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 I was laid off a year ago from my art director position (the Monday after returning to work from Turkey Day – quite an unpleasant surprise in the midst of the holiday season). I spent the year traveling through South America and the states and taking some time to really figure out what’s important for my future. This year I got out from behind a desk and really lived life. I’m thankful for that opportunity. Lemons, meet lemonade.
i am thankful, that God created me the way i am and that he chose me to live in this world. blessed me with many talents like photography and a strong familyrelationship.
I’m thankful for Chase, Strobist, Joe McNally and many more like them who have served as inspiration and have helped me feel welcomed as a new photographer. Those who have opened the “black box” of photography are tops on my list this year.
I am thankful for life and for the opportunity to go to college when so many other cant. Im also extremely thankful for my father, because without him I dont think photography would pay such a large role in my life. So from the bottom of my heart, thanks Dad.