One common joke around the internet is that 2016 was the worst year in the history of ever and we can't wait for it to be over. But, this year couldn't have been all bad, could it? So, being the optimist that I am, I decided I wanted to add some brightness to this year and showcase a bunch of AWESOME things that happened in 2016!

1. Child mortality is down.

2. The University of Massachusetts medical school found the gene linked to causing ALS. And you know how they were funded to do? Through the ice bucket challenge. So while y'all all joked that the ice bucket challenge didn't do anything, it actually did.

3. A 4-year old girl befriended a lonely man and helped him after he lost his wife.

4. Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 90th birthday.

5. Leonardo DiCaprio won an oscar.

6. Dentists have started offering free care to veterans again.

7. The ozone layer is starting to heal itselfthanks to an "amazing worldwide effort" to better the environment.

8. We're pretty darn close to a cure for Alzheimer's disease. As someone whose grandfather died of Alzheimer's, this is really big news for me.

9. 200 strangers attended a funeral for a homeless WWII veteran with no family.

10. Someone in the world stopped self-harming.

11. Someone in the world got help for their addiction problems.

12. Someone in the world overcame depression.

13. Pokemon Go players placed lure modules so sick kids in the hospital could get in on the fun.

14. An extreme treatment has stopped MS in its tracks.

15. A new show called Designated Survivor came out and its the first show every person in my family has watched and gotten to talk with each other about so that's pretty cool.

16. A group of friends formed a human chain to rescue a trapped dog.

17. Two brothers saw color for the first timethanks to some technology-advanced glasses.

18. A woman rescued a bunch of dogs from being sent to China on a slaughterhouse truck.

19. Harriet Tubman is replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.

20. A bunch of people got up the nerve to ask their crush out and their crush said yes.

21. For the first time in 100 years, the tiger population is growing.

22. Jackie Chan also won an oscar. (Making him the first Chinese actor in history to receive one!)

23. Someone is beating anorexia and enjoying a really good cheeseburger or sandwich for lunch today.

So really, maybe this year wasn't as bad as you thought. Always remember, no matter how dark something seems, there is always a light on somewhere.

"When you're focused on how good the good is, the good gets better"- Abraham Hicks