As we trudge towards 2016’s inevitable demise, more than a few have shared their far from fond feelings on the legacy the year will leave behind. I’ll admit, I was tempted to do the same. After all, a year that took Professor Snape and Princess Leia isn’t exactly stellar.
I happen to think that a good or bad year is highly influenced by how we choose to see it. So in an attempt to turn this year around, here are some of this year’s more positive attributes.
- The National Parks Service turned 100. That’s 100 years of preserving some of our nation’s most valuables national treasures.
- It was a good year for a few endangered species. Tigers, manatees, and mountain gorillas saw increased populations, and the giant panda is no longer considered endangered.
- We may not have elected the first woman as president, but we did vote to put more women in the Senate—21 to be precise (still a long way to go). While 2017 will be the year they’re sworn in, 2016 was the year we made it happen.
- There was a new Harry Potter book and a new Wizarding World movie…and we found out there will be a total of FIVE “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” films.
- Leo finally won his Oscar!
- “Hamilton” won nearly all the Tonys…and continues to rock the world.
- Speaking of theater, 2016 celebrated 400 years since the death of Shakespeare. That’s 400 years of tradition celebrated around the world by all kinds of people in a million different ways.
If at least one of those things had you rethinking the verdict of 2016, I consider that a victory. All in all, it wasn’t a bad year. Just like every year, it had its good and its bad. It’s up to us to decide what we choose to remember. So remember the bad, but be sure to let some of the good in as well.
…just for fun:
Rest in peace, Ms. Reynolds.
