We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to share with us the best thing that happened to them so far in 2017. They shared their stories but what stood out the most were the stories people shared about how they were able to turn a negative into a positive. Inspirational, indeed! *tips hat*
1. The lost dog
2. The divorce
"I know it’s a strange thing to feel happy about, but my partner and I amicably separated after being unhappy for a really long time. Since then we have made a solid co-parenting/financial plan, we’re getting along much better, and I’m able to be a far better parent to our two kids since I’m not anxious and unhappy all the time. After feeling miserable and trapped for the past few years, I’m now full of hope for the future." —kristykristykristy
3. The stolen purse
4. The baby
5. The neighbor
"My mom and last living parent passed away on January 13. After the dust settled, my friend Lea came over and whipped up the most exquisite Serbian-Croatian meal for my family and I. She cooked everything, kept us filled with food and unique beers, and then cleaned the whole kitchen. Knowing I have a friend like her makes moving through my grief a little easier." —blackbirdsingxx
6. The new normal
7. The Cayman Islands
"I was diagnosed with breast cancer...which kind of sucks. The most amazing thing that's happened is how much everyone wants to be there for me in my community. I live in the Cayman Islands where not a lot of people have family around but everyone has been going above and beyond making me food, doing grocery shopping, or just downloading amazing music I can rock out to when needed. I love the Cayman Islands and the community that it breeds." —estherroux24
8. The Christmas miracle
9. The old dog
My dog died in the first couple of weeks of 2017 after having him for my entire childhood. I was so upset I didn’t tell any of my friends because I didn’t feel I could talk about it without breaking down in school, but when I went in to class the next day my friends had all come together to buy me a picture frame with me and my dog in it, so I ended up breaking down anyway. Great friends always know what to do." —mollyt47e2ee7a1
10. The driver's license
11. The move to NYC
"I was dumped by my first love late December, so 2017 started off ROUGH. But the breakup has really helped me see a new perspective. I have an amazing support system in my friends and family, I’m about to move to NYC for college so I’ll get to experience being single in New York, and I got into the program at school that will allow me to learn everything I want to learn for my dream career. What a life!" —emilyfaerie
12. The Valentine's Day bus ride
13. The counselor
"I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which effects the collagen in my body. I have chronic pain in my shoulders, back, hips, knees, and ankles. My condition just recently got really bad, and I’m only 17 years old just trying to get through my senior year. I got depressed and just felt really hopeless about my future. But I’m not gonna let it keep me down. I just applied to college, something I didn’t think I would be able to do. I’m going to get my degree in counseling. I face battles every day with my EDS, both physically and emotionally, but I don’t have to face them alone. That’s why I want to be a counselor: to help people, like I have been helped." —haleyj49b4f6eca
14. The kind stranger
15. The apartment fire
"I had an apartment fire in January and my family and I were at Target getting new things to get back on our feet. The overall price was over $300. An adorable, sweet young couple overheard us talking about the fire and paid for our whole cart! The couple told us someone had helped their family when they had a fire in the past, so they wanted to help us. I hope I can help someone like that one day." —oliviajordan2003
16. The new apartment
17. The miracle
