Some Great Things of 2017
Because most of 2017 was pretty shitty, I’d like to call attention to some of the best things 2017 brought my/our way. I’m not going to call them “the best” things of 2017 because who am I to make that kind of claim?
1) 280 characters.
We all hemmed and hawed at this evolution from Twitter, but let’s be honest, it’s growing on all of us. Everyone is finding their voice again, and, who knows? Maybe this is the subtle shift back in the direction of us living in a world where people read again. A girl can dream.
2) Badass bitches taking names.
Finally. FINALLY. Women are standing up and saying “nope, no thank you, NOT TODAY.” And it’s glorious! It’s a monumental shift that will be long-documented in history books and be discussed for centuries to come. And we’re living through it and partaking in its unfurling and seeing it all happen, with our daughters/mothers/sisters/besties in tow.
BTW: The award for MVBB (Most Valuable Badass Bitch) was a straight tie between Rose McGowan and Maxine Waters. Both of you reclaimed your time — bravo.
3) Pet adoption
This one’s personal, y’all. We decided to open our home to some foster doggies this year, and well, one of them just wouldn’t leave. As in, he sort of wormed his way into our hearts (and pantry) and so we made it official. Luke O’Grady, I don’t know where you came from, or what your life was like before you became part of ours, but I’m glad you’re here, and you seem pretty stoked on it too. And PS: you’re not a lap dog… you’re 105 pounds.
Moral: rescue dogs are kind of amazing.
4) Words matter. (Specifically, how they’re spelled.)
Another personal one: My 7-year-old has embraced language and spelling and is basically a savante. He can spell anything you throw at him — neighbor, croissant, exercise — I am like a proud peacock, and am now convinced the future will be just fine and we won’t spiral into Black Mirror territory. At least not as quickly as I thought. The fact he’s a better speller than our current POTUS also would be worth bragging about, if it weren’t all so frightening and despicable.
5) Kids being awesome.
Kids can be real shits sometimes. I’m allowed to say that because I have two of my own and so I’m basically an expert. But these kids from Boca Raton, FL are nipping bullying in the bud and making sure that no kid eats alone at school. Their new club is called We Dine Together, and you can take a pledge on their website and start a chapter at your own school. Literally every school in the country should adopt this. This is what progress, positivity and inclusivity looks like.
6) The Positivity Project
Speaking of things every school should adopt, this program tops the list. My son’s elementary school is participating this year and WOW is it amazing to see the results translate into a kinder, gentler, more empathetic little person. The Positivity Project technically started in 2015 with just one school, but has now ramped up to being deployed in more than 188 schools across the US. It was created by two West Point graduates who spent a combined 52 months deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and returned home wanting to empower America’s youth to build strong relationships by seeing the good in themselves and others. Their belief is that “our capacity to build strong, character-based relationship is the cornerstone of health, happiness and resilience, and will be crucial in meeting challenges of the future.”
The program focuses on 24 character strengths that are incorporated into a school’s lesson plans, teaching kids such valuable traits as gratitude, open-mindedness, curiosity, citizenship, teamwork and humility. I’m SO grateful to have our school participate in this program, and I absolutely LOVE seeing these traits manifest themselves in my seven-year-old in special and unique ways.
7) Obscure brands finding their voice in social media
As a social media marketer, this makes me happy on so many levels. Brands like MoonPie are making Twitter great again, and that means there’s still hope for the little guy, and that ultimately should be what social media is all about.
8) This hero saved over 30 lives.
Why don’t we all know his name? Why is he not being celebrated? I’m celebrating him — he’s one of the best things that happened in 2017, albeit during one of the worst things that happened in 2017. This is Jonathan Smith, a 30-year-old who led numerous people out of harm’s way during the horrific massacre at the country music festival in Las Vegas, and even exposed himself to gunfire to protect some girls who weren’t safe from it — which ended up getting him shot in the neck. Jonathan, we salute you.
9) Khloe Kardashian is pregnant.
Some of you might find this fairly trite or trivial, and wonder how in the hell it landed on my Great Moments list. But let me just say, as someone who’s experienced five miscarriages myself — and struggled through two high risk pregnancies — I feel the pain of anyone who wants a baby and can’t make it happen, even if that pain is from someone who’s unmarried, worth a bajillion dollars, and has only been dating this dude for 5 minutes. Don’t hate…
10) A darling Raleigh restaurant landed on Forbes Top 10 in the WORLD list.
This makes me so happy. Brewery Bhavana, a new(ish) spot in downtown Raleigh, opened by the sweet sibling duo behind Bida Manda (another fave) made the Forbes 10 Coolest Places to Eat in the World list. Yes. The WORLD. Raleigh is showing up, people.
Look, I might get some hate mail that the “Royal Engagement” didn’t make my list, but listen — I’m just not that into getting all excited over a Royal getting married like the rest of the world is. Unless we’re talking about Lorde, and then I’m super into it.
Happy New Year, all. May 2018 bring us love and light… and an indictment/impeachment. (A girl can dream.)
