🔵 By Shane Espinoza. Photo by lauragrafie.
One of the things we do not get in prison is good food. There are times when I will be watching something on TV and see a family sitting down to dinner. It reminds me of the time I spent conjuring up exotic meals. I loved cooking. I would come up with all sorts of dishes for family and friends to try. It was one of the ways I would deal with stress. I used to prepare a Ragin Cajun Tiger Shrimp that was always a hit. I spent months testing different Cajun sauces and seasonings. I would combine recipes to see if it was mouth watering. When I finally had what I wanted I would buy the big Tiger Prawns. I would then meld down real butter in a huge cast iron skillet. Next I would add the Cajun concoction I made and cook for about 3 minutes so all the ingredients could blend together. Finally I would add the prawns and let I tall simmer for a few minutes. Once the prawns were done I would spoon them into deep bowls and pour the sauce over it. I served it with hot, fresh French bread. The idea was to eat the prawns with your bare hands then scoop up the sauce with the French bread. It was heaven in a meal.
Every August I would prepare a huge paella feast. I had a 23 inch paella pan with its own two ring burner. I would spend all morning preparing all the ingredients. Then I would have people come over and watch while I started cooking outside. I loved the whole process. And seeing the expressions on people’s faces when they took the first bite was priceless. I found a lot of joy and happiness with coking. Now that I am in prison I had to find another way to be creative and fulfill my own happiness at the same time I discovered pastels and artwork, I found that I could get into the process of creating and feel uplifted. At first I was not very good and I had no one to help me. So I read books on pastel painting and practiced. I was having fun in a place that did not always exhibit positivity. As time went on I explored watercolors, colored pencil and graphite, I then moved towards mixed media. I keep practicing and improving. It keeps my stress levels down and I am growing as a result.
When we create we allow our inner voices to speak up. They get to express our deepest desires. This helps guide us on the journey of our own happiness and finding it within ourselves. This is how we truly thrive. We must take the time to engage in joyful activities that feed our spirits. We have an endless supply of happiness within. Just take the time to look and listen. You will find that you are an amazing human being and a life well lived is its own reward. Take this moment and breathe. Realize it is a wonderful day because of you. Make it a great day!