Saying Goodbye to 2016

Now that 2016 is behind us, we can look back at our triumphs and our losses. For many, 2016 was the year they lost their heroes. Whether you mourned the deaths of some of music’s greatest – David Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen, and recently George Michael; or said goodbye to some big screen greats, such as Alan Richman, Carrie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds, the way we collectively got through it isn’t all that different from the ways we recover from the loss of our own loved ones – through sharing our memories.

Whether you’re listening to “Space Oddity” on vinyl, or re-watching the Star Wars Trilogy, or simply flipping through family photo albums, it is comforting to remember those we cared about during their best years. This is a healthy and normal way to grieve – regardless of how famous or well known the deceased was.

As we age, we not only witness our friends and loved ones passing away, but famous people who might not be much older than ourselves. We understand our precious and fragile life truly is. Death touches everyone – even the rich and famous. We all have bodies that age and fail.

Instead of fixating on how 2016 was the year our heroes left this world, let’s focus on starting 2017 with a renewed appreciation for life. It’s important to grieve, but it is also important to keep moving forward. None of us are immune to death, which is why, as the saying goes; we must live each day as if it’s our last.