We all have choices in our lives Some made are wrong, some made are right Wrong choices are what’s testing fate Wrong choices are mistakes you make Mistakes were made - it’s not too late To learn your lesson, make a change Change is tough - think of what you done Life’s lessons aren’t there to be fun Some make mistakes repeatedly; Time to wake up, you need to see The damage caused, destruction made Tomorrow brings a brand new day With the right choice, think how you’ll feel Cards laid out show a better deal You can move forward, head held high At least this time you’ll know you tried Karen L Hamilton

A huge congratulations to @Timothy Lenhart Lenhart for being selected as this week's Poem of the Week with his heartfelt piece, "To Be Loved." Timothy's poem is a powerful reflection on vulnerability, hope, and the universal longing to be accepted for who we truly are. It reminds us that some of the strongest poetry comes from the quiet places we don't always share. Please join me in celebrating Timothy's incredible work! Leave him a comment, let him know what lines resonated with you, and show him some well-deserved love. 👏❤️ Congratulations again, Timothy! Your words touched our community this week, and we can't wait to see what you write next. Keep writing. Keep growing. Keep sharing your voice.

Both of my books are currently available as FREE Kindle downloads. 🔥 Artificial HypeA look at how AI, scams, and social media are reshaping the way we see truth, information, and the world around us. ❤️ Now What? A deeply personal story of loss, survival, healing, and finding purpose again when life doesn't go according to plan. If you grab a copy, I'd love to hear what you think. Reviews are always appreciated and help independent authors tremendously. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZ5J8VGM Thank you for supporting my writing journey. — Jason Strickland

If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be and why?

Some people break loud. Like thunder through a canyon, like glass across a kitchen floor. And some people break quietly smiling at work, answering texts with “I’m good,” while carrying whole funerals in their chest. The world rarely notices the second kind. But I do. I think the strongest people are not the ones who never fall apart. They are the ones who wake up anyway. The ones who still water the plants after losing the person who made the house feel alive. The ones who still say “good morning” with tired hearts and shaking hands. There is something holy about a person who keeps going without applause. A man feeding his dog before feeding himself. A woman folding laundry while grieving someone she can still hear laughing. A poet writing by dim light trying to turn pain into something another broken soul can survive. Maybe healing is not a finish line. Maybe it is just this Learning how to carry the ache without letting it carry you. And maybe the bravest thing you can do is whisper “one more day” and mean it. By Jason Strickland