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Letters

Finding Light in the Darkness

Willy Pleasance

I am Aidan. I am 30, and this is my 12th time on remand since 2019.

Let me start by stating that once you are in the cells the saying “it is what it is” feels relevant. It most certainly is what it is.

But everyone gets an end date, and all I can say is find what motivates you and use it to fall on, because inmates are all doing hard miles and in the end the only one you can rely on is yourself.

This is a dark thought, but what motivates you will end up being something that lights your longest days.

How to approach the officers: the less time you are in front of them the better.

Thank you About Time, and I think we should be able to include our CRN to find pen pals.

Thank you again.

I am Aidan. I am 30, and this is my 12th time on remand since 2019.

Let me start by stating that once you are in the cells the saying “it is what it is” feels relevant. It most certainly is what it is.

But everyone gets an end date, and all I can say is find what motivates you and use it to fall on, because inmates are all doing hard miles and in the end the only one you can rely on is yourself.

This is a dark thought, but what motivates you will end up being something that lights your longest days.

How to approach the officers: the less time you are in front of them the better.

Thank you About Time, and I think we should be able to include our CRN to find pen pals.

Thank you again.

This
letter
was originally printed in the
August 2025
edition of About Time.

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Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

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