20 good things that happened in 2017

1. The eclipse

Sometimes, it’s good to be reminded that you’re a self-aware collection of cells and electrical impulses on a messy rock floating through space. Depending on your personal brand of spirituality, you may or may not think there’s more to it. We’re not here to make judgments on that one way or another. However, this sense of our place in a vast cosmic arena is still a pretty valuable insight to have in your mental toolkit.

There’s no need to be afraid of it. Instead, it can even be empowering. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and science educator extraordinaire, is fond of pointing people towards the wonder of this point of view. After all, the basic elements in our cells may seem humdrum, but they, too, were created in the heart of a star at some point. “For this reason,” says Dr. Tyson,

"we are biologically connected to every other living thing in the world. We are chemically connected to all molecules on Earth. And we are atomically connected to all atoms in the universe. We are not figuratively, but literally stardust."

So, perhaps this means that the 2017 solar eclipse is one of the best things to happen this past year. Think of all the millions of people who went outside with friends, co-workers, and neighbors, all sharing the experience of staring at a big deal astronomical event.

Next: 20 supremely cozy books and movies for hibernation season

Videos from observers in the path of totality are especially exciting. You might think it’s no big deal, but apparently witnessing the sun eclipsed by the moon, complete with spectacular views of the sun’s corona and subsequent “diamond ring”, is pretty moving.

Here’s hoping you found a little positivity in these 20 events from 2017.