As is always the case when I give opinions on any subject, they are just that, only my opinions.

My basic philosophy on life is that people (all of us) do not change.  I mean that we are who we are by the time we hit our mid to late teens.  There is a lot of research to back that up but my thoughts come from a lifetime of personal observation of both myself and the world at large.  There is no question that the circumstances of our lives can change dramatically, and that we can alter our behavior.  A drug addict can definitely get off drugs, but they will remain the same basic person who was susceptible to that addiction. Most addicts that kick drugs return to their addictive ways because they own that kind of personality. Some will kick the habit for life, not because they have changed who they are, but because they are wise enough to stay away from the sort of people and circumstances that make it easy to return to drugs.  In other words they changed their behavior, not who they are.

I think one of the biggest issues in the work place is when bosses get frustrated with workers who keep repeating the same mistakes or maladies time and again.  The bosses  keep returning those workers to the same set of circumstances, and expect them to change.  When they do change, it often does not last very long.  The secret is to allow them to exist in an environment where they can flourish.  Often that only means changing the order in the way they approach their work day.  Emphasize their strengths and diminish their weaknesses.  Smart employers get a lot out of most of their employees.

I have always believed that every addiction is bad.  Please note that in my belief system, there is a difference between passion and addiction.  Approaching harmless or even positive activities with enthusiasm and a desire to understand and excel at them, is a different animal than repeating the same often negative activity, with no ability to change your behavior. In my world if you cannot stop yourself from biting your fingernails or picking your teeth, you have an addiction that needs to be addressed.  You are showing a personality that is subject to potential harmful addictions.   I very definitely include myself in this analysis. I had the addiction of cigarette smoking for many years. I have gambled harmlessly with no addiction. I drank a lot alcohol for many years but quit without even realizing it.  It occurred to me one day that I had not had a drink in five years. No issue at all.  With cigarettes there was something about knowing that another smoke was waiting for me in five minutes.  A little treat.  I also loved (and needed?) the ability to do something with my hands when I talked with people.  I was addicted to the habit of the process of lighting up and smoking a cigarette. I quit and have never looked back but I am still very much the kind of person who was drawn to that sort of activity.

My point is that we can indeed change our negative behaviors, but it only works when we understand who each of us really is.  It is amazing how much simpler life becomes when we know “who we are”.

When two new potential romantics meet each other, both will do their best to not represent who they are.  Eventually (after marriage?) the real person comes to the surface and the troubles start.  Knowing and being who you are from the beginning would seem to me to be a good shortcut to happiness.

It is tempting to view my take on how “we are who we are forever” as a negative thing.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Once you (and I) embrace that fact, you will be set free.  It allows you to diminish the negative, and grow the positive.  It is the key to becoming a bigger and better version of yourself.

I’m exhausted!  Too much thinking for me.

So you thought I was making one of those posts where nothing relevant to nature photography would be shown.  See below!

Caspian Terns: Come on……a little privacy.  He’s pretending to look away.

Much Better

Trumpeter swan: The first image I ever made of a Wisconsin Trumpeter had a neck-band.  For 15 years I photographed them without.  I was actually glad when I found this one because it meant a potential sale to illustrate future articles on the reintroduction of this species to WI.

Palm Warbler: and proud of it.

Female Common Merganser.  On the day before out-of-town workshops I would always scout for subjects and conditions.  It also gave me the opportunity to make my own pictures.  Found this bird in Lake Superior on a cloudy day.

There is nothing like a gaggle, bevy, flock, errr, group ? of Wild Turkeys to make my day. North Dakota.

Freedom, Dignity & Self Respect……life’s trinity of personal happiness.