Discipline

Discipline is
remembering what you want.
It is not grievous shame,
and obedience imposed
like a forced march
in a brutally cold wind.
It is not an
insistently brash,
clanging chastisement,
to be wincingly avoided,
annoyingly contrary
to your nature,
but a warm hug
wholeheartedly
agreeing with
your essence.
It is not demanding
you squash inside
a rough constraint,
while threatening you
to comply or else,
but is simply saying,
I’d like a clean office
so I guess I’ll clean it.
Discipline is only hard
when you resist
its blessings,
refusing the generous gifts
of its beckoningly gracious
outstretched hands.
Discipline, as long as
you befriend it,
can give you
your heart’s desire,
sweeter than fondant,
and stronger than iron.
It eschews laziness
to be sure,
but gives back
exponentially more
than it asks.
Discipline is
charity to yourself,
knowing you are
worth the effort.
Discipline has
fabulously supportive
companions named
habit and routine,
that pitch in
and help out
ever so much.
Invite these
to your party too.
Keep in mind
what you truly
yearn for
and welcome
all that good home
through the
dear front door
called discipline.

Polly Castor
February 18, 2025