It wasn't ALL that bad!

Blog Project 3.0 has been going on for about three years, even though one of the group members changed after a few months. I love blogging with this group and I hope we can continue to inspire each other.

We will be posting bi-weekly as life keeps getting in the way.

I chose this week's topic: I know we all want to "flip the bird" to 2016. However, I thought we should write about good things that have happened in 2016 either in the world or in our personal lives, so that the year doesn't feel like a total waste.

First, read what everyone else had to share on this topic. I will be only posting links to posts on this same topic from my group. So check back if you were hoping to read their blogs and don't see a link yet.

Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock

Let's face it...2016 has been the year to forget. I saw a meme about burning the calendar at the end of the year. There's also a post about how the word of the year has been an extended version of the "F" word. Yeah, THAT bad! I do have to agree to an extent. This past year has robbed us of some great talent, starting with David Bowie and most recently, Florence Henderson. It's also been harrowing in terms of people I care about losing people they love (sometimes children).  I even lost a cousin way before his time should have been up. And a classmate (who is also the husband of one of my friends) getting really sick out of the blue.

Then, of course, there was the election. The one I've dreaded since a certain reality TV host became a nominee. The one that same person somehow won. The one that has made people, including myself, miserable and anxious for the past month.

So what is there to be happy about in 2016? What makes this year less of a complete waste of time? I'm here today to reflect on the good things in the world and in my personal life.

* I turned 40. It's something I had been looking forward to for a while, and I definitely enjoyed the outpouring of love on my big day. I still can't believe I'm 40 sometimes, but am also thankful to have lived this long already.

* The Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 108 years! Being from the Chicago area, it's definitely something to celebrate, as well as bond with friends over.

* Hamilton. Although I haven't seen it yet, it has been one of my saving graces this year. I've become even closer with my kids because of it. I've made new friends as a result of starting a fan group. I've listened to the soundtrack more times than I can count.

* Going on a cruise with my family. It was nice to "escape" for a week and I loved seeing the delight on my kids' faces.

* Taking my kids to NYC. The older two were so little when we were last there together that it was like the first time for them. I loved seeing it through their eyes. I even had some new experiences, like going to Ellis Island, as well as seeing the Statue of Liberty up close. I even ran into a friend from high school at a museum. Only in New York...

* Great TV shows like Stranger Things, Fuller House, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Speechless, The Goldbergs (this is the first year I started watching), Search Party, and, of course, This is Us. Plus, all the shows I've been watching regularly for the past few years.

* Lots of wonderful books to read throughout the year. 2016 felt especially stellar in the good reads department. This is also the year I got into audio books.

* Some good changes at my job that have made it that much more enjoyable for me to work there. (Although some more friends left this year, which is not so good, I'm glad we can still stay in touch.)

* Making some new friends in my community, at work, and online.

So yeah, most of the list was more personal than global, but so be it! I am glad to see 2016 go in less than a month, but have some fond memories of the year to take with me into 2017. I'm just hoping some smart decisions are made in a couple of weeks, so I don't dread the new year!

What made 2016 tolerable for you?