I saw this quote that aligns with my philosophy of Live, Love, Laugh, Sing, Dance, Be, Do and thought I would share a post about the reason I like the quote.
Live, Love, Laugh, Sing, Dance, Be, Do
Before I get to the quote, I’d like to explain why I used this photo of myself, taken by my best friend Patty in May of 2005. Patty’s husband, Steve, took Patty, their daughter Melissa, and me out to Anclote Key on their boat. Anclote Key is an island located in both Pinellas and Pasco Counties and is about 3 miles off the mainland of Florida.
I was an amateur bird photographer back then but hadn’t brought my bird gear out to the island. I had a small Nikon bridge camera in my hands when this image was taken. Patty liked to sneak up on me and take photos when I wasn’t expecting them to be taken. She’d probably still be doing that today if we lived closer to each other.
But I digress.
Even back then I had already had my share of run ins with a few sexist, male photographers that made snide remarks to me or about my gear. At that time I used a shorter focal length lens.
I’d remember their names then tell them where they could find my photos on line. Quite often I would never hear from them again or once in a while they would email and tell me that they really liked my photos.
Back to the quote in the image above.
“You can’t control how other people receive your energy. Anything you do or say gets filtered through the lens of whatever they are going through at the moment, which is not about you. Just keep doing your thing with as much integrity and love as possible.”
Nanea Hoffman
The Gulf of Mexico and storm clouds from Anclote Key
The photo I was taking while my photo was being taken.
You see, I don’t know what “they” were going through when those men made snide remarks to me or about my gear. I knew even back then that how they reacted and what they said was about them, not about me. They didn’t know me or my work at all.
And like Nanea’s quote, I just went about doing my thing, being me, with all of the passion I had for my subjects and nature. I let the tide carry their negative messages out to sea. It didn’t matter what the negative message was. I simply kept being my authentic self.
Mia McPherson and a tipped over Australian Pine
We don’t control how other people receive us, it truly is all on them. It is wonderful to Live, Love, Laugh, Sing, Dance, Be, Do. If other people don’t like it, all they are going to see is me continuing to be authentically me.
Life is good.
Mia
See this post from not that terribly long ago that kind of goes along with this same theme: Addressing A Strange Comment
I like to follow out my interests from what to what its good fun. By stumbling on to WC(a happy discovery) aha I found you. I love your photography and your passion!
Love your sentiments and the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico coastal view!—Jeri
Thank you for sharing your blog post, Mia. I admire your resilience and authenticity in the face of negative comments. Your passion for photography and nature shines through, and it’s inspiring to see how you let your energy and love guide your work. Keep being true to yourself and embracing the joy of living, loving, laughing singing, dancing, being, and doing. Life truly is good when we stay true to our authentic selves.
What a lovely post. So nice to see a shot of the photographer! And a perfect reminder for dealing with other people. ❤️
Great quote! These are words to live by. Not sure I would have handled the snarky remarks as well as you did. I admit I’m a bit of a fixer-upper myself; seems like he older I get the more fixin’ I need. Thanks Mia
Well done you. I try to remember that it isn’t about me, but will admit to sometimes failing. Like so many of us I am a work in progress.
I love these photos! It looked like a perfect day. And yes, there seem to be other photographers that just want to put others down to feel big themselves. I had a photographer I don’t know well contact me on messagner and tell me negative things another photographer had said about me, a photographer I did not even know. I just ignored the messages and he blocked me when I stopped responding. I don’t have time or patience for petty, so I usually say ” I don’t know you or you me, your opinion is of no matter of mine” and move on.
Love the quote, and always look toward your photos to learn more about this world we all share. Thanks Mia
Keep it coming! Your energy and dedication is awesome.
Love this post, live for yourself not others.
I love this post.
I share your sentiments. Also, you remind me of how easily those Australian Pines topple over in a hurricane. Without a tap root, they depend upon the spreading surface roots. (Or, do they fail to penetrate the limestone layer which underlies much of the Everglades?) They do leave a nice “divot” which may contain standing water for much of the year, welcome to birds and reptiles.
Thank you for your beautiful, inspiring & up-lifting message!
Wonderful quote, wonderful comment & wonderful photos!