As 2016 draws to a close, and I've had a few days off of work, I've had time to reflect on the year. We finally bring to a close a year that has been felt around the world with sadness, death, and destruction, but also good things. There are so many people out there who have made positive changes to their lives regardless of the negatives they've felt, and sometimes that can outweigh the bad.

The United States has become more divided than it has been since I can remember. The world has become divided. As things in the Middle East continue to escalate, there is a Civil War in Syria that has left so many dead or homeless and as refugees in other countries. There are terrorist attacks happening everywhere you look, against people of all different walks of life. Protesting this year increased and includes causes like Black Lives Matter, No DAPL (Dakota Access Pipeline), and Anti-Trump protests.

We've lost influential people like David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Nancy Reagan, Carrie Fisher, and Muhammad Ali. We've also welcomed so many new influential people into the spotlight like: Lin-Manuel Miranda, who penned Hamilton. Simone Biles, who is the 2016 Olympic individual all-around, vault and floor gold medalist from America. Ellen DeGeneres, who has been influential for decades, but was finally recognized in the spotlight when she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom award.

Hillary Clinton won the popular vote and Donald Trump won the Presidency, in the 2016 Election.

For the first time in 108 years, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series and approximately 5 million people attended the parade to celebrate.

The 2015 ASL Ice Bucket Challenge actually helped to raise a large amount that helped to fund a breakthrough in 2016.

Pokemon Go was released and gave people a chance to live out their dreams of becoming the very best.

Giant pandas are no longer considered to be endangered and the tiger population actually increased this year.

With all the bad that we will likely remember that happened in 2016, there was still good, and there is still love and togetherness in this world no matter how far divided we might be and feel right now. Loving and accepting those that are different from us is the first step to changing the world because we are all humans.

And as we move into 2017, as the world continues to change, please always remember to treat others the way you want to be treated regardless of the treatment you receive.

"Love gives us hope that change is possible."