Reading Lockdown really got me thinking, but not necessarily in the way anyone would expect. Not the, “man that guys life sucks!” or the “he deserves it for robbing someone” but really just about one idea found in one paragraph of the story.
Hopkins talks about how life in prison is just a waiting game, simply determined by what you happen to be waiting for. He says some people might be waiting for the phone, the TV, or even for parole. It got me thinking and comparing that life in prison to our ‘freedom’ in life.
I wake up every morning and wait for my classes to start. I return to my dorm in the mid afternoon to wait for my friends to go eat, or toss a frisbee, or whatever we happen to be doing. Then I go back to my dorm again and wait for sleep to consume me. I guess I really shouldn’t be comparing my life to that of an inmate, but if this is how you think about your life, then it’s strikingly similar.
I wake up every morning and wait for my classes to start. I return to my dorm in the mid afternoon to wait for my friends to go eat, or toss a frisbee, or whatever we happen to be doing. Then I go back to my dorm again and wait for sleep to consume me. I guess I really shouldn’t be comparing my life to that of an inmate, but if this is how you think about your life, then it’s strikingly similar.
Just when my mind was being overtaken by these depressing thoughts I changed gears into a more optimistic manner. Your life can be defined however you define it, so I prefer to think of my day as the things I do rather than the time I wait. Rather than focusing on the hour in solitude waiting for a tardy friend, focus on the hour you spend with that friend, or the exciting dreams your mind manages to create, or even the mind numbingly dull hour long lecture about the civil war.
I know that wasn’t really the point of Lockdown but this life altering philosophy is really what stuck with me when I finished reading. Life is really all about perspective, and about the attitude you live by, the spin you put on situations, and the optimism that can make everything okay.
I know that wasn’t really the point of Lockdown but this life altering philosophy is really what stuck with me when I finished reading. Life is really all about perspective, and about the attitude you live by, the spin you put on situations, and the optimism that can make everything okay.
FIRST! AGAIN!
ReplyDeleteI can completely agree to the whole concept of life as a prison; in fact its a theory I subscribe to! Plato says that there are two worlds: the physical and imaginary, but the imaginary is more real and stable than the physical. This means that you can burn every house in the world, and the first thing people do is build more, because you cant burn the idea of a bridge. Life is a prison because it restricts the indestructible flow of our imaginations.
I agree with you as well about your idea on waiting. It all depends on how you look at things, half full or half empty. Hopkins seemed to try to use his time wisely by writing, meditating, and talking to others. While you're waiting you can either dig yourself into a deeper hole and into a worse situation like most prisoners tended to do, or you can try to learn, better yourself, and work your way out of the situation you are in. It is all up to you what you do with the free time you are given and the decisions you decide to make during that time. Hopkins was sentenced for life in prison, but because he has changed and worked hard, he believes one day he could be released.
ReplyDeleteI agree, sometimes I do feel like life is one big waiting room. You never know what will happen next or what to do to pass the time. If you are productive with your time like Hopkins then life will be a whole lot more enjoyable. If you pass time with a negative outlook like some of the prisoners then life will be awful. We have to look optimistically at the situation, like you said. In the passage, Hopkins starts to weep because of his son. He later realizes that he is just feeling sorry for himself. I catch myself doing this too. We have to embrace the situation we are in even if it truly sucks.
ReplyDeleteI agree with thinking about the time that you are waiting around for things to happen, but at the same time i am thinking about what i am going to do once they happen and i how i will achieve what i need to achieve. You will always be waiting around in life but you must look ahead at what you are waiting for. Hopkins used his time wisely and took advantage of the grants that the government would give him that they done give out anymore, so he has hopes of one day being released.
ReplyDeleteI felt this way every summer. I am bored, and I just feel like I am waiting for the summer to end. But like you said waiting isn't boring unless you make it so. I should really think about how I can make use of time for studying, recreational, fun, etc. more useful than once before. Hopkins was able to do that in the confinements he was in. If he could do it, anyone can.
ReplyDeleteBefore I came to college I considered most of the time I spent alone to be wasted time. Now that I am in college and currently living in a triple, I treasure the moments I have alone time. I took for granted having my own space at home and being able to cry if I felt like it or take a 20 minute shower. Having time to be myself is a big thing for me. Not that I'm a loner or anything, but I need an hour or two a day to just be by myself and relax.
ReplyDeleteI agree on everything you said. Life is all about how you take it. I used to be the person that would think that life was like prison, that all we do is wait for our friends and family and for things to be over like class or for things to begin like summer. It took me a while to realize that I should cherish the time I have with my friends doing whatever we do. Instead of sitting somewhere waiting for something to happen I enjoy the time I have alone. Having a more optomistic view on life and events really makes everything better.
ReplyDeleteI love spending time alone. I always think that me time is the best time because I don't have to do what everyone else wants to do. Now that doesn't mean I don't like to hang out with friends. It just means that I think doing what I want to do by myself is an important part of my day. I don't feel like I'm waiting in a prison cell. I just relax.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this 100%. It makes you think that it’s not what we have in our lives that matters is what we do with out lives that matters. Everyone has a daily routine weather their in college, prison, elementary school, or the work world. We have a set of has that we do similar everyday but life would be so boring if we just did those things the same. We have to spice things up every day but doing things different or adding stuff into our schedule. Otherwise we will get bored and it could also lead to depression. I’ve seen households that do the same things every single day and not only does it depress the parents but their kids go to school feeling bad sluggish just because their doing the same thing everyday. Which is why I think lots of kids drop out of school because they are so bored and unhappy with school that they just forget about it. Sorry for trending so off topic.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this. I actually had the same thoughts as I read and that exact quote is what stuck in my head. I feel that every situation you face in life whether good or bad, it all depends on how you look at it. You can sit around and complain about something or you can actually get up and do something about it. I think how you spend your extra time is really up to the person themselves. Everyone is different and some people like to sit around and do nothing and they're perfectly fine with it. But then on the other hand, you have people who like to get up and use their time wisely! So to me, it all depends on the person and how they want to use their time.
ReplyDeleteLife sometimes feels like a repetitive routine, like a cycle. But honestly the way we live our life is definitely up to us. After loosing my best friend in a car accident 4 months ago, i was able to trully understand how precious life is. everyday could be your last day. i know it sounds like some fortune cookie bull but its true. we feel like we do the same things every day but if u look at it closely, something new happens everyday! Its important to free yourself from the imaginary prison that you create and take advantage of the finer things, or how some like to call them "the little things in life".
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ReplyDeleteI just realized how true this is now. There are times where I feel so down because things aren't going my way but really everything is just right. I could be in prison somewhere doing time but instead I'm going to college. I'm just realizing that instead of just reflecting on everything that is wrong I should do something about it instead of just sitting and waiting around. I need to cherish the happy moments that I have rather than the things that I long for in life. If Hopkins can make the most out of his life in prison then we all can get the most out of ours.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you on this subject. I really like your view on perspective, ironic sounding I know. Perception is one of those things that has my mind boggled for hours. There are so many ways to define perception, or conversations with friends about their view on something versus your view on that same object. When I look at a vase of flowers, it can make me think of watching the movie, "Steel Magnolias" with my mother. On the other hand, if my friend saw that same vase of flowers, they would think of The Gators because the flowers were spray-painted orange and blue. Perception is honestly the key to everything in my opinion. It keeps life interesting, to say the least :)
ReplyDeleteThis topic really hits home. Life is a game of perspective, it's honestly all in how you face the adversity thrown at you. You could walk through life with a chip on your shoulder, but then where would that get you? My friend, for example, was just diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis), at the young age of 17. Seventeen. She's still a kid practically. I asked her how she felt about it, and she began to describe everything she was going through physically. Fighting back tears as she described these hellacious symptoms, she looked at me and said, "It's alright, I'm still alive." That single sentence really changed my outlook on life. I have no right to complain about the life I live. She still has the strength to stay that after everything. Honestly, some people need to change their outlook on life.
ReplyDeleteI agree, life's success can be based one's perspective. I generally think of myself as an optimist, and so I am able to look at bad situations and see a good outcome. Those who have hope, like Hopkins, are more likely to get through the tough solitary time of the Lockdown, because his knows that the Lockdown will pass, and his time in prison will also pass. Unlike many of the other prisoners who were just waiting for time to pass, Hopkins occupied his time, by either writing or by finding a new perspective to what his life will soon entail. When we have spare time, we should see it as a potential to do something beneficial rather than just sitting around hoping that it will end soon.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I also feel like on some days all that life is, is one big wait. I feel like i wait on so much. But also i realize that you can look at life in many different ways and it should not be looked at in a negative way because you only live once and you should make the best of life. For me, I now look at life as that I am very lucky to just be alive. Many people have it much worse and I cherish the life I live. Hopkins occupied his time in prison and made the best of it so I think every person can do the same.
ReplyDeleteYou really opened up my eyes and made me see and agree with what you were first saying. Life pretty much is a waiting game or most of the time, but I guess that is if we let it be. I got pretty sad just thinking about my days but you made me snap back into it when you said we should focus on what we DO in the end. Life won’t always be happy and exciting but it is up to us to make the very best of it. Every day is the start of something new!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great topic. Life is what you make it, if you want to sit there everyday just getting by with the same old boring routine then that is your choice. I choose to live my life everyday like it's my last. I like looking at things in positively light and mixing up my routine everyday to keep things interesting. Sometimes times get tough but you have to overcome these obstacles and fight through it. Everyone is different but everyone should try to view their lives in a positive manner instead of comparing life to being a prison.
ReplyDeleteThat is so true! A lot of our lives are "hurry up and wait" you hurry to your class and then you wait for the teacher to begin. You wait for the class to be over and then you hurry up to the next one! I like your positive outlook on it though. You should enjoy the time that you have.
ReplyDeleteThis theme of life being a waiting game is very interesting. We really do spend much of time waiting for things in our lives to occur. It really just depends on what we are waiting for that makes our lives different. Some people wait in the right lines while others wait in lines that take them no where.
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