Everybody likes to talk about how terrible 2016 was as a year.

They'll use sarcastic examples like Harambe's "infamous" death to talk about its negatives. And some will use legitimate concerns like those over the government, the beloved celebrity deaths, or the terrible terrorist attacks across the globe to refer to it.

And all seem to credit the year 2016 in particular as the reason for all of these misfortunes, as if 2016 specifically set out to make everyone unhappy or miserable. At the end of 2016 we can't wait for the new year to hit, because 2017 will somehow magically be better.

Unfortunately, chances are, it won't. Not by itself anyways.

Don't be tricked into thinking that just because the year changes, the way things are will. I remember everyone setting out at the beginning of 2016 saying that this will be "my year" and "2016 will be better than 2015". People hold the coming of the new year in such high hopes, when they can just take the initiative and change things at any time throughout the year.

The new year date is arbitrary, created by mankind just to measure time, which is another thing that was created by society. All of these terrible world events could have spanned 2 years if measured differently, but they happened to fall under 2016. The only difference there will be between before the ball drops and after the ball drops is that, psychologically, people will believe that something will be different and become more optimistic.

While I always suggest being more optimistic, I also hope people will be realistic. If they want better for their lives and for their world, people must not simply hold the belief that 2017 will be better and must actively try and better themselves to make it so.

The year in particular has no say over how you will experience it. I had a very good 2016. Some bad things happened, but a lot of good things happened, and my mental state throughout the year as a whole was happy. 2016 was a good year, looking back, for me. And since I'm sure it was for others, obviously the year number had nothing to do with it.

And 2017 will be a good year too, if I perceive it to be. The year itself won't be out to get me or bless me. I will take from it what I choose to, and if that's negativity then it will be a bad year. But if I choose to see 2017 as another year that I am healthy and alive, 2017 will treat me well.

If you go out simply wishing and hoping that some higher power will make 2017 "better" then you will be disappointed. And if you continue to view 2016 as a "year we don't talk about" or "the worst year ever" then you will continue to have bad years.

But if you see it as something you have control over, something that your mindset can change, then you will surely have a better year.

Happy New Year and wishing you the best for 2017!