Appreciation

Appreciation Is a Discipline, Not a Mood

On August 12, 2013, I concluded my obligation to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. From age 23 to 49, I lived as federal prisoner number 16377-004. Despite decades in confinement, I always felt grateful for opportunities that came my way.

Living in gratitude did not minimize the hardship of a lengthy sentence. It strengthened me, giving me a different perspective. Rather than perceiving the sentence my judge imposed as an injustice, I considered it part of the journey.

This lesson on "Appreciation" does not suggest that circumstances are better than they are. Rather, we should recognize what remains possible, even in the worst conditions. Like ballast in a ship, appreciation stabilizes us when external forces threaten to capsize our progress.

Finding Gratitude in Confinement

After my arrest, a judge denied bail. Authorities locked me in solitary confinement, where I spent my first year. After sentencing, authorities transferred me to a high-security penitentiary, where 40-foot walls surrounded the entire prison.

The environment felt ominous. Yet I appreciated the small things that I didn't previously have while in solitary:

• I could walk outside
• I could look up and see a blue sky
• I could breathe fresh air

I appreciated the increased liberty.

Gratitude on the Journey

Looking back, I can identify many blessings that sustained me through confinement:

• My family stood by me consistently
• Reading the Bible gave me hope that redemption was possible
• Socrates taught me how to think differently
• Frederick Douglass showed me that learning to communicate could lead to meaningful contribution
• Mentors entered my life and pushed me to work harder
• Universities gave me opportunities to earn academic credentials
• Publishing opportunities allowed me to contribute value
• I married inside a prison visiting room, bringing love and stability into my life

Appreciation Expands Opportunity

Gratitude does more than improve attitude. It influences outcomes. When we live in gratitude:

• We attract support rather than sympathy
• We build resilience instead of resentment
• We remain open to opportunity instead of trapped in grievance

Appreciation is the emotional equivalent of compounding interest. The small acknowledgments, repeated daily, accumulate into perspective, strength, and opportunity.