Anger Management

/ February 21, 2023
Storm clouds building, much like my anger!

~

heat waves surging now

aggressive feelings abound

dangerous response

~

anger rose quickly

bursting like a volcano

pump up the volume

~

Dark and dangerous skies.

~

This week’s poems are senryu, another Japanese poetry form. Both haiku and senryu typically use three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Haiku is usually written about nature or seasons with a stark aesthetic. Senryu is more about human foibles, designed to make a point in a funny or puckish way.

I’ve been noticing a lot of anger bubbling up lately, especially while driving. Like a volcano ready to explode, I’m too easily triggered by other’s people driving. Anything that I judge as stupid, unsafe, or just not what I want! I definitely want to be more mindful and careful about my feelings and responses, especially while driving. I don’t want to be a menace to myself and others.

Yesterday I took a much-needed walk in the woods to soothe my body and soul.

#senryu

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79 thoughts on “Anger Management”

  2. Take a deep breath, count to ten (or maybe farther), and think of something nice. When I have a run-in with someone unpleasant, someone who could easily make me “see red,” I find that often I can walk away and think, “Thank God I don’t have to go home with that person.”

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  4. A walk out in nature especially the woods most certainly calm the nerves and emotions Brad..
    Loved both sets of poems and styles.. The Senryu is new to me…. I don’t really know what kind of style I write… Just thoughts that rhyme lol.. 🙂
    Loved your images too… Sending LOVE and thoughts your way for a continued CALM week xx ❤

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  5. So glad you took the walk in the woods…something we all need. I think we are living through a time when anger is brimming for everyone….I turn off the news….and try to avoid all the things that I know will make me angry….I don’t drive and so that thankfully isn’t one of them. Mother Nature…and soothing music:)XX

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  7. I was experiencing similar feelings this morning, Brad, when a bus I wanted to take (because it was snowing and I didn’t want to ride my bike in snow…) to the other side of town where I lead my Music Together classes didn’t arrive as scheduled. I waited, getting more and more frustrated and feeling more and more angry, for at least 20 minutes. Thankfully the fun and sweetness and silliness of my music class helped me dissipate my angry feelings. This time of year (spring), however, is when angry feelings can rise up along with the bulbs and sap. So some of the angry feelings you have been experiencing (while driving, for example) may be exacerbated by it being early springtime…

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  8. Stunning photos and well written Brad, perhaps it was cathartic for you. Road rage is definitely not good for the soul, though a walk in nature is. Take care my friend. I hope your week is a calm one. xx

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  9. Those are some gorgeous photos. I, too, did not know about this type of poem. You always bring something new to learn. I love that you used creativity to channel your feelings. I always feel that this is an effective way to release energies we have stored up. Energy simply wants to move. When I feel triggered, I notice that I may just need to express myself more, channel energy through movement or creativity and definitely find recharge in nature. Sounds like you were guided beautifully in ways to support yourself. I love how you acknowledge your feelings and do actually do things that help. It’s like it’s innately within to know even without need to understand.

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  11. So beautiful Brad, you are truly an alchemist! One who transforms energy from bad to good! Now to practice alchemy when you’re at work! You could try breathing and allowing yourself work in a timeless state! Just know you’ll get everything done in perfect timing and observe others on your journey. Not judging, just observe. Notice how cool you drive in comparison. Keep the intention to be Mr cool 😎 ❤️ thanks for the beautiful photos and poetry❤️ you’ve got this😎🥰

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  13. Hang on Brad….Times are very tough right now and everybody has reached their limit for all the insanity and hopefully it will wake more people up! Until then we have to find ways to stay calm and yes, walking in the woods is the best drug on the market. Take care….VK 🙂

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  15. Great post, Brad!! Thanks for sharing!! I understand the anger building in driving…..someone close to me gets all worked up. I think it was because I managed a group across San Diego…Los Angeles and Las Vegas that I got over the driving anger years ago spending so much time time driving in such heavy traffic. Having said that, nothing works better than a hike to bring one back to a place of calm.

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  20. Sometimes I wonder if people drive crazy because they don’t care or do they have some big challenge going on in their lives. But I don’t wonder too long. It’s not worth it. Be careful out there on the road. A walk almost always makes things better.

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  22. I enjoyed your haiku Brad, mainly because it caused me to reflect on how easily anger & frustration can pop up and overwhelm me. Three of the lines, “anger rose quickly, bursting like a volcano, pump up the volume” seemed to summarize how I cope when such moments arise: pump up the music, or pump up the heart (via hikes and exercise)… then all is well again 🙂

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  23. It’s wild on the roads these days; everyone is in a hurry to get to where they are going and generally disregards the rules of the road. I don’t miss having a car; it’s much more peaceful, letting the bus driver take me where I need to go. As always, you have created something beautiful with your words and photos. I hope you can maintain peace when tackling the roads next week! Stop for a delicious snack and a little rest if you feel the anger bubbles rearing their ugly heads. I like to watch the ducks; they are fascinatingly weird and always make me smile. HNS. xo

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    • Yes Tanya, there are lots of crazy drivers, and sadly I’m becoming one of them with all the driving I do for work. So I’ll keep practicing to pause and be “Mr. Cool”. And take walks on my time off. Watching ducks sounds nice too. Big hugs. 💕

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  25. Wonderful poem here Writing to Freedom. Surely Japanese poetry is interesting as long as it is translated in English. Okay, back to this post, nice introduction “storms surging up” and the use of onamotopeia such as the word “Pump”. Very great poem and those clouds do symbolize anger management because the storms are exactly like rage and like someone who is furious!

    Great post🔥✔

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  27. It’s also admirable that you’re striving to be more mindful and careful with your responses, especially when it comes to driving. Being aware of our triggers and reactions is a crucial step towards personal growth and self-improvement. Keep up the good work!

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  29. I too practice mindfulness. Checking in with myself regularly to see how I’m feeling inside…. Noticing my emotions and thinking about my motives and then jotting them down in my journal. That’s also why I started blogging again – it helps me. I had another blog several years ago – and then something overwhelming happened in life and I stopped writing. The words wouldn’t come so I learned photography which helped. Now the words are coming again….trickling slowly out of my brain. I understand your thoughts here. Thankful for mindfulness.

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      • 🤗I’m glad I found you. Getting back into blogging I’m trying to gather my community again. Looking for bloggers of like mind. This also helps. We live near Hikosan Mountain- fantastic and majestic scenery. You would love it. There are 800 year old cedar trees and cascading, wild rivers that flow into gentle streams. Wild monkeys and deer populate the mountain. It’s really beautiful. I’m a Shinrin Yoku guide and it’s my favorite place to go.

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  30. Oh how I get this, Brad! It seems driving has been the last obstacle I face in the area of judgment and peace! I am a Jersey Girl at heart…and every person in my family had a very aggressive way of being in the car. Lately, especially with a major bridge that just closed for 2 years, I have been able to keep it all about “ME” and what I do…and how I react. If I don’t think about what all the other (insert adjective) people are doing and only think about what I am doing…it seems to be a bit better! 😉

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