LJ's Cocoon

Book excerpt: In L.J.´ s Cocoon, Lynard Joiner Sr. reveals his life experience which is likened to the birth stages of a butterfly. Just as a butterfly struggles to free itself from its cocoon, so have Lynard Joiner struggled to free himself from the world and environment that he existed in for so long. He grew up in a very large and poor family in the 60´s and 70´s in Mississippi, which was a very racist state at that time. Joiner also explains how he detoured off of the right track in life after seeing several of his family members make thousands of dollars a day selling drugs, while he worked a nine to five job and only made two hundred dollars every two weeks. Most of all, Joiner reveals how his choice to sell drugs landed him in federal prison, robbing his children of a father in the most critical stages of their lives. On a positive note, through Joiner´s prison experience, he fulfilled his childhood dream by becoming a professional cook. Therefore, he encourages individuals to never give up on their dreams, visions, or plans no matter how one struggle, detour, or stagger along life journey, because one has the power to overcome any obstacle that stands in their way of achieving his/her dreams, purpose, and plans in life.