10 Good Things That Happened in 2016
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

10 Good Things That Happened in 2016

It Wasn't All Bad

10
10 Good Things That Happened in 2016

Alright, so 2016 hasn’t been a great year. We had a bloodbath of an election and the United Kingdom is in the middle of a messy divorce with the rest of Europe. We lost Alan Rickman, Gene Wilder, David Bowie, Anton Yeltsin, Leonard Cohen, and Prince. It’s projected to be the warmest year in history and the refugee crisis is now of epic proportions. But it wasn’t all bad. Right?

Here are 10 reasons 2016 wasn’t completely rotten:

Wild Tiger Population

For the first time in a century, the number of wild tigers in the world has increased. WWF has reported that are now nearly 3,900 tigers in the world. That’s up from the previous number of 3,200.

Ice Bucket Challenge

Remember that one time we were all dumping ice cold water over our heads and filming it in the name of ALS? Well, it paid off, with money donated to research they were able to find a gene that’ linked to ALS and are one step closer to eliminating it. Pretty awesome.

Trees…. In India

50 million trees were planted in India in 24 hours. That’s a world record and a lot of trees.

Portugal and Solar Power

Portugal, like the whole country of Portugal, was able to run for four whole days only on solar power. Four entire days.

WWII Vet Funeral

Ok, so it’s not great that a WWII vet died. It’s also not awesome that he didn’t really have any surviving family. It’s definitely not awesome that he was homeless. But 200 strangers came to his funeral. That’s what’s awesome.

Heart Disease

Death by heart disease in America is down by 70%. More people to enjoy 2017.

The Ozone Layer

It’s healing itself for the first time ever. Pretty great right!

Cleveland

If you're a Cubs fan then you really don’t need any reminding but hey, even if you’re not, it’s good to know that anyone can come back from anything. Even a 108-year losing streak.

Leonardo DiCaprio

He won an Oscar! Finally. Again, if you don’t succeed, just like keep trying and eventually you’ll get there.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

For those of you who are upset over Alan Rickman’s death and miss Severus Snape and maybe Harry Potter in general. Even if you hates the play and movie it is nice to see the world of Harry Potter alive and well.


So there you have it. That's what happened in 2016 that wasn't absolutely awful. Best thing to do it to keep your head up and let's all make 2017 a better year.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

93784
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments