
16 Oct Choosing Success | Oct 2018
Choosing Success Is Easy

Common Raven, on a Cloudy Day
After a slow year, I hoped for a notable success on this trip.
In preparation, I planned a route that maximized photo opportunities.
Then I researched locations and times for optimum light.
And I bought a new lens.
So I expected to come home with a large collection of beautiful photos that I could use in presentations, blogs, and articles.
But Nature had other plans.
It rained – almost every day for eight days.
When it wasn’t raining, it was cloudy, with brief moments of sunlight.
As a result, I ended up with photos like the one shown above.
So you might judge that this trip was a dismal failure.
Instead however, it was a wonderful success.
Why?
Because I decided that it was a success.
You see, failure is actually a judgment that exists in your mind. This matters because people have a tendency to act in ways that convert their judgments into realities.
Thus, I chose to judge this trip as a success, and then I chose to take actions that would make it a success.
So I went out to take photos, even while it was raining.
As a result, I experimented with taking landscape photos under unfavorable conditions. And then I explored photo processing techniques that rescued potentially “bad” photos.

The Fins in Arches National Park, UT
You might note that by choosing success, I converted a potential disaster into a wonderful experience.
Then I met a wise raven.
Quoth the raven:
Clouds or sun,
success or
failure, both
start at home.
What you choose
depends on
how you think.
Keep going
Never quit
Evermore

Common Raven at Arches National Park (When It Wasn’t Raining)
Much success,
Steve Kaye
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Did You Know?
The most effective way to help birds is to buy land.
Here are three organizations that excel at doing this.
Please visit their web sites to learn about the work they do.
Here’s an excellent book: The American Bird Conservancy Guide to Bird Conservation
You can help – Please share this blog with others.
Inspiring Respect for Nature, one bird at a time.
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Rev. Eileen O. Brownell
Posted at 15:31h, 16 OctoberSteve….
I so enjoy your photos and writing. Keep it up my friend. You are changing the world one e-mail at a time.
Blessings….Eileen
Teri Rider
Posted at 21:55h, 16 OctoberMr Kaye, I dearly love your photos and your short essays. You have much to say and I’m so glad I met you and receive your posts. Please continue and know that they are reaching an avid fan.
Steve Kaye
Posted at 13:31h, 18 OctoberThank you for your wonderful comments. Your support inspires, and that leads to greater success for everyone.
Jan Tucker
Posted at 17:01h, 19 OctoberI love it! This outlook leads to so many good things, and the world would be a much calmer, more respectful place if more people believed this way!!
Daphne Radenhurst
Posted at 11:35h, 21 OctoberLoved your blog, it really cheered me up. I saw two ravens today, which is very unusual, now I have made the link.
Kathryn Grace
Posted at 00:29h, 28 FebruaryWonderful how you evoke Poe’s mournful dirge, then turn it on its tail. I welcome every raven I see with gratitude, and these in your photos no less.