Binge live your life in 2016

2015 will conclude this week, as southern Albertans take a look back at the year that was and focus their attention on the years to come.

This past year was indeed full of change and had many struggles but some triumphs.

Albertans elected a new provincial government (the NDPs) and Canadians elected a new federal government (the Liberals), as Conservatives (both provincially and federally) were turfed and put on the back bench for the time being. Only time will tell how both new governments will do. But, it will be an interesting ride, to say the least.

Terrorism was once again at the forefront in the news across the globe — as Paris and the U.S. were hit with tragic events.

In Alberta, the oil sector took a hit but Albertans still continue to pay through the teeth at the pump with high gas prices, even though the price of oil has dropped significantly. And, nationally, the economy has took a beating in Canada.

Provincially, the NDPs have ticked off a fair number of farmers with the government’s passing of Bill 6, which will continue to be a thorn in the side of many rural Albertans.

And, Stateside, right-wing voters seem to continue to humour Republican nominee candidate Donald Trump with the hope of being the next U.S. president.

Countries around the world have also opened borders to Syrian refugees.

The world is a wild and crazy place — always has been and will continue to be — while we try to make sense of the world around us, to the best of our ability.

2016 is upon us. It’s been almost 16 years since Y2K, when it was expected the world would come to a halt, as electronics were supposed to fail and we were to be left without the basic necessities of plugged-in life and planes would fall out of the sky.

Luckily, Y2K was a bust. Even though, that didn’t stop doom and gloom apocalypse-mongers from fearing the worst come midnight on Dec. 31, 2000. Prince just kept telling partygoers to party like it was 1999, prior to the clock striking midnight.

This New Year’s Eve, celebrate the good in life. Find the beauty in being able to welcome in another year, with hope and anticipation of bigger, better, and brighter things.
Instead of binge watching Netflix-induced frenzies, binge live your life. Watch back to back episodes of your life turn for the best. Kick the worst to the curb and don’t take no for an answer. Make 2016 the year of all years. It is within your grasp. Just do it, Nike-style.

It’s good to look back at your life for a moment, to learn from it and to make the necessary changes to move forward.
Don’t dwell on it, the past — even though Scrooge was visited by three ghosts of Christmas past, present and future — the story works for a brand new year too.

When Scrooge realized the wrongs he made in the past and how rotten he lived in the present, he was able to change his future. So, the moral is — quit saying “Bah, Humbug!” in life and instead say, “Happy New Year!”