Happy Thanksgiving

I share with you this; an excerpt of a speech I delivered to 300+ people from the magazine industry a few years ago at a Holiday Luncheon in New York City (It's in caps because I found it easier to read when at the podium):

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON IS AN AWESOME TIME OF YEAR...
A TIME FOR LOOKING FOR THE BEST IN OTHERS...
A TIME FOR JOY IN BRIGHTENING OTHER LIVES WITH GENEROUS GIFTS.
TWO YEARS AGO I SHARED WITH YOU SOME COMMENTS FROM CHILDREN
ABOUT WHAT THEY LEARNED IN LIFE. AND THIS YEAR,
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT THE HOLIDAY SEASON,
IS SEEING THE HOLIDAYS THROUGH THE EYES OF CHILDREN,
FOR AS WE GET OLDER
WE SOMETIMES GROW NUMB TO THE JOY.
THIS YEAR, I AM REMINDED EVEN MORE THAN EVER
THAT THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS ABOUT MUSIC, LIFE, AND LOVE.
AND IN KEEPING WITH THE TRADITION STARTED THEN TWO YEARS AGO
I AM TODAY REMINDED WHAT CHILDREN RECENTLY SAID
WHEN ASKED THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT LOVE.
ONE CHILD, AGE 6, SAID
"I'M IN FAVOR OF LOVE AS LONG
AS IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN THE SIMPSONS IS ON TV."
ANOTHER, AGE 7, SAID
'IF FALLING IN LOVE IS ANYTHING LIKE LEARNING HOW TO SPELL,
I DON'T WANT TO DO IT."
AND FINALLY, ONE CHILD SAID
"I THINK YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GET SHOT WITH AN ARROW OR SOMETHING
BUT THE REST OF IT ISN'T SUPPOSED TO BE SO PAINFUL."
LOOKING OUT AT YOU NOW I AM LASTLY REMINDED
HOW THERE ARE TIMES IN OUR LIVES AS FRIENDS
WHEN NOTHING MATTERS BUT CELEBRATION....
I HOPE TODAY IS SUCH A DAY FOR YOU
AND I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH ONE FINAL THOUGHT;
IT IS, I BELIEVE,
VERY IMPORTANT TO STOP AND EMBRACE
THE SPECIAL EVENTS THAT MARK OUR LIVES...
NOT THE SECONDS, MINUTES, HOURS..
BUT THE OCCASIONS, BOTH SMALL AND LARGE,
OF GREAT REJOICING...THE SMILE OF A CHILD,
A TEENAGER'S LAUGHTER,
SNOWMEN MADE FROM MARSHMALLOWS,
THE MORNING SKY, MIGRATING GEESE,
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS,
THE MOVIE IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE,
SNOWBALL FIGHTS, A BABY CRYING,
SNOW PILED HIGH, GINGERBREAD HOUSES,
RED RIBBONS AND RED FACES,
SEEING THE TREE IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER,
AGAIN, WATCHING A LOVED ONE SLEEPING,
CHILDREN GIGGLING,
SO MANY TREASURES TO REMEMBER AND TO DISCOVER,
TO GIVE THANKS FOR, LIKE LIFE, LIKE LOVE,
LIKE YOU, HERE WITH US TODAY.
THE GERMAN POET GOETHE SAID
"NOTHING IS WORTH MORE THAN THIS DAY."
ISN'T THAT THE TRUTH !

Sunrise Over Mt. Tom. Easthampton, MA. Photo by Bruce Barone.

Isn't that the truth? I would love to hear from you!

If you want distinctive nature, documentary or portrait photography--photography with soul that inspires you to live a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me. Thank You!