Kimberlee K.

2016 seemed to be a rough year. Both globally, nationally, and, for millions, personally. So by the time December 31^st came rolling around, just about everyone was ready to see it go up in flames.

On January 1^st however, as we rang in a new year with new possibilities, suddenly I saw an influx of positivity towards 2016. Videos and articles alike began to share the undercover good things that happened amongst the well-known bad. And while this made me happy, it also felt like too little, too late.

Because yes, it’s true that 2016 was riddled in hardships and hate, but there were also mounds of love and kindness and I wonder if we could have made the year better if we spent more time focusing on the good rather than the bad.

I remember seeing posts in September of people saying they couldn’t wait for the year to be over. But they were talking about it being a wash when there were over 100 days left. This got me thinking. How many good things went unnoticed in those 100 days? How many smile inducing, belly laughing, happy-crying things happened when so much of the world was throwing in the towel?

Which brings me here, to now, where I hope to showcase those good things, so they no longer go unnoticed. So, I’m making it a tradition at the end of every month, to post a collection of good things that happened within those 30 or so days.

I hope they make you smile. I hope they make you laugh. I hope they make you cry. Honestly, I hope they make you do all of those things at once, because sometimes, when the world gets us down the best thing we can do is smilacry, smlaughcry? I don’t know. I just think sometimes we need to feel all the feels that are different, better feels than the feels we’ve been drowning in lately. You know what I mean?

So here’s to 2017. Let’s try our best make it good, and make sure to notice when we succeed. To kick us off, here are 31 good things that happened in January:

1) This high school kicker became the only female player to score a point in a California State Championship game.

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2) Lena Dunham & co were on the cover of Cosmo & used the press to make a statement about body positivity. (via @lenadunham)“Thank you to the women in Hollywood (and on Instagram!) leading the way, inspiring and normalizing the female form in EVERY form, and thank you to @glamourmag for letting my cellulite do the damn thing on news stands everywhere today ❤️ Love you all”

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3) Forbes released its 30 under 30 list, giving everyone a burst of inspiration. (via Forbes)

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4) The Orlando City Soccer Club unveiled a 49 seat pride section at their stadium to honor the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

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5) After 8 year old Noah Alejandro Fulmer was hit by a truck, leaving him critically injured and seriously pissed that EMT’s had to cut off his JJ Watt jersey, the Houston Texan himself visited Noah in the hospital, with new jerseys to boot! (via Bleacher Report)

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6) The Girl Scouts announced the upcoming release of their new S’more cookies as part of their 100 year anniversary!

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7) This dog played hide and seek

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8) Twisted released a recipe & tutorial for pizza waffles. I repeat: Pizza. Waffles.

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9) YouTuber Mike Boyd posted this video, reminding us there is always something to new learn.

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11) Frenchman Robert Marchand set a cycling record at 105 years old

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12) This boy melted hearts by arriving to meet his new niece in his Sunday best. (via Buzzfeed)

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13) Pharrell made this fantastic statement on Ellen (via The Ellen Show & Buzzfeed)

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14) This hairdresser sat on the floor so that an autistic boy could feel comfortable getting his hair cut. (via Love What Matters)

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15) After growing out his hair for 2 years, this 10 year old boy donated it to make a wig for  his friend with Alopecia. (via Buzzfeed)

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16) Matt Bonner retired from the NBA in the greatest way possible.

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17) The 74th Golden Globes celebrated the well deserving talents of 2016. (photo via LA Times)

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18) Thousands of people participated in “No Pants on the Subway Day” (via Improv Everywhere)

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19) A cashier in Temecula took the time to make this little boy’s day. (via Love What Matters)

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20) Ed Sheeran covered the Prince of Bel Air Theme Song

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21) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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22) After adopting their dying neighbor’s 3 children, this family got a well deserved surprise. (via Little Things)

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23) Betty White turned 95 (via Us Weekly)

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24) Captain American pranked comic fans with a surprise escape room

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25) Girl power went global (photo via New York Post)

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26) This guy sewed a replica Belle dress to propose to his girlfriend. (via Huffington Post)

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27) Using an exoskeleton, this quadriplegic man took 826 steps! (via Reddit)

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28) #NationalComplimentDay flooded social media with positivity

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29) Marcos paid it forward with Redbox.

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30) Supermodel Ashley Graham shared a picture of her cellulite to remind everyone to love the skin you’re in.

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31) The kids of Stranger Things melted our hearts again at the SAG Awards

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Wanna know the best part? There is SO much I didn’t include.

I can’t wait to see what February brings.