Living Life
One day my college philosophy professor began class by wordlessly holding up a large, empty mason jar, then he proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He asked us all if the jar was full? We agreed it was. The professor then picked up a bag of small pebbles and poured them into the jar. He gently shook the jar and the pebbles moved into the open spaces between the golf balls. He asked again if the jar was full? Again, we all agreed it was.
Next, the professor picked up a bag of fine sand and poured the sand into the jar. Of course the sand filled all the little spaces between the pebbles. Again he asked us if the jar was full? We all responded "yes." Then the professor produced two cups of coffee and poured both of them into the jar, filling all the tiny little spaces between the grains of sand. We all laughed, not knowing what else to do at this point.
As the laughter subsided the professor said, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - family, children, friends, health, your favourite passions. Things that if everything else was lost, and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, car. The sand is everything else, the really small stuff. But, if you put the sand into the jar first there would be no room for the pebbles or golf balls. The same goes for your life. If you spend all of your time and energy on the small stuff, you'll never have room for the things that are really important."
There was some minor discussion, some students asked questions. The professor went on. "Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Family, children, friends, health and passions. There will be time to clean the house, cut the grass and get to that ' to do' list. Take care of the golf balls first, things that really matter. Set your priorities, the rest is just sand."
A student raised her hand and asked, "What does the coffee represent?" The professor smiled, "I'm glad you asked. It goes to show that no matter how full your life may seem. There's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend!"
John Robinson, Kansas
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In a Death Row prisoner‘s own words:
“It‘s about my penpal she has changed my life from a mental hell, her letters have rolled back the clouds in my life and allowed the sunshine to burst thru. I am so impressed by this beautiful women that I am not ashamed or embarrassed to acknowledge her as my friend – Best Friend. I couldn’t love her more.”
“It‘s about my penpal she has changed my life from a mental hell, her letters have rolled back the clouds in my life and allowed the sunshine to burst thru. I am so impressed by this beautiful women that I am not ashamed or embarrassed to acknowledge her as my friend – Best Friend. I couldn’t love her more.”
Human Writes Patrons
"The very essence of the death penalty is to tell people that they are somehow sub-human, not fit to live. Yet even those people I have represented who did what they were accused of - a surprisingly limited number - have always been much better people than their worst fifteen minutes, as are we all. Those who recognise this by reaching out to the men and women on death row are true heroes, though I suspect they gain as much as they give to the relationship."
Clive Stafford Smith OBE, Founder of Reprieve and Patron, Human Writes
"As a journalist who has lived and worked in the United States, the horror of death row is one of the issues that never leaves you. The thread of humanity that Human Writes manages to sustain with men and women on death row is a profound contribution to keep alive the hope of life. Capital punishment is now on the retreat in America, but the numbers awaiting their fate are still very considerable. I am very honoured to have become a Patron of Human Writes and will hope to do my best to put my shoulder to the wheel".
Jon Snow Broadcaster and journalist, Patron, Human Writes
"I know what it is like to live in a cell for decades and feel that the whole world hates you. I never expected to be able to live again as a contributing member of a community. Prison life was precarious and unpredictable but I met people who worked there who wanted to help me and people like me - and I'm lucky that I live in a society graceful enough to offer me a second chance. At least I had hope. Hope for many of the people supported by Human Writes has all but been extinguished. Letters to people on Death Row let them know that however low they may have fallen, they are still human beings. They still have value and are worth caring about and letters might just help to keep hope alive. That is why I am honoured to have been invited to be a patron."
Erwin James 1957 - 2024, author and Guardian columnist, Patron, Human Writes
Prisoner Art and Writing
"The volunteers of Human Writes seek to hold out the hand of friendship to men and women facing the death penalty. I am pleased to encourage them in their writing"
Most Reverend and Rt Hon George L Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury
"No matter its circumstances, dying is one of the most important things we ever do. I applaud all who offer compassion and hope to those facing death, especially in the terrible circumstances of Death Row. May God bless your work."
His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster