Home » Poems » L Milton Hankins » Habits

Habits

Habits are hard to break
Makes no difference good or bad,
Entrenched, they problems make
When problems, make us sad.

Habits steal our freedom
Got to find time to indulge them,
Make us believe we need ‘em
Even when hacking up phlegm!

written December 27, 2021

how i feelhumormotivationrhyme

♡Like0

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Kenneth Cheney

January 6, 2022 at 9:23 AM

Our habits can be our greatest friend or our worst enemy. We must give our habits firm directions, for if we rule them they are our friends. They will simplify and give order to our lives. But if they control us they will lead us to destruction. Good poem.

Maurice Rigoler

December 28, 2021 at 5:49 PM

This poem sounds a lot like mine I wrote some years ago! I like your line: Habits are a two-edged sword, to use a tired metaphor. / Thanks for stopping by./ Maurice

L Milton Hankins

December 28, 2021 at 6:19 PM

I agree, Maurice, it IS tired, but it's a very useful one. What was the name of your poem, so I can read it. Thanks for the read and the comment.

David Kavanagh

December 28, 2021 at 2:53 PM

We are nothing if not creatures of habit Milton, I had an uncle with smokers cough some years back, he used to hack up phlegm, and spit it into his open fireplace, as a kid I was intrigued, cheers David

David Kavanagh

December 29, 2021 at 12:25 AM

He died before I was a teenager, the smoking damage was irreversible

L Milton Hankins

December 28, 2021 at 4:26 PM

I hope you didn't take after him, though, David. Smoker's cough is not a fun thing.

Mystic Rose Rose

December 28, 2021 at 2:47 PM

Habits are indeed hard to break, they say it takes 3 days to establish a new habit, but it takes a lifetime to keep it, lol . Most of us are somewhere in between trying and succeeding, Nicely penned dear Milton, be well, and keep penning, :)

L Milton Hankins

December 28, 2021 at 4:26 PM

Thanks, Mystic Rose Rose. I'm told if you do something 20 days in a row, it is a habit for life. Don't know how true that is.

Bill Baker

December 28, 2021 at 2:31 PM

Made me smile a little with this one Milt. Thanks for sharing! Happy New Year! Bill

L Milton Hankins

December 28, 2021 at 4:27 PM

Glad you got a smile out of it, Bill. Happy New Year. Keep the fires burning here while I'm away!

Anselmo Boles

December 28, 2021 at 1:38 PM

I don't do it as often as I used to, but not reporting to my PAROLE OFFICER on time, is a habit I need to overcome! (JOKE!) My hacking, well... Cheers my friend!...ab

L Milton Hankins

December 28, 2021 at 2:12 PM

I would say timely reporting would be a habit one would definitely want to develop!

Rico Leffanta

December 28, 2021 at 10:56 AM

I disagree! Habits are helpful (unless on a nun)! Aloha!

Rico Leffanta

December 30, 2021 at 11:19 AM

I still disagree. Take smoking; everyone claims it is an addiction, but it is just an habit easily replaced by inhaling fresh air instead of smoke. Over consumption of coffee is easily replaced by hot water without the coffee, etc., All it takes is an assumption that one is the master, not the victim!

L Milton Hankins

December 28, 2021 at 12:36 PM

I suppose some habits might be considered helpful, but those weren't what I had in mind. I was writing of those bad ones that are hard to break, Rico.

Victor Buhagiar

December 28, 2021 at 10:12 AM

Good will is always helpful.

L Milton Hankins

December 28, 2021 at 12:37 PM

Victor, I wouldn't say "good will" is a habit. I'd say it is a wise practice! Thanks.

Delice Arleen Skelly

December 28, 2021 at 9:17 AM

Just in time for new year resolutions...Delice

L Milton Hankins

December 28, 2021 at 12:37 PM

Yes, indeed, Delice. I hope you have no bad habits you are trying to conquer at this time.

John Lawless

December 28, 2021 at 5:51 AM

...tell it to the nuns!!!! Oh, wait, they broke the habit habit years ago.....just funning' Milton....if I could just log off this site I'd look into my other "habits"...as for the phlegm....I never smoked but did spend years inhaling other people's

L Milton Hankins

December 28, 2021 at 7:27 AM

Thanks for your insightful comments, John. Hope the New Year's Eve party isn't too much for you!