Doug Hamilton
AH elite
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2020
- Messages
- 1,206
- Reaction score
- 3,122
- Location
- Washington State
- Member of
- Mule Deer Foundation, RMEF, SCI
- Hunted
- Zimbabwe, US, Canada
I have to agree with you. If you cannot feel joy, and are ashamed of something that you have accomplished, it's time to move on to other things.I have to disagree with you on this on Ontario, and I get that it's a personal thing.
One of my hunting buddies never smiles, and I harass him about it. His response is "act like you've been there before."
I call BS on that. If it ever gets to the point where I don't smile over a successful hunt, then it's not a matter of "acting like I've been there before." It has moved into the realm of "I've been there too damn long" and I need to find something else to do.
Success at any thing should be a cause for joy. After all the many hunting adventures during which I have experienced success, over the course of my 57 years, each and every time feels like the first time, and my face will show it. I am a Bible believing Christian. I get what you say. I have reverence for the animal I have just killed. But I also recognize success is not guaranteed, and I find joy in succeeding.
To the post's author, my apologies for going down a rabbit hole. And if any of you are of a mindset like Ontario's, I respect your right to approach your successes that way. But for me, I'm going to smile. I'm going to feel exuberant. And when my hunting buddies succeed? They know that hugs, verbal congrats, and fist bumps are coming.