2016 sucked. There is no way of sugar-coating this or disguising it as a learning experience. 2016 was a horrible, horrible year.

Not only because we lost a lot of treasured celebrities, but also from a personal perspective. 2016 sucked at work. 2016 sucked in politics – and yes the Brexit mess does affect me personally, whereas the Trumpocalypse merely shattered whatever faith in civilisation I had left after June. And 2016 sucked because I lost someone very dear to me – my great-uncle, mentor, and fellow tennis and jazz enthusiast – just a few days before Christmas.

So, I really want to say good riddance to 2016.

However, when I came across a year-end post on another blog I follow, I was inspired to look at all of the good things that happened this year, and actually there were quite number of them:

  • I found the perfect book – Margaret Atwood’s The Blind Assassin.
  • I had some fabulous times spent with old friends.
  • I made new friends.
  • I weathered a storm.
  • I saw Roger, Serena, DelPo, McHale, Wawrinka, and Isner play tennis at Wimbledon.
  • I played a LOT of tennis.
  • I went on adventures – Orkney, Italy (Milan and Como), Edinburgh, Stirling.
  • There was some serious live music involved.
  • I got to meet my favourite author (who also turned out to be a top human being).
  • I got to handle a snake. It was a very small python, but it still counts!
  • I saw puffins in the wild.
  • I took part in an indoor rowing competition. (First time, and no idea why I signed up other than it was a charity event.)

So, altogether there were a lot of awesome moments this year. It’s just that they have been overshadowed by other events.

May 2017 be a new start, a blank canvas, and may we be daring with our choice of colours.

 

Original post:
BrokenTune.booklikes.com/post/1509966/2016-in-the-rear-view-mirrow