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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums2017, Youve Been One Terrible Decade
https://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/12/30/2017-youve-one-terrible-decade/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=John+Pavlovitz2017, Youve Been One Terrible Decade
December 30, 2017 / John Pavlovitz
Dear 2017,
Youve been one terrible decade.
When midnight arrives on December 31st it wont be a millisecond too soon, though when it doesit will feel less like celebration and more like acknowledging survival. It wont be a jubilant national dance party, but a grim memorial for the many good things that died.
This is usually the spot on the calendar when peoples hearts soften and they find themselves becoming introspective; rewinding through the previous twelve months and feeling some sweet blend of gratitude and nostalgia as they do. Despite all of the attrition and sadness that may have accompanied the last year, they tend to let go of some of those things and to find some kind of affection for it.
If youre hoping for this you can forget it.
Youve been a twelve-month trip through hell and a good many of us have simply had it with you.
And look, we know it isnt really your fault. You couldnt help when you showed up on the scene, the stupefying sh*t show you inherited, the seemingly endless parade of horrible stuff that would happen on your watch.
We know you cant do anything about the monsters whove been let loose since you got here eitherto say nothing of the ever-present Orange Elephant in the Room; a man whos historically malevolent contribution has made you coming out of all of this looking like anything but an abject disaster an impossibility. You were never going to win tethered to a cancer like that.
Every piece of predatory legislation, every disjointed Twitter rant, every shameless civil rights atrocityevery ignorant, sickening, embarrassing, vomit-inducing fragment of this unprecedented human dirty bomb, is now part of your resume preserved for posterity.
Thats not fair to you, we realize. Youre just playing the terrible hand youve been dealtand yours is as bad as it gets.
That being said, 2017: you need to go.
Youve done too much damage.
Youve aged us horribly.
Youve made us lose sleep and peace and faith and sanity.
Youve given us gray hair and worry lines and a sick feeling when we wake each morning.
Youve made us eat emotionally and drink copiously and cry easily.
Youve robbed us of pride in our nation, trust of leaders, belief in right prevailing.
Youve put a barrier between us and people we once loved and trusted.
Youve emboldened racists and conspiracy theorists and Christian nationalists.
Youve shown us an ugliness we hoped wasnt still as prevalent as it now seems to be.
And yes, 2017 weve tried to make the best of you, we really have.
Weve pushed back against the worst things that came along with you.
Weve resisted bigotry and wall-building and fearmongering and political plundering.
Weve fought to live as normally as we could in unfathomably abnormal times.
Weve created and dreamed and loved and spent every waking moment doing what we could to redeem you as often as we were ableand we are profoundly exhausted.
This year there were things that we are grateful for, of coursebut only because we worked so tirelessly to make them a reality. Ultimately were going to remember you most for the horror you were all too consistent in manufacturing for so many of us, and for the many beautiful things we missed while trying to keep the persistent wolves away from our healthcare and our neighbors and our standing in the world.
Hopefully with the distance that comes with time, well be able to forget some of the details of just how painful and disheartening youve been. Maybe one day well be able to look back and appreciate you a bit more.
Yet while were hopeful well eventually feel better about you, were equally afraid we soon may also look back on you and realize that you were nothing compared to what was coming.
But right now weve just fully had it with you, 2017.
You really sucked, and theres no way to sugar coat it.
Youre a year we wish we never lived to see.
You left us sleep-deprived, gray-haired, grieving, facepalming, and counting the days until we could change the calendar.
As the old adage goes, time flies when youre having funand you were one long decade.
Dont let the door hit you on the way out.
(And 2018, if youre reading this: Be good to us. We deserve it.)
Youve been one terrible decade.
When midnight arrives on December 31st it wont be a millisecond too soon, though when it doesit will feel less like celebration and more like acknowledging survival. It wont be a jubilant national dance party, but a grim memorial for the many good things that died.
This is usually the spot on the calendar when peoples hearts soften and they find themselves becoming introspective; rewinding through the previous twelve months and feeling some sweet blend of gratitude and nostalgia as they do. Despite all of the attrition and sadness that may have accompanied the last year, they tend to let go of some of those things and to find some kind of affection for it.
If youre hoping for this you can forget it.
Youve been a twelve-month trip through hell and a good many of us have simply had it with you.
And look, we know it isnt really your fault. You couldnt help when you showed up on the scene, the stupefying sh*t show you inherited, the seemingly endless parade of horrible stuff that would happen on your watch.
We know you cant do anything about the monsters whove been let loose since you got here eitherto say nothing of the ever-present Orange Elephant in the Room; a man whos historically malevolent contribution has made you coming out of all of this looking like anything but an abject disaster an impossibility. You were never going to win tethered to a cancer like that.
Every piece of predatory legislation, every disjointed Twitter rant, every shameless civil rights atrocityevery ignorant, sickening, embarrassing, vomit-inducing fragment of this unprecedented human dirty bomb, is now part of your resume preserved for posterity.
Thats not fair to you, we realize. Youre just playing the terrible hand youve been dealtand yours is as bad as it gets.
That being said, 2017: you need to go.
Youve done too much damage.
Youve aged us horribly.
Youve made us lose sleep and peace and faith and sanity.
Youve given us gray hair and worry lines and a sick feeling when we wake each morning.
Youve made us eat emotionally and drink copiously and cry easily.
Youve robbed us of pride in our nation, trust of leaders, belief in right prevailing.
Youve put a barrier between us and people we once loved and trusted.
Youve emboldened racists and conspiracy theorists and Christian nationalists.
Youve shown us an ugliness we hoped wasnt still as prevalent as it now seems to be.
And yes, 2017 weve tried to make the best of you, we really have.
Weve pushed back against the worst things that came along with you.
Weve resisted bigotry and wall-building and fearmongering and political plundering.
Weve fought to live as normally as we could in unfathomably abnormal times.
Weve created and dreamed and loved and spent every waking moment doing what we could to redeem you as often as we were ableand we are profoundly exhausted.
This year there were things that we are grateful for, of coursebut only because we worked so tirelessly to make them a reality. Ultimately were going to remember you most for the horror you were all too consistent in manufacturing for so many of us, and for the many beautiful things we missed while trying to keep the persistent wolves away from our healthcare and our neighbors and our standing in the world.
Hopefully with the distance that comes with time, well be able to forget some of the details of just how painful and disheartening youve been. Maybe one day well be able to look back and appreciate you a bit more.
Yet while were hopeful well eventually feel better about you, were equally afraid we soon may also look back on you and realize that you were nothing compared to what was coming.
But right now weve just fully had it with you, 2017.
You really sucked, and theres no way to sugar coat it.
Youre a year we wish we never lived to see.
You left us sleep-deprived, gray-haired, grieving, facepalming, and counting the days until we could change the calendar.
As the old adage goes, time flies when youre having funand you were one long decade.
Dont let the door hit you on the way out.
(And 2018, if youre reading this: Be good to us. We deserve it.)
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