$100K in 10 Days – Featuring our Truth Be Told graduate, Michelle
Today is day five of our 10 day fundraiser. Our donors have pushed us over the $40K mark and the Misers are generously matching those donations, dollar for dollar. Each day we are featuring one of our brave graduates sharing their truth through a video and blog. Being a woman is not easy, but being a justice-involved woman is impossible when you are judged by your worst mistakes each and every day.
Michelle is quickly approaching the one year mark of her release. She continues to make a daily choice to continue doing the work to live her most authentic life. To view Michelle’s video, click here.
TBT: What do you want people to know about incarceration and the criminal justice system?
Michelle: Texas sends thousands of people into the system at an astronomical rate to taxpayers each year. However, there is little rehabilitation offered within the actual system.
TBT: What is your favorite motto, phrase, or affirmation?
Michelle: In order to love who you are, you can’t hate the experiences that shaped you.
TBT: Out of all the work that you did with Truth Be Told, what is the most memorable lesson or tool that you still use to this day.
Michelle: Journaling is my most used tool, being able to be honest with myself and express all my feelings without harming my words. However, centering the moment by being present (what can I touch, see, smell in that moment) is the most memorable tool.
TBT: We are all one choice away from incarceration. Describe one choice from your past that put you on the path to incarceration.
Michelle: Allowing myself to stay in a victim mentality and allowing my addiction to overcome all of me. I’m no longer a victim, I have a choice.
TBT: What are you excited about in your life now or looking forward to in the future?
Michelle: I’m excited to share with my family the healing I learned in prison through TBT. We are breaking generational curses together.
TBT: Tell us about your best day in prison and your worst day in prison.
Michelle: The worst day in prison was intake day. The uncertainty and fear of what was to come. Wondering, can I do this?
The best day, without reservation, was release day. I had no idea then what was in store with the TBT community but I had hope and faith. God will provide.
If you wish to make a donation to support more trauma healing programs in TDCJ units, please consider making a donation.
You can also purchase tickets to view a real-time, virtual presentation of our Story Gathering Event on December 8th.