Lorig Charkoudian
"The reality, of course, is that while there are celebratory moments as people are released, it is more of a journey than a destination and it is often a hard and sometimes painful journey. While I don’t consider my run to be as difficult as the challenges of getting out and staying out, the metaphors and symbols are strong ones.
First, there is the joy of freedom and often people are even ready for the first big mountains. They may have prepared mentally or spiritually while they were incarcerated. But even after those big hurdles have passed, the hills keep rolling. Each job application with a “criminal conviction” box; transportation challenges to get to health care or the probation office; the need for an original birth certificate in order to get an ID in order to do almost anything; the feeling of failure; judgment from those around; the temptation to start using again to dull some of the pain; the call of the streets; the friends who want to “help” by setting them up to make a bit of money; and on it goes…. And the body, mind, and spirit can all be calling out to just give it up.
And this is where relationships become so important – people who believe in you and want you to succeed. These people can run with you when your brain is getting numb and temptations are getting bold. These people can feed you with love and support, when you don’t think you can take anything in. These people can remind you who you are and who you intend to be. And these people can point you to the map, the one you came up with together in the mediation that shows you where the safe pedestrian bridge is to cross over the most dangerous parts."
~ Lorig Charkoudian, In Gratefulness, after the 2nd Annual Run for Re-Entry