Today is a special day for several reasons:

It is my 31st birthday.
It is the official start date of my new and beautifully amazing job.
I spent the day meeting a great group of co-workers while traveling across the country in an unexpected training trip to the Pacific Northwest. (!!!)
I have the privilege of sharing this day with the honorable Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As I write this, there are 10 minutes left of West Coast time on my birthday. In these last moments of the day, I thought I’d share a quick list of 31 things I’m celebrating and/or thankful for right now. So without further ado, here goes …

My “Celebrating 31” List:

A beautiful children’s book on peace my friend Katy gave to me.
Laughter.
Access to water.
Food, shelter, and clothing.
A heart that breaks for redemption and peace.
A voice that loves to sing worship to Jesus.
Follow Me to Freedom, a cool book by Shane Claiborne and John M. Perkins that Kirk gave me for Christmas.
My silver butterfly ring, another Christmas gift from Kirkum.
The chance to work for an amazing company with an incredible mission and a unique approach, alongside a group of truly talented, good-hearted, and enthusiastic people.
Sudoku puzzles.
Free wi-fi.
Quiet moments.
My 2010 Moleskine notebook planner.
Text messaging.
My nonviolence mentors over this past year: Gandhi, MLKJ, Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, and John Dear.
Grits.
My MSFL cohort at Spring Arbor.
My spiritual director and my Audire supervisor.
Prayer.
Diva and Solomon.
Kirk’s smile.
Zoey, the white Jetta that keeps on going, even at 130,000 miles.
Brother Merton, my vintage Smith-Corona typewriter.
New glasses.
Health.
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. (Great music. Check out the Once soundtrack or the new Swell Season CD.)
Beauty.
Contentment in who God created me to be.

Thanks for sharing a few moments of this special day with me! I’d love to turn the question back to you: What are you thankful for in this moment?