2016 was an evil year, or so I’ve been hearing. In the public sphere at least, a sufficient number  of artists and entertainers died, politics in Europe and the US sunk to new extremes, the regularity and acceptability of lying in very public venues increased, and lives continue to be destroyed at an alarming rate in several Middle Eastern countries. All this is true, and yet I’m not sure I feel that 2016 was particularly bad. I’m not one to keep track of celebrity deaths, but the internet assures me that Leonard Nimoy, Terry Pratchett and Bobbi Kristina Brown all died in 2015. The same year saw shooting after shooting in the US, same old horrific war in Syria, and the fighting in the Ukraine, which is still dragging on, was still in the news. Russia and China further restricted citizen access to information and persecuted human rights activists and lawyers. There was rampant, unfounded imprisonment of government critics and opposition leaders in Egypt and Kenya was peppered with terrorist attacks. Probably I can draft up a similar list for 2014 and 2013 if pressed.

But frankly, I don’t want to. The world has been and will continue to be an evil place, in part. Other parts, especially for someone as fortunate as myself and I’m guessing for many people reading this, are quite lovely.

In 2016 I traveled with a good friend to two countries I’ve never seen before. I got my teaching qualification so that I never have to face the stress of being jobless and without a certificated marketable skill again. A childhood friend had the healthy, sweet-tempered baby she’s been waiting for. I learned a beautiful conlang used mostly for writing poetry. A few of my students markedly improved their language skills over the course of the year, making progress towards their goals. Graves at Sea finally released a full length album (it crushed), and I heard some great live music. You can read about one of those concerts in this issue and perhaps discover a new favorite band for 2017.

If that list seems a bit personal, well, the best things in life are. Reminding myself of those happy experiences that really meant something is the best way I know to keep going in a world that continually, in my opinion, makes very little sense even when it’s not being run in a completely ass-backwards way. I hope everyone reading this has a similar collection of fortifying experiences.

If 2016 was a bad year for you on a personal level as well, Sampsa’s article on the unlooked-for outcomes of rough experiences may be more your line. In this issue you’ll also find Elina’s exploration of nostalgia, another popular antidote to a less than ideal present. Maarika joins the BTSB crew to share her insight on growing up between cultures, and Danielle’s poem about the feels may strike a chord for many readers. Or, if you’re just looking to laugh the old year off, Milla has reviewed a humorous book that may strike your fancy.

I’m certainly ready to laugh off 2016 and get on with 2017. As the wheel of the world turns, more crap will be flung up, I’m sure, but maybe I’ll see a chance to do something good this year. Certainly there will be more good music, more long chats with close friends, more adventures big and small, all the things that make life bearable, even lovely.