2016 was the worst year ever.

2016, have you no shame?!?

I am SO glad this year is over!

It is likely that nearly everyone has heard conversations that sound something like this. Towards the end of the year, it seemed that almost every post on social media related to how awful 2016 was, how happy people were that it was over, and how angry they were at what had transpired over the course of the year. This attitude toward the year that just ended is quite appalling.

Yes, many iconic figures and actors sadly passed away, there is a president-to-be whom many are unhappy about, and there were countless tragic events around the world in 2016. Contrary to what may people seem to think, however, that does not make 2016 a "horrible year.” The year 2016 does not necessarily stand out among other years as being significantly worse. Most of the things that happened this past year are all parts of life, and if they are your defining factors for whether a year was good or not, then that is actually quite sad. Sure, these things are sad, and some of them are difficult, but, there is still abundant good and joy to be found if you look for it and if you choose to see it and be thankful.

You see, by continuing to whine about the president-elect that you do not like, by being heart broken over the numerous celebrity deaths (which are a natural part of life, mind you), and by attributing every petty thing that does not go your way to the supposedly horrific past year, you are completely and utterly belittling people that truly are suffering. You are belittling people who truly had traumatic events happen in 2016. You are belittling those who truly did experience heartbreak and awful events in the past year, and frankly, that is wrong. Perhaps our culture needs a change of perspective and a dose of reality.

If you have a roof over your head, there is good to be thankful for. If you have clothes on your body and shoes on your feet, you have something to be thankful for. If your stomach is not rumbling from hunger tonight when you go to bed, you have something to be thankful for. If you are warm, be thankful. If you did not watch a loved one slowly die this year, you are blessed. If someone you care about did not deal with traumatic illness this year, be thankful. If you are not being run out of your country and made a refugee, you are tremendously blessed. If you have friends and family who love you, you have a good, joyous and beautiful thing. If you have had enjoyable experiences and strong relationships, a job that provides, and a bed to sleep in, you have things to be thankful for. There is good!

Yes, 2016 has held difficult things, but so has every year since the beginning of time. That is part of the ebb and flow of life. So, please stop looking for the negative and focus on the positive; because there is so much beauty, joy and good in life if you only choose to see it.