Not Taking Things Personally

"Before I was twenty I never worried about what other people thought of me. But after age twenty I worried endlessly -- about all the impressions I made and how people were evaluating me. Only sometime after turning fifty did I realize that they hardly ever thought about me at all!"

Anthony de Mello
Jesuit spiritual master

At breakfast this morning, my wife gave me this wonderful piece of advice:

"Stephen, I listen to NPR all the time, yet when they have their fundraiser each year, I often don't send a contribution. It's not that I don't appreciate all of the things NPR provides me free of charge. No, I guess I always figure that SOMEONE ELSE - someone who makes more money than we do - will always help support them. I sometimes feel guilty when I don't contribute. But at the same time, I - like many people - generally feel impatient during the fund drive, looking forward to the time when it is finally over. It's not that I don't appreciate NPR. I really do. It's just that I'm distracted by a whole host of other concerns. So, it's the same with you, Stephen. When people don't send contributions for your camera fund, it doesn't mean that they don't love all of the photos and spiritual meditations you provide them for free. In fact, they appreciate you very much. It's just that they're distracted and stressed, and they figure that you must have hundreds or thousands of OTHER people who ARE going to help out. But of course, everyone - except for a handful of loyal contributors - all think similarly. I know it can be frustrating. But please don't personalize it. It's just the way the world is."

Photo: Aspen tree, Moraine Park, and Stone's Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, October 23, 2015

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I am available for one-on-one spiritual direction / mentoring via phone or Skype. You can contact me at canyonechoes@gmail.com if you are interested. The rate is $65 per hour-long session. You might also want to check out my Spiritual Direction with Stephen Hatch Facebook page.
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Many of my photos are available as prints, either mounted or unmounted. Here is a link to the pricing and various mounts available:

http://www.stephenhatchphotography.com/#!mounting-prices/cpr6