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 thankful for my freedom of thought and for all life on this incredible planet.
I’m thankful to life and for being alive. Just for that, it makes everything come along with a long list. Simple but complex at the same time.
Dear Chase and folks,
I won’t be too original… basically I’m thankfull by the same reasons and the same order: health, family and community.
There are so many lack of opportunities, not supplied esential necessities, needed en general, … worldwide, that it is not difficult to give thanks every morning for all the things we have (no matter “how many” we have…) and all the opportunities we have.
And also, I’m thankfull for working in the magical world of photography!
Warm regards and congratultions for your work Chase!
Miguel
I am thankful for eyes that work better than any full range or prime lens, optical senses that are better than any sensor ever created by human ingenuity along with my sane brain that can hold more beautiful & picture perfect memories than a compact flash or hard drive. Thank the Creator of Beautiful!!!
I’m thankful for my parents, two sisters and ofcourse my girlfriend, who all stood by me (and they still are) and gave me the courage and support when I decided to study Photography and leave mechanical engeeniring by side. It was by far the best decision I made in my life and for that I’m thankful every single day when I go to Photography school or just take my camera in my hands and have fun!