David Stanton Jr.

The Psychology of Humanity

If we don’t feel with our hearts, we don’t belong. If we don’t see as one, the world is wrong. Beyond the wars, and hate, and the insanity, we are ALL connected as “humanity.” We are the child with cancer who still wears a smile. We are the kid from the (Projects) facing trial. We are the pregnant teen, feeling lost and used. We are the elderly, man or woman, in a home, abused. We are the young couple’s marriage on the rocks. We are the homeless one, in a cardboard box. We are the cold, hungry, sad and depressed. We are the lonely child who never felt blessed. We are the man, or woman, or transgender person, or LGBTQ+ whose lives are filled with pain, because of discrimination. We are the child or teen who struggles from day to day, running from bullies, not understanding why other children or teens could be so mean and jubilant in their glee. We are the soldiers killed in an unjust war. We are the young man or young woman or young transgender person who can dream no more.

We are the inmate locked away for life, with a mental illness, or not. We are the old man who has lost his wife. We are the old woman who has lost her husband. We are the teacher who teaches life’s ups and downs. We are the recreation therapists who like to help others smile. We are the psychologists, counselors, and social workers who hear problems. We are the physical therapists who help the handicapped move, pass hopelessness and fears.

We are “humanity” who “helps” and comes to others during times of crisis like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, floods, riots, and terrorists’ attacks.

We would be better off without our vanity, and all have a sense of belonging to “humanity”, that is the “Psychology of Humanity”…

By Creative Writer
David Clyde Stanton Jr.

Racism and Gun Violence

The person or people who think like this and act on this type of hatred, and violence with or without guns, are pure “EVIL” and are doing horrendous acts against their own humanity.

And this has been going on for decades, and sadly the person or people who commit these acts of violence can be young or old, which most times are mass murders with legal guns, and twisted, very dark, evil thoughts.

Sometimes they are captured and prosecuted and sometimes they take their own lives, so they won’t be held accountable.

But it still doesn’t stop the hatred or ongoing racism or anti-Semitism or bigotry or white supremacy thoughts or ways of living because that’s “still on the loose…”

“Only love can conquer hate…”- Song by Legendary Singer Marvin Gaye

By Creative Writer
David Clyde Stanton Jr.

Hope, Courage, Justice, Faith, Disappointment

Prayer is the most important conversation of your day, take it to God before you take it to anyone else. And have hope, because hopelessness is the enemy of justice. And with courage, because courage requires bravery. Also with persistence, because justice is a constant struggle. And with faith, because we shall overcome. Though disappointments in life are inevitable, to become discouraged is a choice to make. Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to just try “one” more time, or two, or three, or however many times it takes…

By Creative Writer
David Clyde Stanton Jr.

What does a “Healthy Relationship” mean to me

To me, today, a healthy relationship has to begin with two people who are healthy without the relationship. Next is about being courageously honest and having a deep respect for each other’s “individuality.”

A healthy relationship is one where two people are connected to one another’s lives with support and encouragement to achieve their personal goals along with their relationship goals. A healthy relationship is one with a lot of good communication, understanding and empathy. A healthy relationship is one where two people learn and grow, individually, because of what they add to one another in the way of discussions and being accountable to each other.

Sharing ideas and beliefs in a way that allows each other to have their own. In a healthy relationship, two people are able to come together during life’s difficult trying times and work through them even when that means “agreeing to disagree.”

A healthy relationship requires the giving up or letting go of things, at times for the betterment of the relationship, but never to the point where either one has compromised themselves in a way that could eventually lead to regret or resentment.

A healthy relationship is one where the people in it constantly put the work into it to keep it loving and healthy, because they “love one another as much as themselves…”

By Creative Writer
David Clyde Stanton Jr.

Arts of the Dance

Consciousness expresses itself through creation, this world we live in, is the dance of creation.

Dancers come and go in the twinkling of an eye. When I have been dancing, I have felt touched by something sacred and in those moments, I have felt my spirit sore and I become “ONE” with everything that exists.

I become the Stars and the Moon, I become the Victor and the Vanquished, I become the Singer and the Song, I become the Master and the Slave, and I become the Knower and the Known.

Then I the Creation merges together with the creator, and then we become “ONE”, the Creator and his creation. And then I the Creation, keep on dancing, and dancing, and dancing. Until I become the dance; and ALL of “Humanity” are also the “Art of the Dance”…

By Creative Writer
David Clyde Stanton Jr.

Self-Help Groups

• Victims Offenders Learning Together, (V.O.L.T.):
This group focuses on victims/survivors of violent crimes, giving them the opportunity to vent their feelings. We as the offenders listen to their painful stories, being patient, compassionate, and silent.

• Violent Men Can Change:
This group focuses on understanding and preventing sexual violence and domestic violence. It teaches how to utilize coping skills such as: time-outs, effective communication, getting past denial, resolving conflicts, and strengthening relationships.

• Beyond Violence (beginning/advanced):
“Beyond Violence 1” focuses on coping strategies for the prevention of violence. It teaches how to be aware of the effects and consequences of violence. “Beyond Violence 2” focuses on the prevention of sexual violence towards women, transgender/gay individuals, and men. It teaches coping skills to understand that “no” means “no,” in addition to strategies for avoiding violence and the negative results that occur.

• Framework to Recovery:
This group focuses on positive change through positive self-talk along with changing the negative thought patterns that contribute to poor behavior choices.

• Man-Code:
This group focuses on improving communication with females along with the awareness and prevention of domestic violence. It teaches relationship dynamics (roles & intimacy) and respectful behavior.

• Growing Up Male:
This group focuses on identifying physical and sexual violence in one’s life.

• Thinking For A Change:
This group focuses on learning, understanding, and utilizing the effective thinking techniques in recognizing thoughts and feelings that result in problematic behavior.

• Freedom To Choose:
This group focuses on personal change from the inside out. “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is the power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Victor Frank, “Man’s Search for Meaning”

I volunteered and focused on being an active part of these groups as I am both very motivated to change as well as be of service to those who are traveling a similar path. I have witnessed much negativity and hardened attitudes during the course of my incarceration and I made a solid commitment to myself to not become like so many of the individuals I deal with each day who have given up and lost hope.

I entered prison an extremely troubled individual, having hurt and victimized so many people with my choices of disrespectful and unlawful behaviors. I gained an awareness that if I truly wanted to understand myself so as to not choose incarceration again, I had to be willing to be completely honest with myself and others in addition to being vulnerable and authentic.

I had to develop courage to face survivors with honesty and deal with my anxiety at what they may think, and know that this is part of my humanness. My inspiration to speak out plays an important role in my process of healing and the healing of others as well. My intention is for this to assist me in my goal of being altruistic, and with a contrite heart, be deeply concerned for others.

Part of my spiritual awakening has been to understand the powerful concept of the ripple effect. Although all survivors of crime are not directly my victims, my past choices are connected to the harm and disruption they have endured. I now embrace the truth that every action I choose affects everyone on some level.

I have worked very hard to come to a place of forgiveness towards those who harmed me and an intention I set each day is for those I have harmed, to forgive me. I continue to pray for our healing, knowing how necessary this is for our liberation and ultimate freedom from the prisons we may have within ourselves.

I have also had the opportunity to be in private counseling while incarcerated. The psychologists that I worked with specialize in the area of sexual offenses. I have been able to gain substantial understanding and clarity as to why I felt the need to act out in the way that I did. I am currently in counseling as of October 2019, and I intend to continue to take full advantage of this opportunity as long as I may.

And finally, I thank you from my heart for compassionately listening to my story, knowing that you are listening from your heart.

Sincerely, David Clyde Stanton, Jr. #C87805

RE: Support

Please note that once I am released, I have been accepted to a transitioning program called Circles Of Support & Accountability (COSA). This program focuses on the many factors involved in the re-entry to society after incarceration. I will be surrounded by an inner-circle of community volunteers who meet on a weekly basis for a year after my release.

I would have the opportunity to work with 3 to 5 trained volunteers who will assist with the area of accountability. This is also for one year.

My intention, commitment, and goal is to continue to take full responsibility and accountability for any and all harm that I have caused. This is matched with my need to repair any damage due to my choice of actions and to have a present and future positive impact with myself and the lives of others.

• Date of Birth: 03/16/1958 (64 years old)
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Single
• Sexual Orientation: Straight
• Race: Multi-Racial
• Ethnicity: Not Hispanic or Latino
• Eye Color: Brown
• Hair Color: Bald
• Height: 6 ft. 1 in.
• Body Type: Athletic / Thin
• Hometown: California (USA)
• Spoken Languages: English
• Religion: Christian
• Astrological Sign: Pisces