A New Year's Thank You #3

¡Bienvenido, 2017!

Sorry, Spanish on the brain. How is the new year treating you so far? Do you see good things to come? Let's hope so!

With the dropping of balls, the lighting of fireworks, and neighbors firing off weapons that are most certainly illegal, we say farewell to another year, and one many either simply won't miss at all or have mixed feelings towards (I'm in this group). 2016 was an interesting year, no doubt about it - personally, it was overall uneventful, but so many things went on around us.

It was a strange and high-tension time in the political world. But then, when is politics not full of stress and passionate feelings? Around the world things have happened - some are resolved, some continue. That's life, in all of its colors.. and it goes on.

It was a seriously terrible year for losing amazing talent and wonderful personalities. David Bowie was the first that I heard, back in January, and they just kept coming. I'm not even going to attempt to list them all. But we'll miss every one of them, and we'll continue to appreciate their contributions to the world - because, while their days may have come to an end, ours keep on, and we in turn keep the spirits of the lost alive and well.

But 2016, with all of its problems, wasn't all bad. A lot of great things took place, too, *cough* even if nothing immediately comes to mind. And hey, it's not always major events that make a year - the smallest victories are still victories, a smile is still a smile, and it's all a tiny step forward. Here's a fun list to read, if you need a reminder on those small victories. The list isn't mine, and you might not agree with everything on it, but it brings a little light to an unusual year.

And, of course, it shows that, in spite of all the bad, all the poor and negative things.. in spite of all that, there's still a lot of good to be found in the world. In anything. Strength through adversity, yeah?

Via Buzzle

"All that is gold does not glitter,

not all those who wander are lost;

the old that is strong does not wither,

deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

a light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king."

-- J.R.R Tolkien

'Cause we all need some Tolkien in our lives. And I needed to break up my wall of text.

I've written up one of these posts every New Year's since I started this blog. Seems to be turning into a little tradition. ☺ But time to sign off.

I wish you only the best in this new year - make the most of 2017, and every one after that, whatever it may bring.