Let’s be honest: the way 2016 went, it’s no surprise we turned into Imperator Furiosa by year’s end.
What can I say about this year? Yeah, it was crazy. A circus. A hit soap opera with storylines that will make you either amused like some animated unicorn or vexed to the point you’d rather be chilling while the world is in flames but still you say, “This is fine.”
Truthfully, if there’s one thing the over 7B of the Earth’s population agrees on, it is that 2016 has turned to be one of the most unforgettable years ever - alas, not in a way we danced in circles under the rainbow and lived happily ever after. Nevertheless, the disaster that dawned upon us should not blind us from the great little things that have happened to our lives in the last 366 days. May it be zero health scares, going one step forward in your career, a budding romance, adventures with your friends and family, to each of our own.
I know you’ll ask me this question impulsively until you get the answers you deserve, so I’m not going to beat around the bush any longer by sharing the major lessons learned in 2016:
1. You can’t always get what you want. It takes a dose of reality to make you understand some things happen beyond your willpower. The downturn of events over the past year turned the world topsy-turvy, sure. Nevertheless, it only underlines the one thing some of us just don’t get it at all: crap happens. No matter how good of a person you are, no matter the amount of work you put in - let’s face it, some things are not meant to work in our favor. That’s not the end as we know it. Rather than sulking in the corner with an overflowing stream of “What if?” thoughts running rampant in your mind if faced with this situation, better welcome other possibilities as if they were long-lost family members. Besides, life’s not as edgy if you refuse to come out of your comfort cocoon.
2. Thou shall not underestimate the power of social influence in a world bombarded with a heap of socio-economic issues thrown against humanity. Frankly, our generation (and the ones before us to a greater extent) are not just all talk, all tweet, all CAPS LOCK WARRIOR MODE, all smack nowadays. This generation makes it to the point they read up and verify their information before going on a social media rampage and getting into petty arguments with people who might know so much more than you do. Given all the free information we get from the WWW nowadays, perhaps it’s inexcusable to shrug off all the rage behind Trumpism, #___LivesMatter, the Aleppo crisis, the macabre approach of PH’s anti-drug campaign and many other issues polluting our world. These things are not meant to look smart or for bragging rights. Rather, we feed our minds with information across traditional and modern channels for educational and self-awareness purposes. These takeaways, of course, could be the foundation for our call to act upon the resolution of these issues which in turn will benefit no one but the common good.
3. No relationship, not even the ones straight out of Hollywood, is PERFECT. Wait, is is still a necessity to write an expository paragraph tackling this subject? All jokes aside, the Big Split of the World’s Most Powerful Supercouple is a manifestation of this bittersweet truth. Word to all those currently in relationships and those who aren’t but still hoping Prince Charming / Princess Badass arrives in your life: I hope you don’t base off most of your #RelationshipGoals from Hollywood and the Internet. Fin.
4. Nothing is ever guaranteed. Don’t let this recycled-yet-still-true sentiment distract you from the fact that the 73-9 Golden State Warriors blew a 3-1 Finals lead, impeding them from earning the title of NBA’s greatest team ever.
2016, if it were a meme.
Thanks, 2016. You were fun while it lasted. But now the new year is up and running, we have no choice but to bid adieu to you. Here’s to hoping a bright and better 2017 ahead!
Stay woke, friends.
