1. President Barack Obama. He wrote a thank you letter to America in which he said,

I’ve seen you, the American people, in all your decency, determination, good humor, and kindness. And in your daily acts of citizenship, I’ve seen our future unfolding.

All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into that work — the joyous work of citizenship. Not just when there’s an election, not just when our own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime.

2. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was good this week to be able to look again to his words and his work for encouragement and guidance.

MLK Celebration at CSU

3. All those who showed up to MLK marches and celebrations. All those who are protesting today and in the days to come. The water protectors still at Standing Rock. It is such a comfort and inspiration to be surrounded by so many others who believe that, “The time is always right to do what is right,” (MLK).

4. Three years with Ringo Blue. The other day I told him, as he was standing in the middle of the kitchen while I was cooking, that he either had to go back in the garage with his dad or lie down with Sam in the dining room, “but you can’t stay here.” He did that half sigh, half sneeze thing he does, turned and ran back out into the garage — because he’d understood exactly what I was telling him! It hasn’t always been easy, but it is always worth it.

5. A clean car. Seriously, it was so filthy. Seeing the difference might even inspire me to clean off my desk today.

Bonus joy: laughing with Eric while watching old episodes of Julia & Jacques Cooking at Home, spooning with Sam, my knee slowly getting better, a good week at work, tomato gratin, cherry juice, clementines, clean sheets, good books (Roxane Gay’s Difficult Women is SO good), comedians, poets, people willing to protest something that isn’t right, people willing to stand up to bullies, those who chose justice over comfort, good movies (saw “Moonlight” last week and it was SO good), TV so good you’ll rewatch it (hello, “Insecure”).