Thanksgiving 2017

I started out this post writing about how untraditional my family's thanksgiving is. It's just the four of us -- we eat dinner late, cooking most of the dishes the day-of. My dad reads his book while we prepare the food and listen to Father John Misty. The dogs spend most of their afternoon working up the effort to counter-surf, and we give each other time and space to nap after dinner. While our Thanksgiving is smaller and, dare I say, unconventional... compared to everyone else's, I am so grateful to be able to spend this time with my family.

A few things I'm thankful for...

1. The health of my friends and family. You'd think this is a given, but I guess I've always taken for granted the health of the people closest to me. This year, I've seen the other side of things, and I cannot tell you all how truly blessed I feel to be able to know that my friends and family are safe.

2. All of the lovely humans I have met due to photography/social media/etc. It's been so wonderful to be able to work and hang out with these humans who believe and trust in me enough to document their love, their joy, and their true ~essence~... it makes all of the long nights editing and anxiety-ridden meetings worth it. 

3. My job! This kinda goes along with number one, but if you were to tell me three years ago that I'd be able to do this whole portraiture thing as a REAL JOB, I'd laugh in your face and probably say something along the lines of, "I mean, some people do it, but I can't see it for myself." I'll be honest with you all, sometimes I still can't believe it. I am so thankful to be able to do what I love. 

4. Animals. I've always grown up with cats and dogs, but this year I feel like I really started to understand the unconditional love that animals have for this world. The energy that animals give off gives me so much joy, and I'd like to think that knowing and loving animals this year has allowed me to live more in the moment.

I can't wait to see what the rest of the year takes all of us and I'm so thankful for all of the wonderful humans I've met this year. Happy Thanksgiving!