Considering the amount of wonderful things that have happened to me and my business since last Thanksgiving, I'm shocked at how fast the past year has gone.
I'm not sure why my life seems to revolve around Thanksgiving. Perhaps it's because this is a slower time of year for photography business. Maybe it's the tryptophan in the turkey. Maybe it's because, in this crazy life, I don't usually let myself stop - I mean really stop - to count my blessings until Turkey Day. (Sad, right?)
I stopped - really stopped - a few weeks ago when my wife and I were packing for a weekend trip to her family's farm. In that brief moment, I was standing in our office room (in which I am typing right now) and thought about how blessed I am to simply have an office, how blessed I am to have a loving family-in-law to visit, how blessed I am to still participate in a harvest even thought I haven't lived on a farm for more than 6 years.
I was a little hesitant to get behind the wheel of a tractor that's probably worth more than everything I own. Nevertheless, my reservations faded quickly as Stacy and I made the first few swipes across the recently-harvested field. She and I took turns pulling the stalk chopper behind the big green machine.
To cut a long story short - I've found that it's not hard to have a wonderfully authentic weekend in a few Minnesotan cornfields. Contributing to a family farm operation was sincerely one of the funnest, most meaningful things I've done in quite some time.
Also, I probably shouldn't continue seeing myself as a "city slicker." I have rural roots whether I like it or not. Even though my parents don't farm anymore, this is still where I came from. Besides, I can still drive a John Deere just as well as anyone (mainly because it's almost easier than driving an automatic car).
More importantly - I can still look to the countryside for inspiration.
Who says I need to wait until next week to give thanks?
