Reluctant to Change

Val enjoys writing prose in rhymes by always leaving a message of a life truism in each piece.

Introduction

To anyone observing closely enough, it's quite an obvious fact that a great majority of us are acting out our "automatic pilot" composed of life programs, or beliefs about the self, others, and the world.

That belief system is attached to our survival arsenal, so no matter how it may not be serving our best interests, it keeps insisting on staying in charge. In terms of the science of hypnotism, we are literally hypnotized by our belief system into obedience.

Just like young elephant is first tied up with chain to a strong pole, and later on in his adult life he will stay put, this time tied up with only a thin rope to an easily breakable stick -- so we take seriously our programmed limitations.

Consciously we may decide to change it -- and many do succeed -- but that great majority stay stuck in their old programs.

With those who do succeed, sometimes, a sudden, deep realization of their mental slavery is a sufficient trigger to kick them out of their groove. So, the next pieces of my prose in rhymes may contribute, even if little, to that end result.

May all of us some blessed day snap out of our personal and collective obsolete paradigms that are so failing us.

Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw in bank where they have no account.

-- Oscar Wilde

Promises to Ourselves Not Kept

We might as well write them on toilet tissue

for they will be gone in style it's being used

the easiest forgotten -- the bigger the issue

a negligence finding its way to be excused.

Losing weight is typical promise we break

well, favorable time hasn't come as yet

for how to refuse that delicious cake

as we are immune to any regret.

Quitting smoking feels good at time of decision

and for that one moment resolve looks great

along with new health that we envision

but after next puff it's all too late.

And we may promise to ignore negative crap

news, gossips, and co-workers' complaining

but at first coming chance we fall in that trap

not only taking part, but find it entertaining.

Promise looks better as a new year's resolution

and thanks god -- it's coming only once a year

so we have got a long time for its execution

before a next January when it reappears.

But not to worry, toilet rolls are big

for promises coming back so steady

we don't really make a good guinea pig

to make changes for which we ain't ready.

Change is never painful, only the resistance to change is painful.

-- Gautama Buddha

We're in the Likeness of Inuit People

In that vast land white' n frozen

live Inuit people their simple lives

polar bear's habitat also their chosen

where nothing blooms or ever thrives.

They know about places of lush vegetation

with flowers and palm trees and short sleeves

but none of those attractions can break habituation

of some ingrained preferences and inherited beliefs.

Doesn't that remind of so many of us chronic losers

having heard of happiness, harmony and peace

but playing some stubborn and bad choosers

opting for a stuckness, as if out of caprice.

Our habitat is glass and concrete desert

so we thrive in our own selected void

with best hunting skills we can exert

enjoying it, but mostly annoyed.

So we are like those Inuit -- just in our own way

one kind of desert not making other less lonely

and even when we migrate, then again we stay

soon degrading novelty into a habitat ours only.

As if allergic to change, routine is our game

we call it "comfort zone", comfortable or not

shunning the unfamiliar, thriving on the same

not asking for more of life than we have got.

Explore. Experience. Then push beyond.

-- Aaron Lauritsen

Shunned Crossroads of Life

Habit and routines seem to be good friends

because man is like tailored to follow and obey

and that's why we like all those customs and trends

hating those offered choices that would make us stray.

Crossroads of life are a threat to our comfort zone

and we dread prospects of becoming a beginner

to dwell in a newness of life totally unknown

to some of us equal to being a sinner.

Accepting challenge to take yet untraveled road

feels like a mirage in desert tempting us to do it

with promise of dropping a heavy familiar load

so why do we always end up saying "screw it!"

Standing at our crossroad we look left and right

as if frozen in that place and reluctant as ever

then we look behind and we love that sight

making up our mind to stay there forever.

Changes in life, as promising as they may be

but felt as betrayal of everything sacred to us

by never knowing that which we refuse to see

we stay stuck in the Chapter One, but why fuss.

© 2020 Val Karas