“Can’t wait for this year to end. 2016 has been the worst year ever. Period”

“Maybe if the Mayans had been right about 2012, we wouldn’t have had to live through 2016.”

Literally everyone, yes LITERALLY everyone was heard saying these words as we wrapped up 2016, which we finally have done last night, shukar Alhamdulilah.

2016 hasn’t been the best of years, but come on people, is it really 2016’s fault?

2016 wasn’t the racist, and sexist white man that voted for Trump, or even Brexit for that matter. 2016 didn’t buy Zardari’s ticket back to Pakistan or convince Imran Khan to announce (and turn away) from all his dharnas. 2016 is like that kid who never cheats, but the moment he decides to, the teacher catches him, suspends him, sends him home where he gets a good chittar and jooti beating.

2016 is like that little girl, who buys her favorite ice cream cone, but as soon as she takes the first lick, *blop* all the ice cream falls on the ground and is instantly attacked by ants.

In a nutshell, 2016 was full of high hopes, aspirations and had the jazba of being the year humanity so badly needed. But instead, well, you already know how it all went down!

Let’s look at the recent past to tell you why 2016 really wasn’t the worst year

Despite all the bad things in 2016, we have seen worse and, we may see more bad stuff, let’s just hope and pray we’re able to survive everything thrown at us.

2001: 9/11 took about 3000 lives and the world stood in horror

Not only did this send ripples in America, it spelled trouble for Muslims, and even threw us into a war against terror that we fight to this day.

2004: December 26th Tsunami

The sheer wrath of the world was unleashed upon Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India and many others. 250,000 lost their lives. This disaster remains fresh in most people’s memory, because frankly we hadn’t seen anything like it.

2005: October 8 Earthquake in Pakistan

I think no other natural disaster shook the nation as badly as this. We all came together in the grief of this horrendous earthquake, but the images of that day remains intact forever.

Also see: 11 of the Most Powerful Earthquakes in Pakistan’s History

2007: Musharraf’s Emergency

Law and order had failed. The judiciary was on the streets and utter mayhem had been released on the country. The political economy of Pakistan was bending under its own weight, and things seemed to be going south, for good.

2008: Financial Crisis

American markets plummeted, and the world’s economy fell on its feet. Investments dried up, jobs were being lost, probably one of the few times in modern history that the future seemed so bleak.

2007: The Assassination of Benazir Bhutto

Yes, this NEEDS to be on the list. Her death paved the way for what many believe to be Zardari and his cronies to looting Pakistan left, right and center. All anyone wanted to do was leave their nation, Pakistan became a failed nation for many in this time.

The years that marked the height of Karachi’s gang and street violence.

Business owners were constantly under threat, being a minority of any sort was a crime. Anyone with any amount of wealth was also assured of being a target. Times were scary, and people were unsure how the city would survive.

2014: The APS Attack

The wound is still fresh and still painful. The sentiments of this day are still felt by many, the grief and the helplessness. The nation mourned, it was as if morality had died!

On a slightly sanjeeda note, this trend of hating on poor old 2016 is getting a little out of hand. It’s just not possible that you achieved NOTHING in this past year. Its not possible that you have not improved in 2016, grown as a person or grown intellectually.

We’ve all had ups in this year, and yes we’ve all always had some downs. But we’ve lived and we’ve learned.

I read some of the tweets and statuses out there and it seems as though some people fought a freaking war in 2016, and their urge to move into 2017 is so great, as if the moment it strikes 12 everything will be okay.

I really hope this year is better than 2016, because that was probably the worst year of my life ?

— Ashley Wilson (@CAashleywilson) January 1, 2017

Peace out to the worst year of my life

— bkay (@brileekaytabor) January 1, 2017

i thank 2016 for being the worst year of my life that brought me great opportunities and friendships despite that

— run me over (@pizzacristina) December 31, 2016

What really amuses me are the people who I know had a good 2016, complaining the most. Who the hell are you kidding? Stop, get off the bandwagon and be grateful, you ungrateful people (thora zyada harsh hogaya na! Acha sorry). 

Yes, the bigger picture is important, but sometimes when the bigger picture is so seemingly gloomy, the andar ke khushiyan matter more, so isn’t it better we celebrate the self (and those that matter) now that 2016 is ending and hope that the next year be better, for the self and everyone else?

Happy new year, guys.

Cover image via: dawn.com