As we prepare to herald a new year, many people are likely left wondering precisely what about 2016 there is to celebrate, let alone what there might be to look forward to.
From all the talented artists and musicians who croaked this past year to a mostly stagnating and sputtering global economy that has left many people feeling forgotten — not to mention the mounting loss of life in the wars against terror and drugs and the disconcerting resurgence of far right movements around the world from Duterte in the Philippines to Trump in the U.S. as well as many others in Europe — 2016 for the world has arguably not been the most stellar in recent history.
Yet despite all that, I also remember plenty of great things happening this year, namely forging new experiences and memories with my soulmate Maila, who continuously improves in her ability to snowboard after almost completely overcoming a once-crippling fear of heights — which in my defence she did not tell me about until we were already on the chairlift!
And although we have not been in Sundre very long, we both were quickly convinced this is a community we could comfortably call home, and so decided to buy our first house here this summer, moving in on Canada Day.
Perhaps the proverbial icing on the cake is a continued passion to pursue our career paths — being in a profession one does not dread daily has a major beneficial impact on that person's psyche.
Additionally, there were friends who got married and others who welcomed to the world our next generation. All in all, there were plenty of positive tidings, albeit on a personal note, to outweigh the nationally and internationally sombre events of the past 12 months.
So it is with a bittersweet joy that while the world has experienced such turmoil this year, I will always remember 2016 as among the best in my life, and I hope all of you who've read this far have your own reasons to be glad about the past year and that you find hope for the coming one.
