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SALT LAKE CITY — It's just two days into the new year, a time where people make goals and reflect on the previous year. But 2016 is getting a bad rap, with headlines like, "It's official, 2016 is actually the worst year" and "2016: the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year."
If you take a look at your social media feed, people everywhere seem to be saying good riddance to 2016, mainly for two reasons. First, there have been several prominant celebrity deaths, like Debbie Reynolds, Carrie Fisher, Gene Wilder and Prince. And second, the presidential election.
"I don't know why everyone is saying 2016 was the worst year ever," said Scott. "Maybe they don't like Trump?"
"The latest poll said a third of us think 2016 was an awful year," said University of Utah professor David Derezotes, who specializes in social work.
He says what we read on social media can definitely shape our perspective, but thinking life is rough is normal.
"I think there's always sort of a tendency to think we're in the roughest time. And that goes through our lives too," said Derezotes. "'Boy, my 20s are hard.' But then when I get to my 40s it's 'Boy, the 40s are hard!' Maybe that's a human tendency to think what I'm in now is the worst."
But most people we talked to in downtown Salt Lake aren't drinking the negative Kool-Aid they're reading on social media.
"It was a great year for me actually," said Steve.
"For the most part, it was wonderful for me," said Joel.
"You can choose to be impacted by all the news, or you can choose to make the best out of it," said Iris. "Try to find the little things that bring joy to your day."
Instead, they're focused on their goals for 2017. A new study by the University of Scranton says almost half of Americans make new year's resolutions but only 8 percent are successful in achieving them.
Derezotes says the key is making small, realistic changes and accepting who you are.
"Maybe the best resolution, the wisest, the most radical is, that I'm OK right now," said Derezotes. "That the important thing is that I love myself right now."
It's a resolution that may be the key to create the best year yet.
"I just want to have a positive attitude all the time," said Joel. "Be happy and smile and make other people happy."
