Somehow 2016 has come and gone. Many jokes and memes were made to make light of the things that happened during this year. 2016 was no easy year, but then again, bad things every year. Not to dash any one's hopes of 2017, but bad things will happen in 2017, too.

However, the whole year doesn't have to be bad. It may seem difficult, but as a whole, we need to focus on the positive things that surround other tragedies and hard times. Life doesn't have to be some difficult trek, but it will seem that way if all we see are the unfortunate events.

Just a few days after Christmas, my grandmother passed away. That event has caused a lot of heartbreak and sadness throughout my family, but to look on the bright side, it worked out. All of her children were in town and she had felt well enough to interact with us on Christmas Eve. She had the ability to say her goodbyes and is now pain-free. Yes, we are all very sad about her passing, but she is in a better place and got to be with her family before she passed.

It is so easy to get caught up in all the bad things that happen and focus solely on the negative, but to truly enjoy the gift of life, optimism is key. Being optimistic is no easy feat especially when all anyone wants to do is complain, but I want to challenge you for this new year to try and be a more positive person,

Smile a little more,

Compliment people often,

Enjoy the little things in life.

2017 can be better than it seems 2016 had been, but it is dependent on the outlook you have on life. An old band director used to say, "Cheerful is a choice,' and while that sounds very cheesy, it is very true.

My resolution for 2017 is to be the most positive person I can be and hopefully, 2017 will be a good one.