Donate Here

Letters

‘You Got This, Aye!’

By
Belly

Belly writes from a prison in QLD.

Willy Pleasance

To the editors of About Time,

I just received a copy of Issue 15 and once again I have a near overwhelming feeling of enthusiasm. Thank you.

I have a short poem as well as a mindfulness technique called “Distress Tolerance”.

S top, don’t react or let your emotions take over

T ake a step back, breath in, breath out

O bserve your body’s sensations

P roceed with your thoughts or actions

Do this with small events to begin with. Eventually this will become instinct. You got this, aye. Onya.

Poem

Empathy vs Sympathy

There are four stages to empathy

Sympathy is cut and dry

Recognising others’ feelings

When you see others cry

The capacity to take perspective

The desire is to act

Just recognising distress

Is recognising fact

Thanks guys.

Regards,

Belly

To the editors of About Time,

I just received a copy of Issue 15 and once again I have a near overwhelming feeling of enthusiasm. Thank you.

I have a short poem as well as a mindfulness technique called “Distress Tolerance”.

S top, don’t react or let your emotions take over

T ake a step back, breath in, breath out

O bserve your body’s sensations

P roceed with your thoughts or actions

Do this with small events to begin with. Eventually this will become instinct. You got this, aye. Onya.

Poem

Empathy vs Sympathy

There are four stages to empathy

Sympathy is cut and dry

Recognising others’ feelings

When you see others cry

The capacity to take perspective

The desire is to act

Just recognising distress

Is recognising fact

Thanks guys.

Regards,

Belly

This
letter
was originally printed in the
December 2025
edition of About Time.
By Biannca

Just thought I would send in two photos of what I have been up to during my time in prison.

ISSUE NO. 26
1 MIN READ
By Chris

Finding information relating to Commonwealth Parole or people able to provide correct advice has proven challenging since I was sentenced.

ISSUE NO. 26
2 MIN READ
By Aidan

I am writing as I saw my partner’s article and it inspired me. This is probably my millionth time in prison, and time stands still.

ISSUE NO. 26
1 MIN READ
By Adrian

How do we escape the trap of feeling worse rather than better?

ISSUE NO. 26
3 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

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

Your browser window currently does not have enough height, or is zoomed in too far to view our website content correctly. Once the window reaches the minimum required height or zoom percentage, the content will display automatically.

Alternatively, you can learn more via the links below.

Donations via GiveNow

Email

Instagram

LinkedIn

Get All the Latest News From About Time in Your Inbox

Be the first to read each edition online and receive two newsletters each month filled with news stories, experiences, creativity and the voices of people in prison around the country.

X

X

You've successfully registered!
Something went wrong when we tried to register your details. Please try again.