, when we checked the traps the next morning the peanut butter was eaten but the vermin had escaped the spine-crushing-to-death part. Secretly, I was relieved. However, our mouse problem still needed solving.

We marched purposefully into the Humane Society asking for the meanest cat on site. The lady guided us to a cat at the back, in its own separate room with an enter at own risk sign on the door. As we looked through the glass, she explained that it was a stray, age unknown. It was male, a Barn Buddy with Catitude and the $165 adult cat fee was waived. Its long hair was matted, sparse and speckled with dander. It was skinny, mangy and exuded meanness that was palpable. The woman left abruptly, seemingly wanting nothing more to do with this cat.

After some courage-summoning moments, we entered vigilantly. It growled a warning, flicked its tail then hissed as we neared. I kept my distance. Its green eyes fixated on me with slits for pupils. A chill went up my spine, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and goosebumps covered my arms. Roy spoke softly to it and moved in close, the fool. Then, there was blood.

Well take him! I said.

I cant believe we got a cat my husband said as we drove home with the pitch-black mini panther, pacing in his tiny kennel prison as we sat in silent disbelief.

Desperate times I finally responded, envisioning the continual reappearing mound of mouse turds behind the piano.

Story continues below advertisement

Story continues below advertisement

I declared to all that I would not love it. We were dog people. As a matter of fact, we were quite polarized in our love for dogs versus cats. We would provide room and board, and it would kill mice. That would be the extent of this relationship.

Our pup Lynkin was curious about this creature in the kennel, tail a waggin, big grin and floppy tongued as he peeked in the air holes - until he heard the demonic growl followed by a hiss and a lurch forward. Lynkins tail went down swiftly and he scuttled away, wanting nothing further to do with this stinky, dark beast. From a safe distance, Lynky gave us a wide-eyed glare, as if to say: A cat? Really? Have you gone mad?

Were not going to love it, I reiterated. Lynky seemed to appreciate that.

Its going back I told Roy. At every opportunity the cat, who we named Liam, pummelled poor Lynkin for no reason other than malice. Roy insisted we give it a few more days, reminding me of the mouse turds behind the piano.

Liam would gobble up his food, then run and hide, swatting Lynkin on the way. That is, until Lynkin had enough. With an uncharacteristic snarl, growl and a triple nip, the shocked feline was taken aback by Lynkins shadow self.

Shortly thereafter, we began to notice his metamorphosis. The meanness of spirit transformed into an unpredictable sweetness and adorability that one had to see to believe.

Story continues below advertisement

His fur fluffed up as if hed just flown in from a shampoo and blow dry from a beauty salon in France. He became submissive toward Lynkin, following him around like a shadowy little brother. From then on, they were side by side. Liam started laying on the back of the couch, legs up in the air dead bug style. He slept with us in the family bed. He would come running when called, leaping into our laps where he would lull himself to sleep. How calming it is to have a contented, purring cat resonating near ones vibrations of the heart.

It is amazing what love can do.

I have met several Zen masters," says Eckhart Tolle all of them cats.

Late one night a few weeks in, I awoke to Liam tracking a mouse that ran under the bed. He chased it and after some run around, the mouse found a hiding spot at the base of the lamp on the nightstand. Liam looked in all other directions, then sat under the nightstand. I shook my head, realizing that he would not be holding up his end of the bargain. Yet, wed fallen in love with him. What would we do now?

Boom. In a flash Liams black paw darted up and pierced the mouse with his needle-like claws and dragged it into his lair under the table. I screamed. My scream made my husband scream and then the dog barked at all the commotion.

Courteously, Liam left the room with his prey, sparing us from the gruesome scene that would follow. In the morning, my husband found the gift at the entrance of his office.

Story continues below advertisement

Word got out in the mouse community, and thanks to Liam, the mice dont come around here any more and our family is perfectly squared with love.

Jacqueline Lamb Jackson lives in Edmonton, Alta.

See more here:
I hate cats but I needed a mouser and fast - The Globe and Mail

Miller Palmer

These are factors that people often use when they have improve their healthy lifestyle:, I cant afford gym membership and I dont have time because I am always busy but what counts is how determined you are to improve your lifestyle.

Instructor Linda Nyakale from Meadowlands

On October 19, Saturday the Othandweni Childrens Centre hosted aerobics marathon. The main purpose was to promote health and fitness and raise funds.

Mpumi Mkwanazi from Chiawelo

Attendees were treated to a day filled with good music and aerobics combination such as Hi-low, Hi-impact, Kicks, Boxer and Zumba dance to name a few.

Instructor from Eldorado Dudu Sathekge said they are here to promote healthy lifestyle and cure disease through aerobics. We are here to donate clothes and help them to raise funds and also to promote healthy lifestyle and cure diseases through aerobics.

Thato Makhene participated in the aerobics

Volunteer Instructor Mapuring Daniel Seoge said the aerobic marathon was a great platform to raise funds for the centre and a success. We are thankful to everyone who participated in aerobics and the marathon was a success.

Read more:

Aerobics people put the fun in fitness - Soweto Urban

South Africa United Against Cancer (SAUAC) is a female-owned organisation based in the South of Johannesburg.

The organisation aims to bring about a paradigm shift in the approach to cancer prevention by developing new communication and advocacy methods, and generating new knowledge on cancers through appropriate awareness and raise funds.

The organisation will be hosting a walk to raise awareness, educate and raise funds to aid the initiative. SAUAC, in partnership with SA FM and the City of Ekurhuleni, will host the 5km and 10km Wellness Walk Against Cancer on November 10 at 6.30am, with registration and participants receiving their purple accreditation wrist band.

The event will be held at Dries Niemandt Park, where there will be motivational speeches by cancer survivors.

The online entrance fee to the event is R150 for adults, R95 for children under 12 years and free for children less than two years. The gate entrance fee is R170 for adults and R100 for children under 12 years. No tickets on the day of the event will be sold. Tickets include a T-shirt, cup and walk number.

The event will be perfect for spending time with family, friends and colleagues, while supporting the walk against cancer. Attendees are encouraged to bring camp chairs.

There will be a tent and exhibition stalls where attendees will be given a chance to interact with nurses and caregivers to ask questions and receive pamphlets containing more information about cancer.

SAUAC will provide health screening services (rapid prostate cancer testing, cervical cancer screening pap smears, breast cancer examination, HIV/Aids testing, rapid cholesterol testing, blood pressure testing, blood glucose testing and body mass index test. Aerobics and yoga workshops for people with cancer will be provided and their caregivers will be educated about nutrition.

For more information contact the office on 010 141 1666 or send an email to [emailprotected]

See more here:

Wellness walk to be hosted at Dries Niemandt Park - Kempton Express

As we all know, real estate is definitely a way of making a ton of money because theres billions of dollars being generated annually in the scene but many people always tend to go the long route to becoming a licensed realtor when all that isnt necessary. Heres what Edward Shatverov, a teenage millionaire e-commerce expert and real estate investor had to say about why being a real estate investor is much better than becoming a licensed realtor.

Virtually everyone has heard a thing or two about real estate investing and how lucrative it can be if done right. Without sugarcoating things, real estate investing requires having a fair bit of capital and it may require incurring some costs on your part as an investor but one thing is constant; if you go about it the right way, real estate investment is highly lucrative and you will find out that being a real estate investor is better than being a realtor.

As a real estate investor, you can have a steady flow of income and comfortably retire without having any financial worries. So, if you are thinking of delving into real estate investing as a way of fulfilling your retirement goals, you are definitely on the right track. A single property can provide you a steady source of income for life; now think about what multiple properties can fetch you.

Of course, as a realtor theres money to be made and its definitely a decent business venture but my personal recommendation is to get into real estate investing instead. The real estate market looks pretty good at the moment and now will be the best time to enter as an investor. You only need to spot the right locations at the right time. Conduct an intensive real estate market analysis and consult with a real estate professional before purchasing your first property.

Edward Shatverov makes a valid point and hes certainly not the only one who thinks that way. Even Grant Cardone, the CEO of Cardone Capital believes that theres more money to be made as a real estate investor rather than being a realtor.

Read the original here:

Edward Shatverov: Being a Real Estate Investor Is Better Than Being a Real Estate Agent - Explosion

Good grief, its not even Halloween, and what am I seeing in stores, from Home Depot to CVS? Christmas stuff!

And while it might seem early, Jon McDonald, who manages a successful Kmart in St. Petersburg, Fla., says, We already have everything Christmas out on display except the candy, and thats ready to go out right after Halloween.

We want to ensure we get our share of this years holiday consumer spending, he says, so it means we must begin early or be left out. Our Christmas results have been very good that last couple of years, and thats where we plan to be again.

Granted, Kmart isnt a boat dealership, but adopting some of McDonalds marketing strategy to land a share of the expected consumer spending can translate to some extra off-boating-season cash for aggressive dealers. And nows the time to take a cue from McDonald and finalize your plans to begin.

What can we expect this holiday season? Theres pretty good news for retailers, according to the National Retail Federation. Predictions are that holiday retail sales in November and December will grow 3.8 to 4.2 percent over last year, or $727.9 billion to $730.7 billion.

According to NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz, current economic data shows we can expect a much stronger holiday season than last year. Referring to news stories about possible negative impacts from tariffs and trade issues, Kleinhenz says, the effect of tariffs on holiday spending either directly or through consumer confidence remains to be seen.

So how do you cash in? As I heard the late Zig Ziglar, my favorite author, business coach and speaker, once say: If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time. So its clear you need targets and products that fit.

First, study your current customer list. They are most likely to respond. If youve been attentive to these customers, you have some idea of how they enjoy their boats, their family makeup and so on. Its called preparing a segment-specific email list. Customer knowledge will guide you in making special Christmas offers that could have your holiday sales bells ringing. If theyre water sports oriented, specials might be the latest applicable accessories that would fit their Christmas-giving list; fishing families could be enticed to buy gifts for the anglers in their midst, and so on.

Offering gift certificates for the dealership can be a successful idea. My kids never know what to give their dad for Christmas, so Ill bet right now Ill be receiving gift certificates to a marine retailer or tackle store and Ill love them (the kids and the certificates).

Timing is everything, so dealers should create a series of offers for customers that begin no later than Nov. 1 and go well into December. In fact, 45 percent of Americans say they plan to start shopping by Nov. 1. Its reason enough for McDonald to have all the Christmas stuff out on the shelves in his Kmart now. So, in todays world, offering customers Christmas deals starts well before Thanksgiving.

Why do virtually all retailers push special sales during the holiday season? Because they work. Consider kicking off your Christmas Sales Time by the end of October. Be creative. Perhaps offer a few selected specials each week or even some for just a weekend splash sale. A significant discount on popular items will draw shoppers from within your existing customer base. In addition, reward loyal customers with special offers, such as discounts not available to the public. It indicates that customers are special, and experts say that message is difficult to resist.

Perhaps you can hold a holiday in-store event. Ive shared this story before, but its worth repeating. I recall a dealer in northern Ohio who traditionally had a three-day Thanksgiving weekend holiday party, with great success. It drew heavily from the existing customer base and actually sold some boats and lots of accessories. The showroom was brightly decorated with Christmas music playing, refreshments, even a few speakers presenting fishing and cruising topics.

Finally, promoting on social media is nice, but email remains the most effective way to impact customers. Thats because 91 percent of U.S. consumers still use e-mail daily, and you can segment customers email lists based on a variety of factors. According to McKinsey and Co., marketing with email is three times more effective than social media, and the average customer order is 17 percent higher.

Again, reward loyal customers with special offers. It indicates that customers are special, and experts say that message is difficult to resist. The more personal the email, the better the rate of return.

Sugar plums dancing in your head is way overrated. Go for bucks building your jolly bank account this Christmas.

Go here to see the original:
Visions of sugar plums and pumpkins? - Trade Only Today

It was Zig Ziglar who quipped, Be careful not to compromise what you want most for what you want now.

Thats how we see the Salt Run youth sailing program deal now before the City of St. Augustine and the adjoining neighborhood.

To recap, University of St. Augustine founder Stanley Paris has offered up a prime piece of waterfront property to the City of St. Augustine for free sort of.

His one stipulation is the property be dedicated to expanding a youth sailing school on the site. The early wish list for the property includes a dock, classrooms and a boat maintenance building.

The city accepted the deed Monday night, amid plenty of support from yacht club members, and plenty of push-back from neighbors. Their point is one weve come to seen, but primarily residential property being up-zoned as commercial, with neighborhoods placed in peril. We get it.

But, from where we sit, this ones significantly different from the ugly norm.

Lets look at some facts. While the city has accepted the deed, it conveys nothing to the yacht club in terms of the size, design or scope of the sailing school nothing.

The first step for the City is negotiating a lease with the yacht club. And much of both the devil and the detail will emerge during that process. Mayor Tracy Upchurch, to his credit, counseled commissioners to make the process transparent. No part of any subsequent lease will be OKd by the commission other than in public meetings.

The City is also smart in insisting any application go before Planning and Zoning Board for a regular rezoning process which is no cakewalk. And all PZB meetings and all its subsequent recommendations are open to public input. We say recommendations because that is what its end- game in the process becomes. Those recommendations go back to the commissioners who will decide the merits of the deal in more public meetings.

The deal does have an important caveat that, should whatever project takes root on that land strays from being a youth-oriented sailing school, it reverts back to the City as a passive park. If not that, back to the family (heirs who may, at that time, have plans of their own, not so passive).

For his part, Paris is donating the land worth about $1 million. Hes adding another $200,000 to help the yacht club out of the gate. He has also pledged proceeds from another residential lot (sold as residential) he owns nearby perhaps $250,000-plus.

Thats a substantial gimme to St. Augustine and its people. And we thank the salty solo-sailor for the gift and potential legacy.

Well talk later about exactly what the sailing school represents, but need not jump the gun here again because a lease has not been written, rejected or approved.

But in terms of neighbors concerns at this point, theyre irked theyre surrounded by, lets see youth ballfields, a youth skate park, an historic and beautiful Lighthouse and light keepers property, a fishing pier, the prettiest piece of brackish water in the county in Salt Run, a public boat ramp (which will benefit in terms of traffic by moving parking north) and other cultural amenities, not the least of which is lovely and historic Lighthouse Park. Oh yeah, throw in Anastasia State Park.

The neighborhood is buffered by recreational and historical spiffs that would be the envy of any other. If you dont believe it, look how hard new developments scramble to carve out a baseball diamond or soccer field, and generally pay through the nose, or county tax dollars, to get them and often to maintain them.

Take a drive to the northern part of the county where neighborhoods are pigeon-holed between Buc-ees and Wawa gas stations, office complexes and industrial parks.

Now look around at the Never-Never land embracing the Salt Run neighbors.

Seriously, who wouldnt want to live there?

Seriously

The rest is here:
RECORD EDITORIAL | Careful what we wish for - St. Augustine Record

Youre sitting down at a table, and theres a long row of dominoes lined up before you. You push down the first tile. You watch, as it slowly falls over. You let it drop. You let it recklessly topple all of the dominoes that follow, one by one. After a couple of seconds, youve got them all.

This little scenario perfectly sums up the simple logic behind decision-making:

You make your decision, whatever that may be, and a chain reaction follows, an iron link of unexpected events. Unexpected events that never would have happened had you played your cards differently earlier on.

This is what we callThe Butterfly Effect. Simply put, the butterfly effect is the idea the small changes can cause bigger changes to happen.

If your parents never met, you wouldnt be sitting here reading my article, for example.

Life itself is a chain reaction, a long list of decisions. You graduate from secondary school and straight off the bat youre told you have to choose a degree. And then bye bye, youre off to University. Though, of course, when you graduate University the decisions dont finish there. Oh, no. You then have to choose the right career to pursue.

Decisions wait for you behind every door:

Should you buy the house or just rent it?

Is it time for a career change?

Are you in love with her/him?

Will you marry that person?

Do you want to have children?

Life is a long list of decisions.

The world wont end just because you made one poor error in judgement. Weve all been friendly with stupid decisions in the past. We all slip up and make mistakes. Ill admit Im guilty, too. Hey, Im only human, and so are you.

Making the wrong decision is not so much the problem; hiding away from your duty and yourresponsibilityto make decisions is the real issue. No good can come out of that.

Hiding away from decisions is the simple way out. Its easy to run. Its easy to wrap up all of your priorities in a box and dump them under your bed, where they can never see the light of day.

But, theres only one slight problem with that way of thinking:

If you dont call the shots in your own life, youll be living life by default. Its as Zig Ziglar once said:

Making a big life change is pretty scary. But know whats even scarier? Regret.

So were left with two options:

Option A:

To live by default, sitting in the passenger, letting life drag us along for the ride.

Or

Option B:

To master our own fates and to take the responsibility of our lives into our own hands.

Has anyone ever told you this before: Why not take a leap of faith?

You only live once. Seize the day. Follow your heart. People love to say that last one a lot.

Following your heart is all very well, but its equally wise that you follow your wits, too.

Reckless decisions are decisions that are fuelled only by ambition and emotion.

So when you see an advert promising you that you can earn 3500 a day from dog-sitting, you should perhaps think things through before rushing out and quitting your 9 to 5.

Theres no need to make quick-fire decisions. Waiting is good. Nothings wrong with taking time to reflect before cannon-balling yourself into the deep end.

Solitude is the best environment for reflection. The silence can help you to reflect. On your goals, on your mental well-being and on the ways that you want to better yourself. Simply put, solitude can help you learn more about yourself.

Dont take my word for it. You should give it a try someday.

Set aside a few minutes, every now and then. Silence your electronics. You may want to head out for an early morning stroll in the park, or you may just want to think from the comfort of your own bed. Whatever floats your boat.

Use that time to ask yourself this question:

What is it that I want from this life?

Do you have an answer?

Well done, if you do. Dont worry, if you dont. Lifeisabout finding the answer, after all. Once youve cracked the answer, you then have to ask yourself:

How will I cross the bridge from where I am now to where I want to be? How will I reach what I want from life?

Ill be the first to admit that Im a fan of motivational quotes. Cant get enough of them. One of my personal favourites is Sylvester Stallones signature:

It aint about how hard you can hit: its about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward.

Quotes like these are the bread and butter of what it means to challenge the status quo and to push on above the limits. To live with passion. Passion is good. And so is wit.

Passion is what will inspire you to dream those big ideas. Wit is what will help you to turn those big ideas from fantasy to reality.

Without passion, we chain ourselves to limits. We lose drive, we lose energy and we lose the spirit needed to challenge the status quo.

Without wit, we become too friendly with stupid decisions.

Ideally, there should be an equal balance of wit and passion in our decisions.

As a general rule of thumb:

Passion + wit = seriously cant go wrong

Go here to see the original:
The Art of Making Good Decisions - Thrive Global