Hey Roloyolo, thank you for responding back.

I totally get it about the "certain things". I've been in these situations one way or another on more than one occasion myself, and there wasn't much room for choice when I was.

Between having lived a rough childhood, an enlistment in the service, a homeless guy with a alcohol and drug habit in and out of jail, I understand some peoples need to medicate with marijuana. I use it myself, and it's helped tremendously with my anxiety and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). When I don't have it, I'm generally a irritable grumpy fellow, in all honesty.. but I'll take that over a guy who drinks a bottle of jack a night and sniffs half grams of cocaine in one line.

There are basically 3 categories of people that go to jail in my mind. The one's that go for life, the one's that go and continue to come back, and the one's who go once and learn what they need to change in their life with all that reflection time their given.

The last one was me. I really was scared for my life in there, and saw some terrible things. It was no short amount of time I did either. I was a man who would drink alcohol, and have the tendency to get violent and confrontational, as well as gateway to cocaine. I recognized what I needed to remove from my life. It was the alcohol and cocaine. Problem solved. I've not been back to jail, and it's been 3 years.

People will definitely judge those who have a violent history, or have been to jail in many capacities. In the mind of many, people who have been to jail are just shit birds that are no good for society. The truth is, there are many good people serving time, who are often above average intelligence, and very talented in many capacities, often wrongly charged, over charged, or even fully innocent and victim of wrongful accusation. There are ton's of people in the jails and prison systems that have addiction issues, PTSD issues, and various other mental health conditions. Many of the criminals who have violent crimes or theft are the one's with addiction issues, and there is a major connection here. So many people who get violent under the influence are not violent sober, unless for self defense.

I've lost out on some pretty nice opportunities because of my history as well. Like a grant for college for my time in the service. The school actually accepted me, and then called me a couple weeks later to tell me they had changed their mind.

Generally when people get to know me, they think I'm a pretty cool guy. I don't have any enemies, And my friends think it's amazing that I am following my dreams now.

I think it's pretty sad that a person who may have had a serious addiction problem can pay their debt to society with jail time, get out and change their life, then continue to be frowned upon. It does not coincide with the idea of paying a debt.

Living the life I've lived has honed my ability to read people like open books. They cannot hide their disgust or disapproval when they see the crimes I've been convicted of . I do feel I was overcharged, but that doesn't matter. If the paper says guilty, you are guilty. That is just how people see things, and that is how it is some of the time, but not everything is so crystal clear in life. If I say I was protecting my life, and genuinely felt I was, but the judge says I was trying to strangle someone.. Well, you know the rest. Once you are branded, that's it. You can try to tell the jury what your intention was, but your intention doesn't matter in cases like this. Especially if you are labeled as an alcoholic. I warn people about confrontation when their drinking, because they will be the one in the wrong every time.

I refuse to deal with that disgust. I know I am a changed man after recovering from alcoholism, and I know my worth to society. I refuse to hand an application that demands a criminal history to an employer for a job, and them watch them cringe when they instantly look down at that section. It's the first thing they check! No, screw that. I will not deal with it anymore, to make a company more money than they are paying me. I'll make my own way, and feel freely liberated , away from the grips of addiction, making money in my own creative ways.

It sounds to me, like you have a good head on your shoulders, and your headed in the right direction. Keep up the good work, and never let anyone drag you into doing things your not comfortable doing, especially illegal things. Jail is a terrible place to be, and I hope you don't ever have to experience it.

PS. Yeah I pretty much read the entire Bible while I was in confinement, your friend was totally right about that one.