Before I start this piece, I want to recognize Tumblr user helthehatter for the inspiration. Thanks for sharing your post of “good” with us all. Click to see helthehatter’s full list of Good Things That Happened in 2016.
When it comes to resolutions, I usually just come up with some run-of-the-mill one like clean eating or better time management. However, in the past few months, I got caught up in everyone’s insatiable readiness to shed 2016. And believe me, I had plenty of “OK. WHAT GIVES, 2016?” moments myself. Two flat tires in one year? Seriously?!
While looking back on 2016, try and use those moments where you questioned the universe "WHY, THO?" to turn a parked car into overdrive. Carry over the lessons learned and work on the things that need fixing. Then, go ahead and celebrate all of the great things that happened this year. If you need a reminder of some highlights here’s a few:
-After a 108-year losing streak, the Chicago Cubs finally won the World Series.
-The moment Leonardo DiCaprio (and probably the entire world) was patiently awaiting happened. Hello, Oscar. Well done, Leo.
- Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life aired. Need I say more?
-The FDA approved an artificial pancreas device to help Type I diabetics.
-Beyonce's Lemonade was crowned best album of the year. #BowDown
-People got married, received job offers, and traveled somewhere new.
So, maybe it still doesn’t seem like it was our year. And, maybe that’s because we have a tendency towards thinking in big victories and leaving the small ones to the wayside. It could be a minute of your day or it could be an hour—just remember to pull out a piece of time and relish in your little triumphs as well. Everything’s fair game whether you finished a book, watched an entire Netflix season (take it as you will—that’s an accomplishment in my book) or, got a full eight hours of sleep.
As you welcome the New Year, wherever it is you are, think about how cool it is that the rest of the world is also celebrating both the beginning of things and the end. We are 195 countries that get to hit a reset button on January 1, 2017, as we enter a brand new year of brand new memories, together.
As promised, here is my 2017-and-Forever Resolution (no expiration date needed for this one): take this year to celebrate all the good—your good, your friends/family’s good, and the world’s good. Let go of the obsolete and anything that holds you back from living this year in the now. Mold yourself a year that will bring you joy. Every year should be your year.
Happy New Year!
