The “Spirit” Award
The "Spirit" Award is issued by About Progress Not Perfection yearly. The purpose of the "Spirit" Award is to acknowledge those children and young adults, who have incarcerated parents, and who are thriving in spite of their life circumstances.
We often see children doing great work without much acknowledgement. Often, the families of these children or young adults are struggling as well, making the adversity these youth and young adults face seem more insurmountable. However, the recipients of the "Spirit" Award excel beyond their adversity, and shatter the limitations that would hold them back.
We are proud to honor these children and young adults. If you have someone you would like to nominate, send us an email through the Contact Us page. Be sure to tell us a little about the nominee, how they have excelled, and their accomplishments.
Super Powers of a Cozy Blanket!
Great Kid Don’t underestimate the powers of a Cozy Blanket. This boy has been in and out of the hospital since his birth over 10 years ago. When he’s admitted, he has long and painful transfusions. Super Powers About seven years ago, his Nanna asked me to make him a Cozy Blanket out of dinosaurs…
Kindness Equals Beauty, Even In Prison!
Parenthood is a journey. Prisoners inside Old Folsom Prison for a year kept telling me, “I am a terrible dad.” Parenthood, the Journey! was created because the men want to become better parents and say they don’t know where to start. The men say they don’t want the class to end. They are absorbing a…
Prison Dad or Just Dad?
The summer of 2018, one of my students lost his wife to Leukemia on his birthday, a birthday I am sure he will never forget. Together they share five children, one is a doctor, two are in college, and two are minors. Her death was a huge loss to the family. Prison Dad Last week…
You’ll Never Be Smart So Why Try?
You’ll Never Be Smart So Why Try? “You’ll never be as smart as other people so why try? Why waste your time trying to learn new things that you’ll never be able to do? What you should do is…” Because of statements like these, I spent half my life believing I was dumb. I wasn’t…
Who I am Today!
Who I am Today! How do you stay strong and gentle at the same time when you are a man in prison? I started a new, never been taught before class last night at Folsom Prison called “Who I Am Today.” My leadership team is taking the reins. All seven Soaring Eagles were asked to…
Sharing Ice Cream Sandwiches
Sharing Giving ice cream sandwiches to fellow inmates was a very kind and generous gesture. Tonight marks my two year anniversary teaching Life Coaching at Old Folsom State Prison. In addition, we finished up another six-week workshop. One of my students, a Vietnam Veteran who used to own several ice cream parlors, and who is…
Old Fashioned Coffee Break Party
Java with Julie Are you lonely even though you’re busy all the time? Have your gadgets become your best friend? Is there too much white noise in your life? Are you the person who is constantly busy, yet never has time to make new friends or nurture old relationships? I was that person. It took…
Precious Metals
Precious Metals A metal is deemed to be precious when it is rare. The most popular are gold and silver, but there are many other metals that are precious and take rank in the top six. For example, platinum, palladium, ruthenium, and rhodium are also rare precious metals. Every Friday morning for the past several…
Chicken Salad vs Chicken Sandwich
Chicken Salad vs Chicken Sandwich When the waiter brought the chicken sandwich he immediately insisted the waiter had erred. Many waiters would have picked up the order slip to prove the customer had made a mistake. Instead the waiter apologized and took the sandwich back to the kitchen and returned with a chicken salad sandwich. …
Know Your Core Values
Core Values Having core values, or a code of conduct, is important. Core values give us a structure for living and making decisions. I have a few core values I try to live by most of the time. Notice I said “try” and “most of the time.” I am not a perfect person. I am…
