As we’re all fully aware by now, 2016 was quite the year. From many unexpected celebrity deaths, to the election, to other disheartening events, it was a rough year. Many people can say what they want about this year — that it was “cursed,” or that it was the “Devil year” or whatever else they’ve been conjuring up.

But, it’s in the past. For those that are still here, we made it. We have gotten through a particularly rough year, and it’s best that we just conclude the year by being grateful for our lessons and experiences. To be quite honest, 2016 was not completely awful for me. I’ve gone through worse. We all have.

For 2017, I’m not gonna say that we should enter the year by being blindly optimistic, but some positivity is necessary. I’m a “glass half-full” person. I’m not going to say or advocate that positive thinking will shield us from unexpected forces in life. It never has, and it never will, but positive thinking opens your mind up to other possibilities. Maybe you didn’t get what you wanted for a reason.

For example, 2012 was the year that went wrong for me in many ways, but I tried my hardest to maintain a positive outlook. If the outlook was hindered by events I couldn’t control, I turned my focus on releasing negative, pent-up energy. I got rid of old “friends” and habits. I picked up new clubs and hobbies and built my high school resume.

Getting back to my point, 2017 is a new year. A new start. I know it gets very cliche seeing stuff like this around the same time every year, but in reality, life is what you make it (sorry for another cliche). I’m so serious though. For now, cut out the negative people in your life. Any form of dead weight. Try to cut out any habits that you know for a fact are harming you. You don’t need to feel pressured to make up any resolutions, but just make sure that if you felt that 2016 was an awful year, try to find ways to make 2017 better.