We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us something great that happened to them in 2016. Here are some of the best responses.
1. Not waiting any longer to take the plunge.
2. Finding help.
"Well, I finally got help for my depression this year and a lot has changed for me and I have a much better life for it. Also – the old me would have felt helpless in face of a President Douche Trash, but the new me is defiant and ready to fight."
Submitted by Charlie-Rey Humphrey, Facebook
3. Enjoying a first relationship.
"Got my first boyfriend this year! I was in a sweaty bright orange shirt and stained jeans and my bra had decided to let the wires run free. I spotted his Forbidden Planet bag, he spotted me. Celebrated two months on Saturday. :3"
Submitted by Charlotte Badiali, Facebook
4. Completing a family.
5. Getting a puppy.
6. The mother who gets to see her daughter's milestones.
"My mom was diagnosed with a rare form of anemia called PNH in 2005. This disease completely destroyed her liver. On February 8, 2016, she received a life-saving 5-organ transplant (her veins were too damaged to only transplant her liver) which included a stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine, and a portion of her large intestine. I also got engaged to the love of my life in 2016. Because of the generosity of her donor, who lost her life so that my mom could live, my mom and I are able to shop for my wedding dress, prepare for my graduation with my master's degree, and celebrate every day we can because we know that those days are not promised. <3"
Submitted by Amber Grovogel, Facebook
7. Going on an adventure.
"I was accepted into a wonderful field study program that goes out to make geology field studies more accessible for those with physical disabilities. We went to Arizona and I hiked 3 miles at the Grand Canyon. Something that I never thought I would be able to do again after my accident. Next year we are getting to spend time in Ireland doing research! It was such a life-changing experience to get accepted into this year!"
Submitted by leahzm
8. This small victory.
9. Finally getting to graduate.
"After nearly 10 years of setbacks and financial issues, I finally got to walk across a graduation stage with a diploma for a college. Sure, it's only the associate's level, but it was hard fought for, and the others will come. Plus I earned my RHIT credential, which was a really tough exam to take and brought me panic attacks and all sorts of anxiety issues up to the day I sat for it. Getting that pretty license certificate a few weeks ago (it took a while to get the office license mailed to me) made me tear up a little, it was so wonderful."
Submitted by Kati Pettit, Facebook
10. Finishing an actual marathon.
"I finished the New York City Marathon. Two years ago I could barely run a mile but on November 6 I ran 26.2. My mom was at the finish line and I cried."
Submitted by Rhonda Hicks, Facebook
11. Making a new friend.
"I made a friendship so strong that it’ll last forever. I feel like she is my long-lost sister and this year we have spent so much time together. Even when we were across the country for the summer, we talked every day and it felt amazing in the midst of awful."
Submitted by victorias4ce47a58f
12. Finding a caring person.
13. Starting what sounds like the best business ever.
"I started my own chocolates, jams, and cookies business!"
Submitted by Aishwarya Lahiri Khanna, Facebook
14. Finally getting with a ~crush~.
"My crush of a year and a half asked me out. I'm now a month into my first relationship."
Submitted by Alla Enway, Facebook
15. A wedding that was a long time coming.
17. Starting a family.
"My daughter's adoption was finalized! <3 She's stuck with me now – sorry, kid."
Submitted by Kim Wright, Facebook
18. Meeting some heroes.
19. Getting a boyfriend (finally).
"Came out to my brother and got my first boyfriend! About damn time, too."
Submitted by Cam Williams, Facebook
20. Three excellent milestones.
21. Getting an incredible gift.
"My father worked three full days overtime at his fire station, so his entire next paycheck could get me a ticket to see Hamilton for my 19th birthday. It was a complete surprise and I will never be able to repay him for the gift he gave me."
Submitted by tangledlover
22. Working hard to have the best year ever.
"I suffered from severe social anxiety and depression for a few years, and had to leave school freshman year. This September, the start of my junior year, I went back to school, made dozens of new good friends, discovered a passion for animation, came out as trans, and rediscovered my love for life and the world. I have so much new energy for life. In 2014, I didn’t think I would be alive by now, but now, 2016 has shaped up to be the best year of my life so far, even with all the shit that’s happening around the world."
Submitted by killbots
23. Being cheesy.
24. Meeting an idol.
"After seeing Samira Wiley perform in Antigone, I saw her walk past me with her co-stars but was too nervous to try very hard at saying hello. About 45 seconds later, she came jogging back over to me, said she saw that it looked like I wanted to say hi. She hugged me, squeezed my knee, complimented my phone case, and took a selfie with me. She’s a big personal hero of mine, and it was incredible."
Submitted by julz98
25. Having some cool parents.
"I came out of the closet. My parents were super understanding. By that I mean they did not care. I told my Filipina mom first and she said, “Yes, and I’m Asian.” I was like, "We?" and she clarified, “I thought we were saying s—t we’ve always known.” When I told my dad, after two minutes he starts telling me about my celebrity crushes when I was really little. Apparently my first crush was on a young Joan Jett when I was 5."
Submitted by fangirl767
26. Crying from happiness.
"I started school at UC Berkeley. I’ve struggled in college and I once dropped out because of my poor mental health and then spent three years at community college and took it slowly and then I applied to school, and I ended up being accepted to the number one public university in the world. I’m literally crying because it’s been so hard and to get rewarded feels like the biggest payoff ever. Lol."
Submitted by andrewr461d1f6a7
27. Giving a gift to yourself.
28. Having a feisty baby.
"I became a mom in January. I think of the shit storm that 2016 was and then I look at my beautiful little girl and think about all the amazing things I’ll help her do to overcome everything that’s out there. At nearly 11 months old she is so feisty and confident, and I wouldn’t want her any other way."
Submitted by bricolebolt
29. Starting over.
"On a whim, I moved to a new city where I didn’t know anyone. That was January 1. Since then I have met a group of people that have become a second family, gone on some insane adventures, and fell in love with an amazing guy. In general, 2016 was awful, but it might go down as the best year of my life."
Submitted by laurenk47780015e
30. Seeing this.
31. Getting more from your Airbnb than you bargained for.
"I had a fairy-tale romance where I stepped off a bus to meet my Airbnb host in Viñales, Cuba, only to discover that love at first sight is completely possible. We will be married New Year's Eve."
Submitted by laureny413e8f07c
33. Finally getting around to some magical reading.
"I read the Harry Potter books for the first time. I’m 38 years old and I love them!"
Submitted by lanamarie
34. Having someone new to tell about this crazy year...
