“According to an old Native American proverb, there are two wolves in each of us. The good wolf, and the bad wolf. And whichever one we feed is the one that will survive.  

I myself have fed both. I’ve fed the bad wolf to the point that I was living like one. I treated everything and everyone like a potential meal. Until eventually my journey with the bad wolf led me to prison. It wasn’t in prison that I found the other wolf, but it was in prison that I learned to care about it.

My experience on the inside has shown me how to nurture a side of me that had always been there. And its because of that nurturing that I’ve been trying to show others that’s its ok to feed the good wolf…”

Read the full post after the jump!

This new regular feature, written by Alvaro Cumberbatch, will be comprised of musings of a formerly incarcerated man who is currently in the process of building his own better future.  Having served six and a half years on the inside, Alvaro has a unique inside/out perspective to share with our readers.  Comments and questions are encouraged!!  To learn more about Alvaro, please scroll to the bottom for a full profile.

This exciting NEW FEATURE will highlight the work of Fortune’s clients on Rikers Island who are participating in a creative writing workshop as part of the Fortune R.I.D.E. (Rikers Island Discharge Enhancement) program. The feature will be written by Rita Hickey, our dedicated volunteer creative writing instructor.