A little over a week ago we welcomed in another year. One that, for many, couldn’t come soon enough. Depending on who you ask, the previous year was a rough one that put people all over the world in a negative state of mind. Whether you want to believe it or not, a lot of good came out of 2016. Here’s a recap:

• The Ozone Layer is repairing itself
• Several animals were taken off the endangered species list (green sea turtles, manatees, humpback whales, giant pandas)
• The number of tigers in the wild rose for the first time in 100 years
• Sea World agreed to stop breeding captive killer whales
• World hunger reached its lowest point in 25 years
• 93% of kids around the world learned to read and write this year (the highest proportion in human history)
• One of the safest years in aviation history
• Volunteers in India planted 50 million trees in 24 hours
• Unemployment in the United States hits lowest rates since the recession of 2008
• The Chicago Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years

If you find yourself complaining about how terrible 2016 was, just know that recent studies have shown that complaining shrinks the hippocampus, the area of the brain needed for problem solving. It can also make you more susceptible to health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. All of this makes focusing on the good things that happened in 2016 a no-brainer. Not only will it make you happier, it will keep you healthy. 

For more reasons why 2016 was a good year, check out:  https://medium.com/future-crunch/99-reasons-why-2016-has-been-a-great-year-for-humanity-8420debc2823#.2yklder6c