I read that mental health experts report that people who live with gratitude are happier, more emotionally healthy & like their life more than those who do not. I know that there are days when I forget to “count my blessings” & be grumbly about things that seem HUGE in the moment, then shrink to insignificance days or sometimes mere hours later. Someone once told me, “If it will not matter to you in 5 years, don't give it more than 5 minutes of worry, anger, or grief.” That's a rule I try to live by, but like most people, I am not always successful at remembering that rule in a heated moment. I'm learning, though. The last 12 months have been some of the most productive & rewarding months I've ever had. As a creator, I am often also “an observer”. I have observed the power of gratitude in 2025. For me, it opens me up to more good experiences. I am better in relationships when I'm thankful. I am more creative & more excited about being creative when I am mindful of the good in my life. I used to say that the trade-off for creation was pain, & while painful experiences certainly can be fertile ground for writing, this year I have also discovered how inspiring joy can be. As I have spent time writing my book (out tomorrow), I have looked back with renewed thankfulness on friendships and experiences I have had in the years I wrote about. People who are no longer with me but made my journey much richer with their presence, their love, & their wisdom-I miss them, but I am exceedingly blessed to have had them in my life for the time that they were. Of course, some people have been constants, like anchors or compasses, to help me find true north when I felt lost & I am grateful for them too. In the pic I chose for this blog, there is one of each. I write about both of them in my book. My life would have been so different & not nearly as wonderful had they both not been with me. One is my dear friend Pablo. The other is my brother Jeremy. Both, angels from heaven in my life.
This has been a uniquely busy year for me as a creator & as someone who is endeavoring to cultivate a community of love, kindness, & authenticity around the art that I am making. I am thankful for all of you who have responded with messages, purchased my music, streamed my singles, watched my videos & podcasts, come to live performances, & shared it all with your communities & social media. For me, creation has always been about connection. Connecting to parts of myself, connecting with you, & doing something to bring connection to parts of the culture that are disconnected & are often at odds with one another. Living in the tension & the social dissonance that it makes for is both exciting & sometimes emotionally exhausting. Often, it is the joy of recognizing the good in the midst of that, no matter how large or small, that fuels my passion to write another song, go back into the recording studio, film another podcast, or pen another blog like this one.
I hope that today, on the day we call Thanksgiving, you can pause & count the good in your life. I know that, like everyone, you will have “the not so good” present, but if you have family or friends, or community or artists that speak to you, or countless other good things, I truly hope that you can think on those things or people today. May it inspire you with joy & give you strength to be brave.
I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU & YOU ARE LOVED.
If you haven't already got my newest record, I'm giving it to you for free as a THANK YOU for this year. Click this link and go download it. https://charlieeash.bandcamp.com/album/loud-and-brave-before-sunrise