This is great thread. I know I can relate. Sometimes thingsbecome such a big part of usthey can almost be overbearing.I'm glad I read this post because over the past couple of seasons I have been judging my success by how many deer I killed and losing sight of some of theother important reasons I love hunting.By the way,very well put post txrookie. Some of my best seasons were the first ones, even thoughthat was over 20 years ago I remember how much fun I had, and I usually wasn't killing anything but time at that point. What happened? Idon't know for sure but I wouldn't mind getting back tothathunting mindset (just happy to be there). This thread reminds me of a conversation between my father and I after an unsuccessfulfew of days bowhunting. Ihad a couple of great spots picked out and was seeing some deer but couldn't get everything to come together. Then the last couple of daysaction tapered off (probably because of something I did) and I was "extremely disappointed" to say the least. Well anyway I'm in the cabin huffing and puffing and complaining and ranting and my dad looks at me and says "Jeez boy, what do you do for fun?" It hit me like a ton of bricks, I'm doing all this complainingand moaning and I'm supposed to be relaxing, enjoying myself and my time with my father bowhunting. Some people don't even have those same kind of oppurtunities and I'm there complaining and taking the fun/enjoyment out of it. Well don'tdo like I did, keep it fun, remember what you love about it, and don't turn it into work. Stoke that fire a little when you can and don't force anything,it will come back to you blazing I'm sure.