As one wrong choice can change your life

To show how one wrong choice can change your entire life, photographer Trent bell (Trent Bell) asked the inmates of Maine who are serving long sentences, to write letters to themselves in the past.

1. Dear Rob, within a few months after graduation in 1964, you had three job offers, which you missed. Each of them could become your career, especially the work in the Royal canadian police is the equivalent of the American FBI. To understand that you had a happy childhood, the only child in the family on the farm of 150 acres, had to sit in jail and think about the past. You were not smart enough to appreciate all the good things you have in life until it's too late. You lived the future, not the present. Then you fell in with some bad company of his cousin, who was 7 years older. He and his friends took me in the night to catch salmon. There was always alcohol, and I wanted to meet — and so began my drinking. You looked at his cousin like an older brother that was a mistake. I rarely spent time with someone who didn't drink. 10 years have passed, and your life is out of control. You Manila job truckers and the bright lights of Montreal and other cities. Drinking, drugs and partying made family life hell. I destroyed two marriages, and here's the result: here I am, serving 55 years old, after 17 had already served. Now I know — choosing friends or family, be careful. Whether you have with them has the same goal in life? We allow alcohol and drugs shatter our dreams and our possible future.

2. Jack's Bubber. I am writing to inform you that I have seen the future and know what awaits you. I want to warn you that if you don't change, you will be hard. You love fast money, trucks, motorcycles, women and drugs. And although you are an ordinary worker, in the end you realize that commit crimes, sell drugs and not only go to work because you work is not enough. When will you start using expensive drugs, your so-called "buddies" will demand from you more. Do not try to impress them. In the end you will sit alone in a cold cell, and they will be far away. And you'll look back and think how you could trade the lives of their children, parents, and even his own life in prison. Get a job, Jack, stop with the drugs and stay away from the madness, because you deserve to fulfill your dreams, not just dream of them.

3. If I could write myself a letter, I would start with the fact that life is not always so good. Sometimes it knocks you down, but the struggle makes you stronger, and change wiser. Always respect your parents even if you think that you're right, and always tell them how much you love them. It is never superfluous: you don't know what you're meant to be together. Stay in school, even if it is given with great difficulty. Your diploma is more important than you think, not only for you but for your children and parents. When you go to University, get a grip and don't drive if drinking: this is no good end. Don't try to be someone you are not — this leads to many mistakes. When you meet the love of your life, you'll know. Marry her and every minute make her happy. Don't waste time — you never know how many you are allotted. If something is destined, you will succeed — just don't give up. In General, this is a letter that you never lose who you really are, because if you understand who you are, it may be too late. I hope this letter finds you in good health.

4. William, looking back on my life, I want to share my observations about how my decisions affected me and my family. When you were 16, your parents divorced, and it made you take on a new role and parent, and the older child in the family. You quit school to work full time, and you did decently. You provided their younger clothes and food. You sacrificed not only the school but your free time: you never have been to school and sporting events. At the end of the summer season, work has ended and has fallen on hard times. You have in mind has any idea how else to get money. Please think carefully before you Rob the guy who cheated your brother. This is a fork and I chose the wrong road. I decided to Rob the guy, and I got caught. I spent six months in prison, and then to find a job was even harder. There is always a choice, and you should find it. I spent most of my life in jail, and you deserve much more.

5. A letter to a young me. Hi. This is the future, more adult you. I want to reach out to you and help to escape from becoming me — a veteran of the prison system, which held it for more than 20 years. If you pay attention to me and listen to my advice, you might avoid such a future and will be able to live a special life. First things first, accept the fact that you are special. So you was born. Be yourself and you will be able to win good people. When you're trying to look to others to fit any frame, you lose yourself. Always remember that you must first be a friend to yourself. Also know that family loves you and will always love. Never analyze it, and can not be compared with love in other families. They do what they can with the means at the disposal. Love in the answer without expectations and without conditions, and then the bond will remain strong. Finally, no matter how difficult experience you had to go, it should not define you. You have freedom of choice. Always. Be quick to smile, don't jump to anger and treat others with respect, they deserve it. So you can not be me. Robert Payzant.

6. Jamie, so much has happened in my life. So many mistakes made. Prison, drugs, stealing and lying to those who trusted me. The only good thing that happened that day, when my daughters were born. Even with them we made bad decisions. Why couldn't we live right? If we knew that to leave school is a big mistake. People who called themselves our friends, was just a bad influence. We let them get into our head. Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. We knew we were doing wrong, but it didn't stop us. No one to blame but yourself. I now sit in this cage, in prison and say, "Jamie, what we were idiots. Why again has committed a crime two months after the first?" I only shake his head. We're better than this. Prison is not the place where you want to be. Jamie, you have to pack. There is still a whole life. I stand before the mirror and remember the days when we played little League baseball. It was so cool. Or when rocked our children. We chose the wrong path. Only 20 years old. 10 years is a long time, but we will defeat him. I would not want someone to repeat our mistakes. Life is not over yet, Jamie. Past mistakes become experiences that we learned. I now speak and tomorrow I will repeat again: "don't do what I did."

7. Dear Peter, it is great that you have the opportunity to speak with you. I now 55 years old, and the last six years I spent in prison. Let me tell you that this is not life. A lot of what you are going to do great, but there is stupidity. If you think something is a bad idea, it is. Don't do this. If you feel God's presence in your life, believe him. You will be sent many blessings, many signs that you need to do. Live with your eyes open, be attentive, do what is right and you don't have to go to jail. God loves you, follow his commandments. Peter.

8. Ken (young), Look what you've done to us, our sons, our happiness, and future — all DESTROYED! You NEVER listened to other's advice, the WARNINGS of those who understand where we're headed. Chose the wrong TRACK. Now, here in PRISON when I was 50, I know that we could not think that will make so many HORRIBLE MISTAKES. Drugs, relationships, alcohol, sex, "the guy from the coffee shop 1962", online Dating, cybersex and phone sex, chat rooms Yahoo — these DEPENDENCIES ruined our lives! So many people you hurt back then, in 1982: mom, dad, sisters, brother, sons, wife/ex-wife, stepdaughter, and a bunch of friends/partners, ex-stepmother, and so on and so forth. Credit cards, borrow money (from mom and dad), abandoned the study. How many JOBS did you change? How many jobs (and relationships, which is also important) you lasted more than 5 YEARS? NOR HOW MANY. NEVER. Remember your new Dodge Ramcharger 1987? What you have transformed him! Remember how in 1991 you took over all the debts? I remember my (short) MARRIAGE? Now, as convicted of sexual harassment, we will NEVER be able to teach. You've been working in VAIN! And our sons with autism? You'll NEVER see! Remember how hard it was to save their mother? And then she died. A year and a half you spent in the courts, only to lose them. Four years later you've RUINED your future and your life, Ken! Do yourself a favor: LISTEN to THOSE WHO LOVE YOU. Accept their wisdom and understanding. They want to save you from yourself!

9. Brandon, it's hard for me to sit here and write you this letter. Our path was hard, he was filled with pain, tears and heartfelt suffering. Many times I was wrong. I am writing this letter to warn you that may be waiting for you on the way, if you don't open your eyes to tell you what's really important in life. It's 2013 and you're already four years in prison. How and why is not important now, let's look wider. You're here because of ignorance, way of thinking, and because you were trying to be someone you are not. Just know that people will always test you no matter what you yourself think about it: only a real man can turn and walk away. Everyone can fight, even the weakest. Anyone can respond with violence, but only a REAL MAN can turn the other cheek and walk away. You will happen things that embitter you towards your loved ones. You have to grow to face the problems, admit to them. Express yourself. Do not run away from problems. No matter what, your family definitely loves you. They will be there for you when you most will need it, and you least expect it. They always lend a hand if you stumble. Love them and help them at every opportunity, they deserve it. Don't be afraid to love and when you love, love wholeheartedly. Youth is not an excuse if you love someone, show and prove it. Do this the right way to turning around, you didn't want to redo or do more. Make sure that someone is home. Your real friends deserve the whole world. Tell yourself worthwhile things. Do something positive every day. Be brave. "Courage will allow you to take risks, to be strong, to be compassionate, to have the wisdom to be humble. Courage — the Foundation of integrity" (Keshavan Nair). No matter what, always love yourself. With respect, you.

10. Dear Wes, I am writing to you and pray that my heartfelt words have inspired and kept you from making the wrong choice that can change your life forever. To spend life in prison — no fun at all. You lose freedom, and people eventually forget about you. Soon you are alone in the world. There are so many in addition to drugs, alcohol, what would not change for the life of a criminal. Weight, I've seen and tried. 20 years later I'm still in prison, paying for the mistakes that I made. Don't be like me: you can become a better me and to avoid prison. You can succeed in life if you heed the advice of his parents. I ran and rebelled against everything I was told to do. It should be harder to believe in love, that's because when we think we can do it your way, then we are mistaken. You don't want to grow up, surrounded by prison walls, throwing life as I do. You've got a choice. And if you will find people who truly love you and care about you, I promise, you won't be such a loser like me. I made a lot of mistakes, and I always wonder "what if?" 1. What if I hadn't quit school? 2. What if I chose better friends? 3. What if I said "no" to booze and drugs? 4. What if I was tied to my parents? Or how I could live a better life and to avoid prison. You have a chance to be a young guy who has a whole life ahead of you. Ask him what you want in life? What makes you happy? Whatever it is, I guarantee it's better than being locked up in prison, in a lonely and dark world, away from family and loved ones. Weight, I believe in you, so many people believes in you that you just have to believe in yourself. You can do everything, and you have a heart. Don't repeat my mistakes. I assure you: this is not the kind of life you want to live. My advice to you: stay in school and follow their dreams, and everything else will follow. Wesley knight, 10 July 2013.