Kindness: Recent Episodes
Craig Dunkleberger
Every American has the liberty to simply choose.
Too many give that right up, for too many views.
Your choice might not be the same, as my choice.
Your choice isn’t better, making me lose my voice.
Politicians and the government, all have their place.
We will hear it the loudest, during any political race.
Never having authority on how i think or how I live.
My life and my choices, will leave nothing to forgive.
I am only free, when I can choose to just be myself.
Who I choose to be, shouldn’t affect my own wealth.
I can act, speak, and think without fear of restraint.
If they do, you will always find it, on my complaint.
The USA is so great; because of freedom and liberty.
You get those rights, regardless of your political party.
Democrats and Republicans, disagree on everything.
They each view themselves as boxers inside of the ring.
They take their low blows, looking for knockout punch.
What they choose to miss, could be settled over lunch.
Slavery is long gone, no human should be trafficked.
Their talent and wages shouldn’t be what you restrict.
We are the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
There are no more indentured servants to just enslave.
Differing opinions, should always be heard or accepted.
We should never let our freedom or liberty be rejected.
Written by Craig Dunkleberger
Photo by: Raw Pixels
You will always see color, and me, will just the same. Our eyesight doesn’t need adjustment, or reframe. Color is something, we all see, with some emotion. The colors we see, set our emotions, into motion.
You will always see color, and me, will just the same. Our eyesight doesn’t need adjustment, or reframe. Color is something, we all see, with some emotion. The colors we see, set our emotions, into motion.
Everyone has different beliefs, all felt in the heart. First you have beliefs, they make you fall apart. Untrue beliefs, or confront it from the very start. Understanding your current thinking, plays a part.
When your child is born, they are simply a blank slate. There are about a canvas, for your artwork to demonstrate. Artwork, is not a duplication, but an opportunity for art. No formula or directions are given, right from the start
Always be humble, kind, happy and proud. Be the man in the arena; in front of a crowd. Funny how we view “pride”, as a deadly sin. I’m about to dismiss that belief, as we begin.
Diving in, we discover that pride, is not bad. It’s a celebration of the achievements, we had. Achieving greatness, because of strong effort. We must always choose courage, over comfort.
When you compete and compare yourself to your yesteryear, that’s when you hit the growth sweet spot!
What if we all wore a mask everyday, like it was on Halloween?
We’d all be different, making us not so judgemental and mean.
We would understand that each costume, is merely a disguise.
It misrepresents the true nature or identity, like it is a surprise.
The truth is that we all know they aren’t who they appear to be.
Ultimately, what we know and interpret, don’t match what we see.
Therefore, it is hard for us to make judgements and to discriminate.
Any disguise inhibits our ability to see or make distinctions on a trait.
This is because what appears, and is there in reality, aren’t the same.
Since everyone is in disguise, no external shells have a better claim.
You might be terrified of ghosts, see Casper and not even be afraid.
Since beliefs aren’t real, your fear or apprehension won’t be displayed.
What we believe to be true, is often fear just disguised as the truth.
The truth has been verified; our beliefs and worries have no proof.
Try not to find comfort in things that are the same, we are all unique.
Extreme beauty is found in things that are rare, different, or antique.
If a human being is different, that doesn’t mean they do not belong.
It means that our criteria or classification is too narrow and wrong.
A rainbow includes all primary and secondary colors from the wheel.
It is these contrast of colors and their differences that give it appeal.
People and things that are different, can leave you feeling distress.
When you are uncomfortable, there are things that you must address.
These aren’t emotions, but are really signs or signals making you alert.
Your brain is telling for you to increase your awareness to not get hurt.
It can be unnerving and irritating to feel defensive, distress, or fear.
When you are open minded and vulnerable, great things can appear.
You’ll create rare and beautiful things when you constrict and expand.
An oyster can make a pearl on its response to being irritated by sand.
The defensive oyster secretes more fluid to coat the irritant, over time.
If the oyster’s soft tissues is irritated, it covers up the scene of the crime.
While at the scene of the crime, the pearl can finally just be discovered.
The pearl is inside of the oyster, hidden by its exterior shell and covered.
Many times, the thing with a tough exterior shell has beauty on the inside.
It is often heavily guarded and not found because of the bias that’s applied.
We all feel different emotions and we all respond to the discomfort and pain.
The magic only happens when you’re self-aware and can control your brain.
Written by: Craig Dunkleberger
Photo: Freepik
Check out my latest poetry podcast on Emotionally Smart Living when we discuss the process of change!
Change isn’t only what you get back from a cashier at the store.
It is when something changes and is different than ever before.
Some people love change, while others just run from it and hide.
Regardless of how you feel, it will be a change that is supplied.
Some people look for change, while some aren’t far behind.
Some people always live in the past and then try to hit rewind.
It doesn’t matter how you respond, change is there in clear sight.
Some people accept change, while others try to put up a fight.
Nobody in this world loves change, for that is surely just a myth.
It can rock you to your very core, or even leave you feeling stiff.
Sometimes you see the change as needed and that it is good.
You choose to focus on what you could, should, and understood.
Once your heart and mind are both engaged in the change process.
Then determine if you have the skills and tools to make progress.
Put those things to work and change the way that you behave.
Then just say goodbye to the past with a farewell and a wave.
Check out my poetry podcast on Emotionally Smart Living on Expecting the Unexpected
Things are always unexpected, when they undo your expectations.
They will happen unexpectedly, without any alerts or notifications.
You can expect the worst, and plan for the best, all that you want.
You will still be surprised with the outcome, I’m sorry to be so blunt.
It is better to know that you should always expect the unexpected.
Then you should make those plans be ones that you’ve neglected.
For the unexpected isn’t the worst, and it also isn’t the best either.
Life is the coach, destiny is the quarterback, and you are the receiver.
The unexpected things will never happen in your comfort zone.
It is there, that you refuse to take risks, and aren’t injury prone.
I have unsurprising news for you, but that isn’t living life at all.
You refuse to grow and take risks, and you make yourself small.
If you view not getting what you want as something unexpected;
You will become unhappy, distraught, and start to feel rejected.
Just know that everything in life happens for a reason, so you see.
You may not understand it at the time, but it’s part of your destiny.
Things will make sense to you, at a much later moment in time.
The things that you will learn, will cause a shift in your paradigm.
But that is where your life begins, it is a life that is worth living.
You don’t focus on the rejected, but on ones you’re permitting
They say that you find love, when you aren’t expecting it at all.
This is because your guard is down, and you let down your wall.
This is true with all things in your life, so stop being so very afraid.
Then, you will find the good things in life will no longer be delayed.
Check out my latest podcast poetry on emotionally smart living on the feeling of being content and/or satisfied
If you are content, you are very satisfied and are feeling happy.
It is nice to feel this way, better than when you feel crappy.
You’re content if you know your problems, and solutions too.
You gladly start each day with a clean slate, ready to start anew.
You enjoy a work life balance, and set goals you can attain.
Say no to things, to say yes to yourself, and show some refrain.
There are things that you can do, to make you more content.
Make your attitude in life, be one that you want to represent.
Practice gratitude, and stop buying things you don’t really need.
Because you will want bigger and better things, which shows greed.
Stop comparing yourself to everyone, that is the thief of joy.
We all do this though, it doesn’t matter if you are a girl or boy.
Helping other people, will bring joy into your life, that is certain.
This makes you happy, because you helped someone who was hurtin.
Be satisfied with the things you have, and always strive to be better.
It is better to grow as a person, than having an ugly Christmas sweater.
Check out my latest poetry podcast on emotionally smart living, called Insanity and Sanity.
Life can throw your curve balls, that are fast, and sometimes slow.
It can make you stay where you are, or it can make you want to go.
The only thing that I know to be true, is that life is unexpected.
You can choose to let it control you, or be ones you neglected.
Insanity is doing the same thing, expecting a different result.
You don’t always do this as a child, but do it more as an adult.
As your fear tends to rise, your feelings of guilt do as well.
You are sad and irritable, and you no longer feel so swell.
You perseverate and let your thoughts get out of control.
These feelings about people and things can take their toll.
You become confused, and are no longer able to concentrate.
You are detached with reality, it is yourself that you hate.
You become paranoid, thinking that you will always be harmed.
This frightens you when other people and you are finally alarmed.
The problems in your life, become much too much, to bear.
No matter how hard you seem to try, you do not get anywhere.
Living that way and doing those things, will make you insane.
So, you must catch yourself, and start to show some refrain.
Don’t ever let the fear of striking out, make you quit the game.
There is nothing to fear or feel guilty about that you can’t name.
When you mind begins to race, catch yourself from the start.
This will make it easier to stop when you feel from the heart.
Just know insanity and sanity both are alive inside of your head.
You just need to listen to one, ignoring what the other one said.
Be grateful for what you have and accept what isn’t yours yet.
Not getting what you want at the moment, is no reason to fret.
Once you realize where fiction and reality meet, you will see.
The key to controlling your thoughts, destroys your insanity.
Check out my latest podcast on emotionally smart living called curiosity written by Craig Dunkleberger
You’re curious if you don’t know something, but want to find out.
You’re eager to find out all the answers, leaving nothing to doubt.
You might discover new, unexpected things, on the curiosity trail.
But, if you stay focused and persistent, you will eventually prevail.
There are things that you can do, to be curious during the day.
The first is to listen, and avoid judgement, in every single way.
Ask lots of questions, about topics, that you want to explore.
You will find yourself, more engaged, and happier than before.
You will find yourself more present, in the moment, you take it all in.
You take risks, and are willing to be wrong, for that is not a sin.
You build time for curiosity in your day, this time is just for you.
You feel energized, learning new things, which is much overdue.
You are okay with uncertainty, and not scared by the unknown.
You aren’t afraid to say, “I don’t know” because you are not alone.
If you were hurt in the past, you can learn from it, or run away.
But part of curious living, is about learning from yesterday.
Check out my latest poetry for emotionally smart living, called combative written by craig dunkleberger
There are times in life ,that you will be angry, and want to fight.
You didn’t consider another perspective, you thought you were right.
You mind is closed, and you do not want to hear the other side.
You feel you are the sheriff, and it’s your law, they must abide.
You are combative, because you feel disrespected, and not heard.
You feel that how you were treated, was ridiculous and absurd.
You think you’ll feel better when you get things off your mind.
The golden rule doesn’t apply to you, you have an axe to grind.
You start to run your mouth, and are saying things, you regret.
For the other people involved, this isn’t something, to forget.
When you’ve said your peace, your body language tells it all.
Your arms are crossed, and you feel a tightness, in your jaw.
Sometimes you perceive a threat, that isn’t even really there.
You can’t communicate clearly and are not really self-aware.
You let fear and frustration, get the better of you this time.
After reflecting, you know it was you, that was out of line.
Check out the latest poetry podcast on Emotionally Smart Living called Delighted written by Craig Dunkleberger.
In life, there are many things that you can do, to feel delighted.
This occurs every time, you are passionate and are excited.
You know who you are, you know your strengths and flaws.
You’re your own biggest critic and coach, gathering you applause.
You don’t need anyone, just yourself, to feel happiness and joy.
You’re passionate about your interests, you have skills to deploy.
When you feel delighted, you have stamina, to go on for hours.
The skills you quickly develop, will become your superpowers.
You feel safe to take risks, be bold, and try some new techniques.
This gains attention from the crowd, along with some critiques.
Once you find your passion, you will become more advantageous.
Then you feel delighted, and your happiness, will become contagious.
When you feel delighted, you are pleasant, and fun to be around.
The impact that you have on other people, will simply be profound.
You can have a delightful experience, if you are suddenly, surprised.
You feel excited about that experience, and suddenly feel, revived.
Check out my latest poem on emotionally smart living called anxiety. **We start to feel anxious, when worry and fear, meet up in our head.
Depending on how strong they are, we might just want to stay in bed.
We start to feel restless, nervous, tense, tired, or even weak inside.
We want something very much, and we are worried we will be denied.**
**Our mind races as we get a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom.
We start to sweat, our mind starts to race, we want to get out of the room.
We are worried or uneasy about an event, that is coming up ,in the future.
The outcome is somewhat uncertain, and we do not see it as an adventure.**
**Anxiety can cause your brain, to release stress hormones, on a regular basis.
This will increase the frequency of symptoms, for each one of its cases.
It cause headaches, dizziness, OCD, and depression, to name just a few.
However, anxiety, that is left untreated, can certainly become an issue.**
**Anxiety is just your body’s response, to internal and external stress.
It’s a feeling of fear or apprehension, about what’s to come, I guess
Anxiety levels are typically classified, and experienced, into four states.
Just know, Mild, moderate, severe, or panic level anxiety, is what awaits.**
Check out my latest poetry podcast on emotionally smart living, our social behavior. Our breathing, and ability to take slow, deep breaths when we are distressed, is directly related to our ability to regain our composure. Check out this podcast to find out how.
Check out my latest poetry podcast on emotionally smart living, our social behavior. Our behavior is in response to our emotions. It impacts us, but others as well, and the sooner we realize that, the better off we will be.
Check out my latest poetry podcast on Emotionally Smart Living where we learn about our inner coach and critic. You decide the roll that each of them will play in your life. Find out how in this podcast.
Check out this poetry podcast on Emotionally Smart Living which explains the often forgotten emotion of disgust.
Check out this emotional podcast poetry on how the emotion of fear can impact our everyday lives.
Disgust is a dislike of something that is unfamiliar, unexpected or suprising to you. Find out more about this, often omitted emotion in this podcast poem.
This poem is about how to get what you want out of life by acknowledging your emotions but not acting emotionally. Listen to this podcast for my advice.