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 am eternally thankful for the love and support of a very special and patient man, who first put a camera in my hand. 🙂
I am thankful for Health, Family and Love. BUT i am also thankful for the many friendships i’ve gained thanks to the internet, social media and photography in general.
I am thankful for all the opportunitys i’ve gotten in life and the will and courage to make my dreams come true.
Thank you Chase for sharing your life, dreams and work with all of us.
/ Henrik.J – Sweden
Family and freedom.
I’m thankful for a mother of 19 years, that though she passed away, has been one of the best influences in my life.
I’m also thankful for your sharing attitude with regards towards photography. One time you told me to sit down and read your entire blog, and that that would help me learn a whole lot photography-wise. I did, and I’m so grateful for that, now.
I am thankful for the community behind the creative scene. Through the help of my friends, family, social media and colleagues, I’ve re-focused my efforts in getting an education.
I’m a musician and a photographer at heart but had not been living my dream for the longest time. It took my community pointing out that I seemed unhappy in school to evaluate where I was going. Teaching music, playing music, sharing in the visual art community are all things that fill me with joy.
This past year I applied and was accepted to a university that I wanted to go to because the people there were like me. It wasn’t about the size of the school or the popularity, it was community. They’re passion driven and all of them do what they do because they chase that tingly feeling you get. The feeling you get when you teach someone how to play music and you can see it all click in their eyes or the feeling you get when you play on stage and you see people emotionally reacting to what you do. It’s magic.
Everyday I wake up now I tell myself: “Can’t stop. Live the dream.” It’s resources like your blog, communities like Vimeo and people close to you that can shake you to your core and help you fulfill your dreams. Sometimes life is cloudy, but with community comes clarity.
I, am thankful for community.
“Can’t stop. Live the dream.”
-Nathan