Jason was born in 1958. His grandfather, Ralph Johnson, had an extremely negative impact on his posterity except for Jason, his cousin Becky and a few of his other cousins. The rest of the Johnson clan was caught up in drug abuse, anger, theft, brutality, prostitution, welfare, broken relationships, and numerous other offences and bad habits. His mom, a drug addict and a prostitute, went away for extended periods of time, leaving the children to fend for themselves.

Jason once robbed a car dealership. He was sent to juvenile detention and while there he began a cognitive life skills course similar to this one. Because of his desire to change, the course had a life-changing effect on him. He was sick of street dwelling, affliction and trying to find his next meal.

After Jason was released from juvenile detention, he soon reported to his probation officer. She questioned him about the things he had been taught from the life skills class. He explained to her:

? I was headed in an identical track as all of my family?addictions, jail, anger, and ruin. Subconsciously I had been programmed with the lies that I was no good and I lived on the bottom. I figured out that I am a great deal better than I believed . In addition I learned that I wasn't to blame for coming from an abusive home.

? I learned that even though I never had control over my childhood, I do have control over my future. I'm a brand new man every day and I have the power to forgive the damages done to me. I can make the choice to forgive and forget so that I can continue with my life peacefully. My past doesn?t have to become my future.

? I learned that I cannot persist in blaming my parents or other people for all my issues. Life is rarely fair and I have to create the best out of each situation. The only way I can progress in life is to let go of the past.

? The Lifeskills class caused me to realize that I am a valuable person and I have great potential, that this life is wonderful gift bursting with numerous new and exhillarating chances, and that I will be able to overcome the drug problem if I want to.

? I learned that being thrashed, smashed into brick walls, burned with cigarettes, going hungry, feeling shame and living interror can help me grow to be a better, more caring person. I learned that difficulty and opposition can help me grow stronger, if I desire to learn from it.

? In conclusion, I learned that I am in-charge of my own ship. I can guide it where I desire. If I don?t alter my course I will resume suffering the bad consequences of my actions and life will only get harder and harder until I either change my course or die.

Questions:

1) Jason was a sufferer; as a child he had no control over his home or atmosphere. Now as a grown-up, what are his responsibilities? _______________________________________________________________

2) Are there a lot of people in the United States who have been emotionally damaged from childhood? ________ Name some of the consequences of childhood abuse? _______________________________________________________________

3) Can Jason develop into a successful person? ______ What will it take? ______ Will the rewards be worth the work? ________

4) Life is reduced to a simple phrase. It goes something like, ?If you keep on doing what you have been doing, you will keep on getting what you have been getting.? If the Johnson family continues taking drugs and robbing, what will they continue getting? _____________________________________________________________

5) How will they ever be able to alter what they are receiving? _____________________________________________________________

6) If you went around and asked 100 people why they are here on earth, and what they desire from life before it's too late, what, do you imagine, would be their answer? ______________________________________________________________

NOTE: Use of this article requires links to be intact. Larry Lloyd is the founder of American Community Corrections Institute (ACCI), which sponsors a blog on the subject of anger management and related issues.