23 Good Things That Happened In 2016 | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

23 Good Things That Happened In 2016

Even in the midst of tragedies, there are still reasons not to lose hope.

20
23 Good Things That Happened In 2016
Stephanie McCabe via Unsplash

We can all agree that some terrible things happened in 2016. From violence rooted in hatred to a heated U.S. presidential election to the deaths of beloved pop culture icons, this year hasn't exactly felt like a great one. Scrolling through Twitter, you'll see desperate hopes that 2017 will be better, as well as the very real fear that it will be worse, and the general consensus is that 2016 was one of the worst years ever on the global spectrum.

However, a lot of things happened in 2016 that beg to differ. Along with the terrible things we're all well aware of thanks to the news and social media, some really great things happened this year, too. It's important not to forget the good things and stress the bad. So, here is a list of 23 of the best things that happened in 2016, from worldwide breakthroughs to some of the most memorable and laughable moments:

1. World hunger reached its lowest point in 25 years.

2. It was announced that Harriet Tubman will be the first woman featured on U.S. currency, replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20.

3. The Ozone layer appears to be repairing itself.

4. The U.S. took home the gold in the Rio Olympics.

5. The Chicago Cubs won the World Series after 108 years.

6. Leonardo DiCaprio (finally) won an Oscar.

7. The 2016 Tony Awards did wonders for diversity in entertainment.

8. "Hamilton" became a world-wide hit, and everyone became a little more patriotic.

9. Pokémon Go gave us a fun summer.

10. "Stranger Things," "Gilmore Girls," and other Netflix shows gave us some great TV.

11. Disney's "Moana" gave us a beautiful new story and an awesome new Disney princess.

12. An ebola vaccine was created.

13. The U.S. got its first major party female presidential nominee, paving the way for future female candidates.

14. Giant pandas are no longer endangered.

15. Wild tigers are increasing in number.

16. "Finding Dory" finally came out, and it was beautiful.

17. Frank Ocean finally released a new album.

18. Some of the funniest memes of all time were born.

19. The gene responsible for ALS was found--thanks to the ice bucket challenge, believe it or not.

20. Child mortality rates have dropped worldwide.

21. Malaria was eradicated in Sri Lanka, showing the world that "malaria can be eliminated."

22. Veteran homelessness has dropped significantly in the U.S.

23. Teen graduation rates in the U.S. have reached a historic high.

Although this past year was unarguably filled with terrible news and tragedies, there were a lot of high moments, too. We got a lot of laughs, a lot of breakthroughs, and a lot of reasons not to lose hope in the world we live in. Bad things happen, and sometimes, a lot of them happen at once. But so do good ones, and it's so important to remember those, especially when it's hard to.

Bad things will probably happen in 2017, too, but so will good things. It's our job to make sure the list of good things is longer, and to keep having hope.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

861
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

531
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199580
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20508
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments