This will be my last article of 2016, and in all honestly, the end cannot come fast enough. This year has been one punch in the gut after another, and there is nothing I want more than to let it die and start fresh in 2017. However, despite everything, I try my best to be a positive person. So while 2016 may have been trash, there has to be a few specks of gold in there, right? Here's a small list of some of the nice things that happened to me this year.
1. We got two new cats, Rey and Pyewacket. Both of them have given me a lot of happiness.
2. I finished up both my first year of college and my first semester of my second year on high notes.
3. I finally got into "Star Wars" and found a new role model in Carrie Fisher. I just wish I had found her sooner.
4. This year gave me all sorts of new "Power Rangers" material, including comics, a new season, and a new movie. Even if the movie turns out to be terrible, the excitement of seeing the news of it being released was still great.
5. Thanks to Twitter I was able to find and talk to a group of fantastic friends all around the United States, and even the world!
6. This was a fantastic year for animated films, including some all-new favorites of mine such as "Zootopia", "Moana", and "Kubo and the Two Strings".
7. And even though next year does not look that great for animation, at least they have been a lot of fun to hate as we wait for them.
8. I actually began animating more, and I am surer than ever that this is what I want to do with my life.
9. My sister came home for Christmas, which was really unexpected.
10. I got a lot of church organ jobs, and did really well at each one.
11. "Ghostbusters" came out, and is now one of my top "feel-good" films.
12. There was a new "Pokemon" game! Nothing can cheer me up like Pokemon can.
13. I made it to my 20s. Just one more year and I will finally be an official adult!
14. While Trump being elected president was a low blow, seeing people rise up and speak out against his hate was really inspiring to watch.
15. Finally, memes. There were a lot of great memes this year. Yes, this is a high point for me.
Writing this was therapeutic, and I encourage anyone who read this to make their own list as well! 2016 was a tough year, so it is good to take a minute to think about the good things that happened to you. I am very proud of you for making it through any hardships you went through this year, and I wish you the best of luck in 2017!