For the third day in a row, I am abundantly, exuberantly, inexplicably happy. What’s more, I am overflowing with gratitude for the number of wonderful people in my life. I realize that officially, this is the wrong time of year to wax poetic about the things that are causing me joy and for which I am grateful. With the year still fresh, young and new to the world, it’s tradition to examine your life, look for the things you deem to be “wrong” or “bad” and try to change them. But that’s just not where I’m at right now. I’m really just stuck on the gratitude right now.

I feel grateful for the people who sat around my living room last night until 11:30 pm, eating spaghetti, talking, laughing. For the friend’s mother, who is also a friend in her own right, who I sat with this morning at church. I feel grateful for the church member who introduced me to a newcomer this morning by saying, “this is Marisa, you really have to know her, she’s a special person.” I feel enormously grateful for the two girlfriends I ate lunch with today. For three hours we sat in front of a fire, plates of salad, bread and cheese on our laps, eating and sharing. We talked about love and dating, expectations and taking scary leaps. I stretched out on Georgia’s bed and indelicately cracked my back while tea was made and email was checked. We pulled tarot cards and safely shared how their interpretations hit home.

Life is good.