Reluctant to Change: My Satirical Prose in Rhymes
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.

Frozen in Our Habits We Insist on Our Status Quo, Reluctant to Replace It With Something More Desirable.
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.

Why Do We Wait With a Change For a Moment in Life When Idea of Staying on the Same Course Looks Unbearable?
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