Keeping Contact 

There are plenty of people in prison, both men and women who don't have contact with family. I mean kids, spouses, mothers, fathers and everything beyond. Just important people to all of us. Because of our mistakes and victimization of everyone around us they have every right to not want anything to do with us. After all, society has standardized unforgiving. Not saying it's wrong, just stating a fact, a reality.
So because of that, our loved ones who refuse contact now have no idea what kind of men and women we are now. Drugs or alcohol or stress or whatever changed our demeanor's and when we come here we are faced with ourselves. Some of us learn, some don't. For those of us that are truly repentant and have seriously done some changes how do we communicate that change to someone that won't talk to us?
My answer is simple. I say one way (because there are several) is to start a journal. Write several journals. I keep three. Since I don't have contact with my kids (regretfully) I keep a journal and whenever I think of them or find some breakthrough in my life that I want o share with them I write it down. I can't talk to them, but one day they will come seeking answers and I intend to have one for them. With real remorse, real change. 
Nothing will ever take back my actions. Nothing will ever redo your past. We have to live with the mistakes that we've made. You do, I do, we all do. What we don't have to deal with is repeating them, or allowing them to define who we really are, the man or woman that you have potential to be.
Just because someone isn't giving you the time of day, for whatever reason, doesn't mean that all hope is lost. People change, have some faith in that at least. You can't change them, they can't change you. But they can change themselves and you should at least give that a chance. Don't write yourself off. 

Just a few thoughts.

With Love

Jeff Utnage 823469

The best way to contact me is through jpay.com type in my doc # 823469 and add me to your contact. Follow the instructions as it is the only DOC approved inmate email system. The other way is through the mail system, you know, those things called letters...I know, super old school, but I get them frequently and I love them. So you can write me at

Jeff Utnage 823469
H3-B-120-U
Stafford Creek Correction Center
191 Constantine Way
Aberdeen, WA 98520

I have a new section coming soon for a list of friendly sites, so be patient those of you who are trying to link up sites. My tech lady is Momma bear and she is still learning!