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.
Today I am thankful to be surrounded by people I love and whom love me back.
I am grateful for all the ongoing support that I recieve every day.
I am grateful to be the person I am and that I can accept and embrace my story in every way possible.
I am also very grateful for people who share their knowledge to help others out.
Sorry, that was anonymous me with the fab husband. 🙂
My fantastic husband – who unconditionally backed me to walk out on a corporate career and study photography for the last two years. Who says “that’s not art, it’s a photo” and “don’t ask me I don’t get that arty stuff”..LOVE him.
NZ, Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud – my gorgeous homeland where quirky, independent, open people grow
Aussie – The lucky country i get to live in right now
Buddies – my amazing friends who have me in stitches, tears, wonder
Chase! – taught me to share everything I know and be fearless!
I am thankful for the books you recomend! I am reading art-fear right now. I am thankful for my son, without him, who knows where I would be. He gives me all my inspiration!
Tanya Petraglia
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I am thankful for a lot of things…. as a photographer, I am most thankful for LIGHT !