I’ve decided that I am making December GRATITUDE month for myself.  Everyday I am going to focus on all the wonderful people, love and greatness in my world.  Today I am grateful for my skills and talents and all of the wonderful and intelligent kind and loving people who have helped me hone my craft. Thank you. 

Yesterday I had an early job at the Illinois Holocaust Museum, which I am honored and privileged to work with and at often.  I have met many survivors and heard several of their stories, one in particular multiple times.  Aaron Elster, thank you for surviving and reliving those traumas over and over again to inform us and help make social change.  I feel blessed just to be in your presence, Thank you.  

While I was “working” aka living my dream, I couldn’t help but feel “wow, my job is great’.  I felt blessed to be able to make a living doing something that I love to do. I know these talents are not my own, that they are just the collective energy force expressing itself through me but I am very grateful I was able to open up and allow that to happen. Being a career photographer has its many challenges, some of which I never thought I would overcome.  It was a long, slow, and expensive road but the journey has been amazing and for that I am grateful.  Thank You GOD.  I so often get paid to photograph people who others are paying the big bucks just to hear talk.  It’s truly amazing.  Half of the time I feel like I’m cheating because I would pay to hear these people and wait in line to meet them but I don’t have to cause I’m being paid to interact and record them for the tangible proof and enjoyment for others. Yesterday after Aaron Elster (Holocaust Survivor and Vice President of the Illinois Holocaust Museum) shared his story an amazing man named Hudson Taylor told us his story.  He is a beautiful inside and out it seemed.  He is a straight white man who happens to be a world class wrestler who started #Athlete Ally, where he fights for the LGTBQI rights in sports.  He’s story was an inspirational one about creating social change and how to make the most impact with what you have available to you.