Yes, 2016 was a shit year in many ways, but I’m so goddamn sick of this pity party, considering by almost every conceivable metric, earth and humanity are doing better than ever.
Since day goddamn one of this year people have been whining and complaining, and for many, flat out refusing to acknowledge any appreciable upside to this year. How could you expect it to be a good year if you all wanted it to be a bad year? Between the excessive self-destructive humor, borderline loss of self worth I’ve seen a lot of people subject themselves to, apathy felt world wide, and more that I shouldn’t even have to state (you all know the kind of shift I’m talking about), there’s simply no way we could make it a good year considering it’s fairly clear we either didn’t want this year to be a good one, or didn’t try hard enough to make it a good one.
So, allow me to tell you some easily overlooked reasons 2016 was actually a goddamn killer year:
Harriet Tubman was decided to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20
The Americas became totally measles-free
Unemployment finally hit a pre-recession low
Cubs won the world series
High school graduation rates are at record highs
US-Mexican collaboration over the Colorado River has been successful
Crime rates are extraordinarily low
Shut up about the election and realize we are doing VERY WELL
US-Cuban relationships are being improved
ISIS has been steadily collapsing
The most peaceful era in recent history is still ongoing
Being transgender is overall more widely accepted than ever
The worldwide trend of democratization is ongoing
Worldwide, crime is steadily dropping if not plummeting
No matter what you think of recent political news, the average trend is doing better than ever, and individuals are, in many cases, becoming more free to be themselves
Worldwide poverty is decreasing
World hunger is at a record low in recent memory
Major diseases worldwide are on a decline
Childbirth-related deaths are extremely down
Life expectancy in Africa has skyrocketed since 2000
West Africa is clear of Ebola
Education and literacy are spreading at incredible rates
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge (2014) and its revivals (2015, 2016) have raised literal millions of dollars for ALS research
On average, life is getting and will keep getting better for the average person
Worldwide - Science and Nature
Green energy is more affordable and popular than ever
Many endangered species have been elevated from that status
Sea World has agreed to stop breeding captive killer whales
Several nations have committed to regions of sustainability and anti-deforestation in the forms of reserves, parks, and more
SpaceX, my dude, hear about that?
A plane circumnavigated the world with no fuel
The world is more advanced in more parts than ever, and we are making massive strides in almost every area
So, sure. 2016 wasn’t perfect, but what year has been, ever? 2016 has been a year of remarkable progress, freedom, and awareness. You don’t need to like the year for the countless celebrity deaths, or certain political developments, but from at least a remotely objective perspective, we are doing better than ever. Seriously.
So, I challenge you all to do one more thing for me. Think of your past year, and write something, either as a response or in the tags or send it to my askbox here, and share a few good things about your year. Anything, no matter how insignificant it might seem. I’ll go first.
I got a job and started saving money. I started exercising regularly, and picked a few hobbies I could really get into. I taught myself to play guitar, and still am. I became more politically aware. I made a lot of new friends. I overcame an illness that took me out of school for a month and a half.
jacobvanloon
germansingergirl
annaxmalina
vaporwave
izzy806
