What I’m Most Grateful For

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love this time of year with its focus on celebration, gratitude and family time. I have a lot to be grateful for, both with my journey as a photography enthusiast and as my journey as the owner of BetterPhoto for the past 15 and a half years.

I keep a Gratitude Journal and every morning, during what I call my “Morning My Time” routine, I write at least 10 things that I am most grateful for.

The following are a few of the things I most appreciate and celebrate the most when it comes to photography and BetterPhoto.

• The appreciation of light: How photography has taught me to appreciate light (I’m especially appreciating it right now, btw, when the skies are dark and overcast in the Pacific Northwest).

• Great friends: BetterPhoto has led me to some of the world’s most wonderful people – both on Team BetterPhoto and in the amazing BetterPhoto community… people who are kind, supportive, and compassionate, as well as super creative!

• Guilt-free travel: We’ve had so many fun journeys as we’ve led photography workshops, conducted awesome BetterPhoto summits and filmed award-winning photography DVDs.

• Creative productivity: The joy and pride one feels upon completing a book. I am particularly grateful to Amphoto and Kerry Drager and particularly proud of The BetterPhoto Guide to Nature Photography, and BetterPhoto Basics. But I love them all.

• God’s guidance: We’ve survived a dot com crash and a recession! God guiding Denise and I back around 2000 to avoid the dot com crash and the whole angel investor thing because it just did not make sense to us. This one move caused us to survive the dot com bubble burst.

• Magic memories recorded for our future: I have beautiful records of the big milestone events in my life… my time with my sweet sunshine – my wife Denise… our travels to Russia when we adopted our three beautiful children… all of the fun family trips and adventures we’ve enjoyed, as well as our many magic moments here at home.

And I most appreciate YOU. You’ve been a magnificent member of our great group, and I thank you.

I believe in you and your creative abilities and want to make sure you know how much I appreciate your courage in stepping up to live a creative life.

BetterPhoto and photography have been very good to me, and I thank God for the many blessings I’ve been given over the years.

What are you most grateful for?

Comments

[Chris Budny]

Happy Thanksgiving, Jim, to you, your family and everyone at BetterPhoto.com. I suspect I speak for a lot of the membership when I say we're thankful for the BP community you've created.

[Nancy de Flon]

Thank you, Jim! I'm grateful to you and to all the BP instructors from whom I've learned so much--many of whom I still keep in touch with. Bill Reel, a former columnist for Newsday, liked to say: "Gratitude is the aristocrat of attitudes." How true! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and staff.

[Kathy Wesserling]

I'm grateful that...
1] Better Photo exists, period.
2] BP offers an affordable Basic Membership.
3] BP allows us to see all entries - not just the Winners. It's a teaching tool for me.
4] BP's team is generous in sharing their knowledge (through their Blogs and by answering individual questions) even with those of us can't afford the classes. Kerry Drager has been especially helpful to me, and recently John Siskin answered a Speedlite question - and single-handedly improved our upcoming church directory.
5] Jim Miotke's "BP Guide to Digital Photography" was one of the first books I bought. It helped to increase my skill levels AND really brought me into the BP fold.
6] BP nurtures a sense of community and learning.
7] BP has introduced me to so many wonderful friends - both online and onground.
8] BP has kept the doors open - even in these hard times. It hasn't been easy - especially recently. But, for this alone, I would say "Blessings on BP, the staff and team. -Thank you for what you have given me over the past years and in the future.

[John D. Roach]

Nicely said! Happy Thanksgiving to you!

[Linda Taylor]

Hi Jim
Last fall I was part of the "Customer Charisma" Group and loved it. I do know how important journaling can be. Right now I am putting together my first YouTube video,to tell everyone about my journaling site. I would really appreciate it if you would recommend my site when talking about journaling. www.inspirationaljournaling.com
Your recommendation would go a long way.
Thanks again for the mentoring.
Linda Taylor

[Carol Marsh]

Jim,
Thank you for your list. I have many blessings in my life. My wonderful Bob and 52 years of marriage, my fabulous son and daughter (also adopted), four incredible grandchildren, good health and many incredible trips abroad. A constant blessing is my opportunity to take lots of photographs and interesting classes with Betterphoto. I think I am now at about 12 or 13. It has been an honor to work with you, Kerry and many other wonderful instructors. The two summits that I have attended have been highlights in my life. So, thank you and your crew for being a big part of my ongoing development as a photographer. I am glad that you are my friend.

Hugs,
Carol Marsh

[Ysa]

Jim

happy Thanksgiving from my family to your,hope you have a very bless day and if one day your travels bring you to Dallas Texas,please know that my house is welcome to you and your family.
Ysa...

[Frank Corbin]

Nice article. God is definitely in control.

[Eric Schuman]

Gratitude: My 92 year old father moved from Florida to be closer to me. We spent our first Thanksgiving together since the 1960s.

[Jim Miotke]

Hi Everyone,
Thank you so much for offering your kind words of support, and for offering your own inspiring reasons for giving thanks this season. For me, your thoughts reinforce my Great Friends gratitude in my original note: "people who are kind, supportive, and compassionate, as well as super creative". Thanks again!!

[Paula Laschenski]

Jim and Everyone, hi!

Thank you for being who you are - full of love, expertise and willingness to share. You are gift to our world and especially to struggling photographers. Special thanks to Susan and Neil Silverman who pulled me out of the fear pit regarding digital photography. They are the best!

[Jim Miotke]

Thanks for sharing the nice thoughts, and great to hear about Susan and Neil!

[Dr. F.Zaman]

Hi Jim, I am not a member of your BetterPhoto family directly but I am benefited in many ways by your site. I am thankful to you. Thank you !!