Thoughts on Thanksgiving - 2021

Every year on Thanksgiving I like to sit down and write. This day has always encouraged reflection in me. As I write this I am struck by how few times I actually reflect on the things I’m grateful for in my own life. Too often I dream about the future and forget to live in the present. Losing oneself to future dreams is fun, but too much of it makes you unappreciative of what you have. Thanksgiving has always been a day for me to slow down and really think about all the things I am grateful for.

Health

Health is wealth. The last two years of our lives have been fraught with fear, uncertainty, and for many families, death. We’ve seen loved ones pass on and it has shaken a lot of us to our core. My heart breaks for all those who have lost loved ones during the past two years. Death comes for all of us, and even though we know it is a part of life, its finality never loses its sting. If you have your health this Thanksgiving you are unbelievably blessed.

Family

My family has been my rock and my core through these last two years. Your family is your first tribe. It is the nucleus of our society. Your family is your people, whether you like it or not. Many of us live in broken homes with broken families. But, there is still something binding about our family. I have come to truly value the role that my family has played in my life. I feel so grateful for their presence and influence. They are the most important people in my life.

Friends

Over the last two years I have really come to learn who my true friends are. It is a small circle of very close friends. These are people whom I cannot imagine living without. They have supported me through tough times, and they have been the wind in my sails for all my endeavors. I am incredibly blessed to have a core group of friends who mean the world to me. If you have similar friendships in your life, cherish these people. They are the stuff of life itself.

Music

Where would we be without music? I believe music has a huge role to play in bringing our nation and our world back together. Music is the healing touch humanity needs at this crucial juncture in history. We have been through lots of division over the past two years. Divided we are weak. United we are strong. Music has the power to unite and bind us. It has been my savior throughout the turmoil of the last two years. Every time I pick up the guitar or sit down at the piano to play I am reminded at how much I love music. I love music with all my heart and soul. It has been the greatest gift to my life. I know it can be taken away from me at any moment and so I am grateful for being given the privilege to continue being a musician.

Dreams

Each morning when I wake up I am greeted by my dreams. The future excites me. I look forward to each day that I get to work on my dreams and aspirations. It fuels me. It gets me out of bed in the morning. I love waking up and devoting my time and energy to the things that stir passion in me. What a gift it is to have dreams, and to have the freedom to pursue those dreams. To me, life would be so boring without a grand goal. It makes everything more exciting when there is a big vision in your head that you are working towards. I am thankful for the dreaming mind I was given. It has made my entire life more interesting, and more fun. I’m learning to cherish the dreams we have for they are a huge part of who we are.

You

If you’re reading this it means you are continuing to support and encourage my musical journey. I cannot thank you enough. It means more than you could ever know. None of this matters if there is no one to listen. Thank you for following along on my musical journey and for continuing to support me by listening to the songs I create. I am so grateful for you.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones. We’ll chat soon.

Roman