2016 has not been the easiest of years that is for sure. Many people have died, there have been terrorist attacks all over the world and the United States had its least popular election ever to name just a few events that come to mind. Many people have been comparing it to Voldemort from Harry Potter by saying that it will be known as "the year that shall not be named." Even though 2016 as a whole was not the greatest year ever, I am still thankful for it.

Look at your own life and compare yourself to who you were at this time last year. Have you grown? The answer to that is more than likely yes. You have probably grown in many different ways including physically, mentally, and spiritually.

You might have hit rock bottom during 2016. You might have had your heart broken during 2016. You might have lost someone very special to you in 2016. You might have thought about ending your life in 2016. If are reading this though it means that you are still alive and more than likely things are going to start getting better here soon. You never know what 2017 will bring you! You might get that huge promotion or job opportunity that you have been working towards in 2017! You might find the love of your life and get married in 2017! You might win your dream vacation in 2017! Like I said before, you never know what will happen. Only God knows what will happen in the future.

Let's go back to talking about 2016. Stop saying that 2016 was not your year because bad things can happen during any year. Do not compare your 2016 to someone else's 2016. If you look at what happened during your life during it I'm sure the amount of good things that happened far outweigh the amount of bad things that happened. Did you get a new job or a promotion at the job you already have? That is a good thing. Did you graduate from high school or college? That is a good thing. Did you get to travel somewhere new and experience a new culture? That is a good thing. Did you meet a ton of amazing new people? That is a good thing. Did you begin dating someone who has helped you to grow as a person? That is also a good thing. If you were able to say yes to one of more of these things then it shows that your 2016 was not as bad as you say it was.

Be thankful for what happened this year in your life. I know I am. I am thankful for my amazing friends and family who have been there during the good times and the bad times of 2016, I am thankful that I got to see my younger brother graduate from high school, I am thankful that I passed all my college classes year, I am thankful for all of the opportunities that I was able to have at college, I am thankful for the opportunity that I had to travel to new places this year, and I am thankful for people like you who have read my different articles.

Make 2017 an amazing year but do not hate on 2016!