In the U.S., we’ve taken the day to give thanks for all the things in our lives–material and non-material things that bring us comfort and happiness. If you’ve turned on the radio, opened the newspaper, or watched TV at all, you are well aware that there’s no shortage of opportunities to obtain happiness from material goods (rock bottom deals, starting at 10pm tonight!!!). However, I sit here tonight thinking that the old cliché holds true–the best things in life are indeed free.
I spent the afternoon walking with my family in Zion Canyon, fallen cottonwood leaves littering the ground, the smells of autumn in the air. As the sun went down, wild turkey, deer, and a grey fox graced us with their presence. It gave me an opportunity to reflect on the things I’m thankful for; a few things are:
- My capacity to feel love, and the people in my life who bring that out in me.
- The fact that we have wild places to escape to.
- My son, who’s curiosity, enthusiasm, and perception of the world always remind me to keep an open mind.
- Good beer. 🙂
- The ability we have to visit places (wild or not) that inspire us.
I won’t bore you with a long list, but those are a few of the things that come to mind at this instant. If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving today, I hope you’ve had a wonderful day connecting with friends and family…what are you thankful for today?
Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m surprised you haven’t had more comments on that excellent photograph and your list of what you are grateful for, especially the love and the beer. The having a son and the wild places aren’t bad either for drawing a response. There’s just no understanding why people comment or not, is there? OK, maybe some, but most of it is a mystery. Anyway, I like the way your exposure time made the waves look in that riffle and the isolated yellow-orange of the tree.
Thanks, David; I like thinking that people are out enjoying themselves, and not getting to blogs until Sunday night. So far, that seems to be the case!
I really appreciate your comments on the image, and for the comments on my “thankful list.” I hope you had a great holiday!
Greg
Yeah, what David said. I am late and expected to be at the end of a long line! Guess everyone is still busy with their holiday.
I hope you and your family had a great holiday Greg. We all do have so much to be thankful for.
And yes, it is a really nice image.
Well, I think you were busy all weekend…no worries on being at the head of the line! Hope you had a great holiday as well Steve….
Thanks for the comment on the image, too!
That’s right, Greg. Just like you to think the best of people. Of course you’re most probably right. My life is so far out that I need to stop and think to have any idea what people are doing. The only issue I take with what you said, a bit tongue in cheek here, I can’t believe people are not putting blogs first. Pitiful. Anyway, we’ll get that cross-post on each other’s blogs up soon, huh? I am going to have some more time to look at my edits and your edits in the next two days.
Haha! You and PJ below are making me chuckle! Its those of us (me included) insensitive cusses who don’t put blogs first! 🙂
Looking forward to getting that cross-post up, David; I really like the way its developing!
Hello Greg, I am VERY late responding. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season. I’m thankful for too many things to list but finding kindred souls like yourself to share work with is high on the list.
Sharon
Well said, Sharon; I agree completely in that there’s a great community of photobloggers here on the internet that share the love of wilderness and creativity…definitely something to be thankful for!
Well, here I are — better late than never I guess. Great list, great photo, great blog. Keep it coming my friend.
Now, like David, I’ll puzzle over why some people put other things ahead of blogs… 🙂
Thanks, PJ! As I said to David above, you two make me chuckle with your tongue-in-cheek comments–it makes me want to be a little more on top of my blogging/commenting. 😉
Only a couple of more weeks and I’ll get a reprieve at work–it will be a great time to catch up!
Just a lovely, understated image, Greg! Love the shutter speed and the graceful definition in the river waves. Makes me want to spend all day by a creek somewhere!
Thanks, Jackson! I appreciate it…I do feel like its very understated, probably too much so to garner any real attention, but I liked the way it turned out…I’m glad you can appreciate the sense of peacefulness and serenity in the image…