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 life…
Thankful for my newborn son. For my family…
For having a job.
For having the opportunity to share.
And thankful for Chase, who has been an inspiration.
Greetings from Monterrey, Mexico.
I don’t own much at all…what little I do have I’m very thankful for.
My truck isn’t new nor does it look new…but I’m thankful it runs like new.
My family isn’t perfect….but I wouldn’t have another.
My friends get on my nerves sometimes…but they are also my family and loved.
My camera is outdated…but I’m thankful to have even an older camera.
I own three lenses…I’m thankful that for being allowed the opportunity to work for each one.
My photographic skills aren’t many…but I’m thankful for those that have taught me what I do know.
I’m thankful that those same people have shown me how to make the most of those skills.
Most of all I’m thankful for life. Thankful that I woke up this morning to embrace just one more day of this less than perfect existence. I’m thankful for the ones that I get to share it with, be it online or just outside my front door.
There could be so many other things on this list. I’m thankful for that too.
Dude.. this actually made me tear up a little bit.. ha!
I feel you on this … biggups
The list is too long, but for here I will list three things:
Family: even growing family as we welcome my brother’s new wife.
Friends: old friends, new friends, teammates, colleagues…
And perhaps most apropros here: for creativity. For the musicians and <a href="http://goo.gl/Absxd"poets who let me spend some of my time near them with my camera, because sharing in creativity begets creativity. (“The opposite of war isn’t peace. It’s creation.” – Jonathan Larson)
Sorry for the random html. Guess I can’t post that as a link…
I am thankful for photographers just like you that are always sharing their passions so we do not feel alone being crazy about photography. Crazy enough to leave a 17yrs old successful career as a graphic designer/multimedia producer to focus on what feels the most important : image making/story in one frame.
THANKS!!! 😉
I am truly grateful to be alive, and for all that goes along with being alive, the good, the bad and even the ugly. I’m thankful for recognizing that without one, there is no comparison for another, otherwise would be to travel this life with no expectation for anything greater than what we are dealt, without inspiration, without dreams, and without gratitude. I’m loving life and making my dreams come true, and hopefully inspiring others along the way.