In a year filled with widespread violence and destruction, if you have lived past midnight of 2016, you are a survivor!
Make no light of that statement. Please realize that those of us who live in the western world have a functioning government and law enforcement that protects us. These may be imperfect, and at times faulty, but they still function a lot better than in many other parts of this world.
We are not subjected to massacres at the hands of Islamic State, Boko Haram or the Houthi Rebels. We do not have to face the civil war and flee our homeland like the people of Syria. We do not have to live in fear of being gunned down while watching our favorite rock concert or being ran over by a truck while celebrating a holiday. We also do not have to attempt to live our lives under the rocket fire of Hamas, accepting these attacks as a daily routine.
Please understand that while the three hundred or so "celebrity" deaths in the past year may be painful to us because some of us identify with generational popular culture, these deaths are a part of life. Especially when you consider the cause of death in each case. Outside of several tragic accidents, like the Anton Yelchin (who was ran over by his own Jeep), majority of these deaths took people of age who either died of natural causes or accelerated their natural cause deaths through drug abuse, alcohol abuse and consequences of mental illness. Do not get hung up on these deaths, but instead use these as a reality check that drug and substance abuse are still huge contributors to early demise. Also, seek professional help for loved ones who are going through mental illness.
As we all head out into the new and hopeful 2017, remember that you all have a responsibility to yourselves to make your lives matter. Make sure that come the end of 2017, you have a list of what you have accomplished as a testament to the celebration of a year in your life well lived.
Look at the past year and take note of the things that went well for you and the things for which you'd like to see a better result. Then, make a plan and stick to it. You can do it, as this is a new year and all the negativity of the past year is null and void.
Live your lives to the fullest - don't be just a survivor!
