Multiple people, websites, and articles will try to reason with why we all thought 2016 was a total wash. From an election fraught with emotional tension, to the eerie cluster of celebrity deaths, to the mysterious runs of misfortune that multiple people seemed to experience this year, everyone seems to want to put 2016 behind us as quickly as possible. Whether you blame it on the stars or sociopolitical conflict, hope has been replaced with disillusionment in the popular opinion. However, it is important to ask ourselves if we have become so embroiled in the despondency that we’re ignoring some advantages that we gained over the year.
After all, it’s impossible that we didn’t at least make some strides. But in what, and how exactly do they balance out the adversity? Well, for starters, death by heart disease, one of the top killers in the country, has decreased by 70 percent in the U.S. Harriet Tubman, one of the most famous abolitionists of the Civil War, is going to be put on the $20 bill, replacing Andrew Jackson. And Starbucks figured out how to donate perishable food in a safe way, potentially saving hundreds of thousands from dying of hunger. None of these erase the tension and misfortune that occurred, but they help remind us of the fact that on a macro level, achievements are being made every day, and we are advancing even when we feel we are backsliding.
However, it’s not simply a macro level issue. According to online comments, forums, and even my own personal observation, even everyday citizens all seemed to experience a peculiar density of bad luck in 2016. To ask why is to open a rabbit hole of various theories and arguments that you might never escape should you attempt to attain some sort of objective reason. So how do you obtain a level of positivity and optimism on a personal level, when it seems like the stars are conspiring against you? Though it’s impossible to address everyone through a screen, I can share a concept that’s gotten me through the worst of the worst the year’s had to offer: life is a series of mountains and valleys, balanced highs and lows. If you’re in a valley now, I can promise you it’s not forever. And if you’re on a mountain, enjoy it. Take in the view, relax, and remember to be mindful of the moment.
I’m not always a beacon of positivity, far from it in fact. But now more than ever, we need something to hope for. And if we lose our ability to hope for the future, we lose our ability to build a future. We have an opportunity to utilize every tool at our fingertips and make a tangible difference, something that’s easier than ever in this current age of social media. If we come together, we can shape both the country and the world.
