Every year at this time, Facebook does a year in review,
showing a slideshow of various photos, status updates and friends from the past
year. Like many people who have commented about this feature, this is one year
that I’m really not up for reviewing.
We have a president who thinks women and minorities are less
than human and would like us to relive the 1950s. We have a Congress with
admissions requirements that are more lax than shopping malls. Powerful men who
have abused women are pouring out of the woodwork (I’m telling you now, if
anyone accuses Tom Hanks, I’m done), and not a single one knows how to
apologize—you’d think with all the Hollywood elite accused, one of them would
hire a screenwriter to give them a decent apology script that everyone else could plagiarize. And it seems as if
the entire world is either falling apart or against us or both.
But, upon further reflection, this year had some incredible
moments. Resistance is growing strong. Regardless of political affiliation,
people are standing up for what’s right. Decency and courage are peeking
through the cracks. Women are demonstrating hidden strength and destroying
those who would do us harm. The silent are finding a voice.
I’ve had meaningful conversations with people that, up until
that time, I hadn’t discussed anything other than superficial topics. I’ve
learned the true meaning of friendship. I’ve watched people I love overcome
things and succeed at things that I never thought I’d see.
Those moments are enough to carry me through and to give me
hope for the future. And when those moments aren’t enough, I escape into my
work, where the women are strong and don’t need rescuing; the men aren’t
assholes; and happily-ever-after provides the light at the end of the tunnel
(hmm, maybe I DO write about my real life...).
So 2017, while going into the history books for all the
wrong reasons, does have some good things that I want to remember—book sales,
new friends, fun memories.
But I think I’ll pass on Facebook’s end-of-year feature.
Maybe next year.
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