For USA readers, yesterday was Thanksgiving – I spent the day with family, being thankful for so much. For the international readers, I hope you joined in yesterday, or perhaps will join me in some thankfulness today.
Front and center on my list of things to be thankful for are: health, family, and community. Health makes the whole thing possible; family–immediate and extended–gives me the daily dose of what love really means, as well as the strength to live a full life; and community–my friends, my amazing staff, co-collaborators, and you–make it all so exciting, rich, and inspirational beyond my wildest dreams. All these things are wonderful and worthwhile things to celebrate.
Within the always-humbling, sometimes-overwhelming presence that this community has in my life, I draw an immeasurable amount of inspiration and motivation. It’s continually shocking for those times when I receive your thanks or kind words, because in my head, our roles are reversed – I feel like the one who clearly derives the most benefit from your participation in this constantly growing community. Words here cannot extend a big enough thanks to you.
Let me take a moment to thank a small handful of friends, collaborators, organizations that have for some reason or another recently made an (another?) impression on me. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather a short one that is present for me at the moment. They are all, in some unexpected ways, not to be missed:
NON PROFIT ORGS
4Culture.org
Blue Earth Alliance
Help-Portrait
MUSIC
Head Like A Kite
Victor Shade
Say Hi
Fences
Shabazz Palaces
GOOD PEOPLE
The Superformula
Ace Hotel
Vince Klimek.
Matt’s In The Market.
Foodista
Small-Lot Wines
Mike Horn
Build LLC
Theo Chocolate
Lastly. If you feel inclined to, please share in the comments section below something you’re thankful for. Anything sincere–and this is not just for the USA folks. It might be a USA holiday, but gratitude is worldwide. I’ll select a handful of comments and send you a signed book or something else to show my thanks for your sharing.
Oh, and I always love this reminder: “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward Have a great weekend.
I’m thankful for having 1 leg, some people have none!!! Optimism is the key!!
I am thankful for my family and their health. So thankful for my dad surviving cancer when he was told he only had 3 months to live (over 25 years ago). I am thankful he keeps defying the odds, with only one kidney and being able to be with us during Thanksgiving. I am thankful for my mom, who is the rock of our family. I am sure we wouldn’t be who we are without her and her support.
I am thankful for my husband of 3 years and our 18 month old twin daughters and their health. I am thankful my brother did great during his surgery a week ago. I am thankful for his wife and their baby (on the way in March)…I am thankful for the rest of our families and their health and all their support.
Much has already been said. I’m thankful for life itself. For the small things that make me happy, for the hard times that make me stronger. But most of all I’m so thankful that I have two wonderful and loving daughters.
I can go on and on for the reasons and what I am thankful for in my life. I’ll start off by saying
•I am completely Thankful for being able to Live. When I was born I was 1 pound I was born weeks early. The Doctors and My family say that I’m a miracle to even be alive.My body fit in the palm of my Father’s Hand. I have all these scars from experimental surgeries @ the time on my chest a daily reminder that I am here right now for a reason. I think deep inside that is my motivation behind conquering my dreams.I’m thankful to the Power in the Clouds for allowing me to be here right now typing this.
• I am thankful for My Brother and Best Friend. Although they are now my Angels they are always close by. I’m thankful for the valued life moments and memories that we shared together. I’m thankful for the Wisdom that they taught me. I’m thankful that they believed in my dreams. Everyday I wake I look in the mirror and I say this day is for the Angels that can’t physically be here to enjoy it with me.For I live my life and dreams not only for myself but for them…They will forever be my inspiration behind trying to conquer the world though my lens.
•I’m thankful for my Family and Friends that I have. Coming from a huge Irish Family from Chicago’s southside family and friends help make our lives mean something more.
• I’m thankful for the gifts, My passion for photography,my creativity, my sincerity,and my love.
• I’m thankful I never gave up on my dream of being a Visual StoryTeller
• I’m thankful I’m able to say I am living my dream every single day and I want to take it higher.
• I’m thankful for The Courage,The Heart,The Soul, and taking part in the greatest story ever told….that is Life.
• I’m thankful for biting the bullet, the encouragement,the great response,and the ability to inspire people through my art with Opening Up my Own Fine Art Photography Gallery 6 months ago. I’m thankful for this Journey that ha been created.
• I’m thankful for all the times in my life where I messed up for I learned from every single one of them
• I’m thankful for all the times in my life where I did good for it makes me want to do even more and dream Bigger
• I’m thankful for the Family dogs I’ve had in my life for they truly were and are a man’s Best Friend. The Walks along the Beach and Rocks they journeys through the woods, the times where they would jump up and eat my freshly bbq’d steaks for I know they enjoyed it more then I did. The Smiles and Looks they would give after a tummy of Fullness were priceless Hahha makes me laugh right now.
• I’m thankful for everything. There are so many people out there that have it worse then us. I’m thankful to help them in any way I can.
• I’m thankful for times of Sorrow,Happiness,Hurt,Emptiness,and loss in my life for all of them have been life moments that have made me who I am today.
• I’m Thankful for the Art Gene…… I can’t imagine my life without it. We as artists create because it comes form a place within and it just happens. @ the end of the day it’s ours it gives us these magic feelings that I’m sure we can’t fully describe. Art causes feelings and emotions that change the world. Movies that make you dream of the love of your life. Songs that bring back grand Memories, paintings that open up our minds, Photography that captures the Truth of the World and make us appreciate all of it.
~ I’m Thankful I’m able to take part in the magical process of being an Artist.
• I’m Thankful for everything in my life….Truly…Whole Heartedly without any doubt. We are all here for a reason. The journey is trying to find out what that reason is. We are all here to bring love,care,joy,compassion,and we are all here to learn from one another.
• In Closing I would like to genuinely say….I’m Thankful that the world has a guy like you Chase. Although we have never met. I am an avid fan of your blog. I learn from you. You Truly Inspire Me. Not only as a person who loves Photography with every ounce of his soul but as One guy with a dream…and your living it. You inspire many people. You inform many people. You bring the world of photography and show it to the world in a unique and personal way. You inspire me to elevate myself as a creative Visual Story Teller. I watched your video from your keynote a couple weeks ago. U were dead on in your speech. All of the relaxed talks and videos you have with your friends and creative professionals are awesome bro.I’m thankful for Creative Live. Chase what an awesome Idea. I’m all about being able to be the best you can as an artist sometimes it take new knowledge to open up your potential and creative thoughts Creative Live helps to do that for the Entire World.
I’m thankful for being one spec of a Pollok painting for on this world and in this life there are no starngers but only friends that we have not met. I’m thankful for Art for it speaks to all of us and unites us together as one. One Love
From one artist living in the Artist way to another. Shine On. ~ Ryan J. Bolger