As we get older, it seems like each year gets worse and worse. Uplifting, huh? Well, news flash. The world has always sucked. It's just that now we are older and more directly affected by the suckiness. But! There's good news! The world has also always been great! We need to focus on the progress we make, no matter how big or small. News stations love to broadcast the tragedies - they draw in the most views. But here are some great things that happened this past year that may have been overlooked.
15,000 New Species Were Discovered
Including this Harry Potter Sorting Hat Spider discovered by Javed Ahmed and his team in India. The spider's genus is "Eriovixia gryffindori", named after the character Godric Gryffindor and the Gryffindor house of the Potter series.
Britney Spears Released Her Best Album in Nine Years
While the marketing and single releases may have been a bit sloppy, fans across the world agreed that Britney's 2016 album "Glory" is her greatest pop album since 2007's game-changer "Blackout." The album includes the quirks and surprises that fans have sorely missed from the Princess of Pop in her more recent work.
Simone Biles Became The Most Decorated American Gymnast
After OWNING the 2016 Rio Olympics, 19-year-old Simone Biles beat out Shannon Miller's record for most Olympic and World Championship medals (a record that was set before Simone was even born). She also set the record for most gold medals in woman's gymnastics won at a single Olympic Games.
Ebola is No Longer an Epidemic in Africa
AND scientists have finally created a vaccine that has proven highly effective!
The Chicago Cubs Won The World Series
Yes, this was highly publicized. But seeing such a passionate victory is a win for all Americans. Baseball has historically been America's Favorite Pastime and is a heartwarming reminder of the American spirit.
SeaWorld Agreed to Stop Breeding Orca Whales
A MAJOR victory for all of my fellow whale-lovers. While the theme park is still an incredibly unsuitable environment for its current inhabitants, it is comforting to know they will not be putting any more artificially reproduced orca through this lifestyle.
U.S. High School Graduation Rates Reached an All-Time High
83 percent of U.S. high school seniors got their diplomas this year.
The Four of the Top Films Were Disney Movies
In order of success: "Captain America: Civil War," "Finding Dory," "Zootopia," and "The Jungle Book."
And, Serena Williams is Engaged
The number one tennis player in the WORLD (male or female) is set to tie the knot with boyfriend/fiancé Alexis Ohanian who popped the question just two days before the end of the year.
Congratulations to Serena, Simone, Disney, Britney, and all the winners of 2016. It was a pretty great year for a lot of people, and we should all welcome 2017 with open arms as another year of awesomeness.
