I could just scream with happiness!!!!
I just got a phone call from Melissa, the sweetest little lady that I could possibly know (except of course for my amazing daughter). I spent my time in Cobb County hanging out with her and learning so much from her. For a young woman of 25, she is wise beyond her years and she's truly a decent person. Like me, she believes in taking the high road whenever possible, even when times are tough and everyone else is taking the low road.
So many people are so miserable and so very angry with their lot in life that they can only find happiness in hurting others. I feel so sorry for people like that because they don't even realize that by trying to hurt others, they only hurt themselves. When you try to hurt people who are happy in their hearts, you just make yourself miserable and you waste your time being so "hurtful", because the only person that you're hurting is yourself.
Well, Melissa is one of those people who loves others and has faith in God. She and her wonderful attitude are contagious. You couldn't help but adore her, she hasn't a bitter bone in her body. When I left Cobb at 4 AM Sunday morning, I was under the impression that she would be getting out on Tuesday. Well, she ended up staying there until Thursday night so I was getting so very worried about her. Hearing from her this morning made me so happy that I am still smiling. A bureaucratic snafu kept her there longer than she should have been. But...SHE'S OUT NOW and that has me about as happy as I was when I got out.
If anyone in the world has a reason to lose faith and to despair, it would be that woman but she, like me, appreciates the fact that things could be so much worse that she is just thankful that things are NOT worse. She gave me so much strength and I don't know if I could ever, ever thank her for that. Knowing her, my happiness and faith is all that she needs to see to make her feel as though she has been paid back.
She's like me in a another way too, she has sympathy for people who are so miserable that they find happiness in hurting others.
When you consistently take the high road when it's offered to you, people will inevitably have to look up at you. Those who take the low road are always looked down upon. People who can only find happiness in the misfortune of others are doomed to be miserable for the rest of their lives. And when people try to "hurt" me with their words, actions and lack of compassion, they show me how sad they actually are, even if they, themselves don't realize that they are, in fact, pathetic. For them, I hope that life will someday show them that happiness can only be attained from allowing oneself to feel empathy and kindness for those that they feel contempt for. In the meantime, they will consistently try to find happiness from the misery of others.
How anyone can think that happiness lies in reveling in the misfortune of others is beyond me. But, they can't see that and they WON'T see that until they open their hearts and allow a little love to enter. I don't want to sound all preachy, but these are lessons that I have learned and that have taught me to be happy. Of course, it doesn't work all the time, I'm only human and at times I slip a bit but Melissa and those like her remind me how a little kindness toward others will always come back to you, many fold.
Melissa is a woman who has had more than her share of sadness in her life yet she is one of those people who always smiles and always looks for the decency in others. She isn't stupid and she's not naive...she really is a kind hearted person who is smart enough to recognize a true heart from a manipulative heart. I am so proud to have known her and I look forward to knowing her for years to come. When people say that, "Things happen for a reason.", it's those like Melissa that are like Angels sent down to effect those reasons. I don't even know if she's aware of the role she plays in the lives of others. I doubt that she knows how much she has meant to me... just in case, I want to let her know now:
Melissa,
Your constant smile has given me hope during so many difficult times. Your arms were my strength when I was worried about my children and I don't think I ever thanked you for that. I have a wonderful daughter as well so I know the pride that your mother has when she thinks about you and all that you've accomplished on the road to a life that will take you to places that you never dreamt that you could go. At night when we prayed together, I watched you in amazement as you led the prayers without a thought to the other inmates who tried to quiet your song. You gave me hope when I had none and I believe you to be an angel in disguise. Your daughter is so lucky to have such a mother. You are love personified and I can't wait to see what you do with your life...whatever it is, you will succeed because you are one of the true believers. Just knowing you gives others the faith and hope that is so rare in this world and I thank God that he crossed our paths. If I never see you again, I will count myself lucky for having met you. I don't know what life has in store for you but whatever it is, I know that it will be amazing for you and if you should ever despair, please remember that somewhere on this planet, there are people who have been touched by your strength of spirit and your powerful ability to impart upon others the faith that we all need to believe that life is there for the taking, all we need to do is recognize it, hold on to it and run with it. I don't want to sound corny, but you have truly been the wind beneath my wings and I love you for that.
Thank you, come again! (That's a bit of a private joke between Melissa and I.)
There are so many people who could benefit from just a fraction of the decency that Melissa possesses. Some have more than enough and sadly, some have nowhere near enough.
Anyway, Melissa and I will be getting together sometime today and I'm sure that we will laugh the entire time. One can't help but be happy when in her presence. She'll catch me up on all the "news from the pod" that I missed after I left and I'll tell her about the wonderful people that I have been surrounded by since I came home.
She did tell me something that happened after I left that I found to be funny. I don't know the details yet but after it happened, one of the guards told an inmate, "You make tofu look smart." It wasn't one of the nicer guards so Melissa had a little tidbit for her on the way out of the lock up, "You know, you make tofu look beautiful." I got a kick out of that because I know who she meant.
I just received a phone call from someone who wants to rain on my parade and I'm not going to let that happen. I'm far too happy today...I'll be seeing Melissa!
Well, I have some things to accomplish today before I do get to see Melissa so I'm off. I just want to thank the people who are helping me to get my life back together, I hope that you all know that Someone is watching us and taking notes so whether or not I am ever able to return the favor, you will surely receive your due. Of course, I DO hope that I WILL be able to give back to you what you have given to me.
See ya soon,
Meg
email me at megbkelso@gmail.com
I just got a phone call from Melissa, the sweetest little lady that I could possibly know (except of course for my amazing daughter). I spent my time in Cobb County hanging out with her and learning so much from her. For a young woman of 25, she is wise beyond her years and she's truly a decent person. Like me, she believes in taking the high road whenever possible, even when times are tough and everyone else is taking the low road.
So many people are so miserable and so very angry with their lot in life that they can only find happiness in hurting others. I feel so sorry for people like that because they don't even realize that by trying to hurt others, they only hurt themselves. When you try to hurt people who are happy in their hearts, you just make yourself miserable and you waste your time being so "hurtful", because the only person that you're hurting is yourself.
Well, Melissa is one of those people who loves others and has faith in God. She and her wonderful attitude are contagious. You couldn't help but adore her, she hasn't a bitter bone in her body. When I left Cobb at 4 AM Sunday morning, I was under the impression that she would be getting out on Tuesday. Well, she ended up staying there until Thursday night so I was getting so very worried about her. Hearing from her this morning made me so happy that I am still smiling. A bureaucratic snafu kept her there longer than she should have been. But...SHE'S OUT NOW and that has me about as happy as I was when I got out.
If anyone in the world has a reason to lose faith and to despair, it would be that woman but she, like me, appreciates the fact that things could be so much worse that she is just thankful that things are NOT worse. She gave me so much strength and I don't know if I could ever, ever thank her for that. Knowing her, my happiness and faith is all that she needs to see to make her feel as though she has been paid back.
She's like me in a another way too, she has sympathy for people who are so miserable that they find happiness in hurting others.
When you consistently take the high road when it's offered to you, people will inevitably have to look up at you. Those who take the low road are always looked down upon. People who can only find happiness in the misfortune of others are doomed to be miserable for the rest of their lives. And when people try to "hurt" me with their words, actions and lack of compassion, they show me how sad they actually are, even if they, themselves don't realize that they are, in fact, pathetic. For them, I hope that life will someday show them that happiness can only be attained from allowing oneself to feel empathy and kindness for those that they feel contempt for. In the meantime, they will consistently try to find happiness from the misery of others.
How anyone can think that happiness lies in reveling in the misfortune of others is beyond me. But, they can't see that and they WON'T see that until they open their hearts and allow a little love to enter. I don't want to sound all preachy, but these are lessons that I have learned and that have taught me to be happy. Of course, it doesn't work all the time, I'm only human and at times I slip a bit but Melissa and those like her remind me how a little kindness toward others will always come back to you, many fold.
Melissa is a woman who has had more than her share of sadness in her life yet she is one of those people who always smiles and always looks for the decency in others. She isn't stupid and she's not naive...she really is a kind hearted person who is smart enough to recognize a true heart from a manipulative heart. I am so proud to have known her and I look forward to knowing her for years to come. When people say that, "Things happen for a reason.", it's those like Melissa that are like Angels sent down to effect those reasons. I don't even know if she's aware of the role she plays in the lives of others. I doubt that she knows how much she has meant to me... just in case, I want to let her know now:
Melissa,
Your constant smile has given me hope during so many difficult times. Your arms were my strength when I was worried about my children and I don't think I ever thanked you for that. I have a wonderful daughter as well so I know the pride that your mother has when she thinks about you and all that you've accomplished on the road to a life that will take you to places that you never dreamt that you could go. At night when we prayed together, I watched you in amazement as you led the prayers without a thought to the other inmates who tried to quiet your song. You gave me hope when I had none and I believe you to be an angel in disguise. Your daughter is so lucky to have such a mother. You are love personified and I can't wait to see what you do with your life...whatever it is, you will succeed because you are one of the true believers. Just knowing you gives others the faith and hope that is so rare in this world and I thank God that he crossed our paths. If I never see you again, I will count myself lucky for having met you. I don't know what life has in store for you but whatever it is, I know that it will be amazing for you and if you should ever despair, please remember that somewhere on this planet, there are people who have been touched by your strength of spirit and your powerful ability to impart upon others the faith that we all need to believe that life is there for the taking, all we need to do is recognize it, hold on to it and run with it. I don't want to sound corny, but you have truly been the wind beneath my wings and I love you for that.
Thank you, come again! (That's a bit of a private joke between Melissa and I.)
There are so many people who could benefit from just a fraction of the decency that Melissa possesses. Some have more than enough and sadly, some have nowhere near enough.
Anyway, Melissa and I will be getting together sometime today and I'm sure that we will laugh the entire time. One can't help but be happy when in her presence. She'll catch me up on all the "news from the pod" that I missed after I left and I'll tell her about the wonderful people that I have been surrounded by since I came home.
She did tell me something that happened after I left that I found to be funny. I don't know the details yet but after it happened, one of the guards told an inmate, "You make tofu look smart." It wasn't one of the nicer guards so Melissa had a little tidbit for her on the way out of the lock up, "You know, you make tofu look beautiful." I got a kick out of that because I know who she meant.
I just received a phone call from someone who wants to rain on my parade and I'm not going to let that happen. I'm far too happy today...I'll be seeing Melissa!
Well, I have some things to accomplish today before I do get to see Melissa so I'm off. I just want to thank the people who are helping me to get my life back together, I hope that you all know that Someone is watching us and taking notes so whether or not I am ever able to return the favor, you will surely receive your due. Of course, I DO hope that I WILL be able to give back to you what you have given to me.
See ya soon,
Meg
email me at megbkelso@gmail.com
posted by Meg Kelso | 8:18 AM
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