My name is Thai Tran. I am fourty-nine years old and for most of my life I had forgotten my name and who I was. I went by a nickname and an image of who I thought others wanted me to be. I abandoned myself, made horrible choices, lied to myself, and therefore I didn’t trust me. I always wanted to be in control and have it my way. However, when I did get it my way, it came at a price of hurting others and certainly myself. After more than forty years, I was tired of paying high prices for low living.
Today I don’t need to control situations or people, I have self-control. I don’t need power over people or things, because I have power of choices, to make my own decisions. The scary, uncomfortable things tempt me to change. Everytime I think I have stopped creating victims, someone shows up. Everytime I think I have finished a step, my character defects show up. This keeps me mindful of my thoughts, what I say and do have an impact on others because we are a community whose power lies within each and every one of us. In recovery I discovered people became nicer, I liked going to work, I liked being of service to others, and life became great! People often ask me why I smile so much despite my LWOP sentence.. It’s because I have peace in my heart today.