Fast forward past THE END. Think Rhett Butler ever took Scarlett back?

Of course you are entitled to your opinion. Thank you.

Here's the thing NdP. Can people change? What would it take to make them see they are damaging themselves irreparably and take a different path? A leopard cannot change his spots but humans are not leopards. I'm torn between thinking people are whom they are and will always remain the same AND change is possible. Thank you for replying to this particular "what if".Of course we never know what happens futurely to any literary characters providing they are fictonal. What would have happened had Dorothy remained in Oz? :) This post was edited by RosieG at January 3, 2019 10:44 PM MST

Most people can and do change, although how much can vary greatly.
The older we get, the less inclined we are to change our views or lifestyles unless forced by changes in health, wealth or other conditions.

Change can be coerced from outside, as when an asylum seeker flees from dire circumstances and must learn a new language, culture and way of life in a new country.
Or change can be internal, as when an alcoholic reaches rock bottom, decides enough is enough, admits the problem, and seeks help through AA. Or when a person having trouble in relationships seeks counselling to learn new skills in handling their emotions and communications.

But in psychological research, it is widely acknowledged that narcissists are the least likely to change (no one has yet encountered a narcissist who has changed - usually the symptoms continue to get worse throughout life).
This is logical when one considers that one of the defining symptoms of narcissism is to always place the blame for anything negative - (emotions, mistakes, accidents and anything that goes wrong) - on something or someone else.

Consider...
the human species has become as successful as it is, almost damagingly too successful, precisely because it is the most adaptable species on the planet.

I 
appreciate the thought and time you invest in your replies. I think motivation is key. If one is motivated to change or adjust or adapt one can. Some people stop smoking with ease while others struggle for years.  The same is undoubtedly true for drug addicts. There are "addictive" personalities. Addicted to shopping or sex or alcohol or drugs or exercise.  It's the addictive personality that causes it and maybe it can be controlled contained through medication but I don't know if it can ever be changed. I am impatient and it has not served me well. I  am aware of it and think I'm trying to become more patient but is that really true? In the throes of my impatience I'm off and running and am completely taken over by it. Then later in retrospect I realize I did it again. So I think I'm hopeless and that's a sad realization because I so value patience in others toward me. Some folks have infinite patience and never get irritated or at least never show it. SIGH. Is there anything in you that you would like to change but are unable to for whatever reason? You seem to be VERY PATIENT and so I admire that a great deal. Is there a secret to it? As for the elephant in the room I have never in my life encountered one human being with so many flaws. That he is a "leader" with power is terrifying. Thank you for your reply NdP and Happy Friday to thee! :)