I have a book called “14,000 Things to Be Happy About.” The book lives up to its name; it’s nothing more than a list of 14,000 random things to be happy about, such as:

Canadian bacon;

Making plans;

Pajama pants;

and so on.

I think it’s healthy and probably essential that we make the effort to point out the things that are just plain cool about life, and take note of them when they happen to you. So, although I can’t think of 14,000 things from this past week to be happy about, here are several that immediately come to mind:

A cup of coffee that hit the magic coffee zone (tonight);

The way a Mini Cooper feels with brand new tires (the cost isn’t something to be happy about, but that’s for a different list);

A kindergarten kid who hands you a candy cane, almost four weeks after Christmas, and says, “I got this at home and I’m giving it to you;”

Sitting around after a band rehearsal is over, and just playing cool songs with a friend;

Bagel Friday before school with my daughter (EVERY Friday is B.F.);

Finishing the second-to-the-last class in Biola’s Organizational Leadership Program;

The feeling at the end of a week with too much to do, and realizing it all got done;

Seeing 60-plus kids do “It’s a Hard Knock Life” at a rehearsal for “Annie,” and realizing that they’re actually going to pull this thing off;

An amazing – although quirky – family;

Watching two 2-hour episodes of “American Idol!”

(Note: spinning smiley graphic found here )