The goal is to better yourself.

Under the system's beautiful look
Lies a broken gear
It just lies on the ground away from the others
But is it needed just the same?
How can the system function with a missing gear?

It leads one to believe that the system cannot function.
Or if it appears to work, then it isn't working fully.
For if we are the sum of our parts,
And a part disappears;
Then our sum differs from the right answer.
The whole equation breaks down.

I'm inclined to say that if humans run systems,
and no one is perfect,
Then no system is perfect.

Why do we have systems? Do they make our lives easier?
I don't see how the systems in place will last for much longer.
All systems will fail. Even our own organic system will fail,
And we will perish.

So why should we fight for a system doomed to nonexistence?
Are we fighting for our children?

Is my pessimism too much?
Is my optimism not enough?
Should I just subscribe to the systems at hand;
Or should I work from the inside to change them?
What change am I working for?
Who am I trying to save?

Cynicism has taken ahold of my soul.
I am unsure of everything.
I can't focus.
I can't see the reason for anything,
besides bettering myself.
But what change am I working for?
Why do I seek to better myself?

I guess that the goal of bettering myself
Remains a goal.
If I am not striving to better myself,
Then I will remain stagnant, or digress;
Both of which sound worse than the first goal.

So it remains as a goal whose primary reason
is to combat digression or plateaus.