Dear Santa,

As you wait for Christmas to quickly approach, I can’t help but ponder all that has happened in 2016. It has been a year filled with both wonders and horrors. I’m sure at the North Pole, everything is just peachy. But here, it has been quite hectic. As the new year follows the Christmas season, we all wait for what is to come. This year, what I’m asking for Christmas is for 2017 to be better than the previous year.

Don’t get me wrong, 2016 has had its perks. The panda, tiger and manatee population has gone up. The child mortality rate has gone down everywhere. Caffeine consumption has proven to help with suicide rates. Heart disease within the U.S. has decreased by 70%. Robotic limbs are now being linked with the part of the brain that deals with the intent of moving the limb, so users don’t have to think about how the limb will move. Much good has come out of this year. But behind all of the jolly successes, there is still hardship.

Terrorist attacks seemed to happen every other day, leaving many countries in fear. Police brutality took over the news, tarnishing the publics relationship with the police force. Our flags are at a constant half mast. Zika broke out. We lost many great artists like David Bowie, Prince and Alan Rickman. Hurricane Matthew caused major flooding and killed over 900 people. The U.S. was extremely divided as the election proceeded and became one of the most intense political debates. Needless to say, it was a dramatic year filled with heartache and fear.

In 2017, I hope there is more love, peace and joy. I know those concepts seem foreign and rather naïve, but they aren’t entirely impossible. Christmas is the season for giving, miracles and the unexpected to happen. 2017 could be the year when people learn to come together as one, instead of heavily dividing ourselves. Instead of choosing hate, we choose love. We learn to find joy in the little and monumental things. We find peace with each other and with ourselves. So Santa, if you could do us a solid and make 2017 a little merrier, we would all greatly appreciate it.

From,

The Hopeful