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10 Events That Changed Us All in 2016
We've all grown as a result of the events of this past year.
By Laura GarnettPerformance strategist and author, The Genius Habit@garnettl
Getty Images

With less than 30 days to go before we hit the New Year, most of us are already
looking ahead and planning for 2017. We're thinking about 2017 business goals,
scheduling everything for January, and setting some ambitious resolutions. Some of
us might even forget that it's still 2016!

But before you write off this year, it's important to pause and take a moment to
reflect on how you've changed. A year is a long time, and if you think back on
everything that's happened in your personal and professional life in 2016, you
might realize that you're ending the year a totally different person than when you
started it.

Acknowledging how you've changed and grown is important for goal-setting and
resolution-making. To get you started, here are ten world events that changed us
all in 2016:

1. The U.S. Presidential Election

No matter your politics, the presidential election took its toll on everyone. The
results left millions--and the world--shocked, and we are now navigating one of the
most interesting transitions of power in history. However, this event is a great
opportunity to be aware of how we present ourselves as leaders and engage in this
political age.

2. The Brexit Referendum

The world was shocked to hear news that the United Kingdom voted to leave the
European Union--known as "Brexit." The full effects of this withdrawal from the
political and economic agreement have yet to be seen, with many divided over
whether this was a positive economic move for the United Kingdom.

3. The Zika Virus

The spread of the Zika virus throughout the Americas and the resulting Zika fever
epidemic caused worldwide alarm. The effects of Zika are so extreme that health
officials have urged women in affected areas to delay pregnancy anywhere between
six months and two years. Zika is not just a threat to health; it threatens
economic growth due to reduced tourism. Thankfully in November 2016, the World
Health Organization announced the end of the epidemic, though Zika is still a major
concern.

4. President Obama's official trip to Cuba

Following the 2015 announcement that the U.S. would renew formal relations with
Cuba, President Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Cuba since
the 1920s. This was a historic visit that shows a long-term dedication to ease
tensions between the two countries. And with the recent death of revolutionary
leader Fidel Castro as well as the Trump presidency, we find ourselves re-focusing
on the effects this will all have on politics, economics, and human rights.

5. The continued threat of ISIS

Sadly, this year was marked by many terrorist attacks from ISIS, including ones in
Brussels, Iraq, and Pakistan. Now more than ever the global community must
cooperate to combat these efforts. At the same time, the uneven reporting of
terrorist attacks has drawn international criticism, as some tragedies are highly
covered and other, often deadlier, events are ignored.

6. The Orlando nightclub shooting

Our nation was rocked by the Orlando nightclub shooting, which was the deadliest
mass shooting in United States history. This event put heightened national
attention on the issues of gun violence, gun control, LGBT rights, and American-
Islamic relations.

7. The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Olympics captured the attention of the entire world and was marked with many
milestones: Rio became the first South American city to host the summer games, the
United States celebrated having the most overall medals, and the International
Olympic Committee shined the spotlight on the world refugee crisis by allowing the
creation of the Refugee Olympic Team. However, the Olympics were not without
controversy: many did not approve of the choice of Rio de Janeiro as host due to
environmental and political concerns.

8. Standing Rock and the Dakota Access Pipeline Protests

Whether to move forward with plans for the Dakota Access Pipeline has been the talk
of the nation recently. This issue is a symbol of the tug of war between numerous
competing interests including our need to be energy independent, environmentally
responsibility, job creation, preservation of Native American culture, and more.

9. The Syrian refugee crisis

Who can forget the devastating image of Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old boy
photographed lifeless on the beach? Or five-year-old Omran Daqneesh, sitting in an
ambulance injured and in shock after an airstrike in Aleppo? These haunting images
have incited renewed public attention regarding the Syrian refugee crisis, its many
victims, and the weak global response.

10. Women in congress

This year American voters elected the most diverse congress yet, as the total
number of women of color in the Senate increases from one to four. Sure, this may
seem small, but this is a huge step in the right direction and will lead the way
for increased representation in the future.
Published on: Dec 1, 2016
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of
Inc.com.
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