I’m not quite sure how the year flew by us so quickly, but in a matter of just over a week, we will celebrate yet another new year.

I felt like I blinked and it was December, despite how some months just seemed to drag on with no end in sight.

But, alas, a new year will be here, and that means it is time for us to look back and see if we accomplished what we wanted to accomplish this year and prepare to make goals for the next one.

In a single year so much has happened to our country, and some of the things feel like they happened ages ago. Some things aren’t so happy to remember.

There was a false alarm of an incoming ballistic missile in Hawaii in January.

We saw more than 330 mass shootings, including the Pittsburgh synagogue attack in October.

The president has fired more people than I can count on two hands.

Even though it feels like things are getting worse, there has been a thousand silver linings this year that are worth celebrating.

The Democrats took back the House of Representatives, and we no longer have a completely Republican majority in Congress.

The Virginia General Assembly expanded Medicaid to allow almost half a million people access to coverage.

So many firsts happened during the November election that show progress, and those are enough to give everyone hope for the new year.

Jared Polis became the first openly gay man elected governor.

Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar are the first Muslim congresswomen.

Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland are the first Native American congresswomen.

It’s hard to see the good when the bad is mixed in, but it’s there. Even if it seems like the entire country is falling apart, good things are still happening, even if those good things are just in your own life.

I’m thankful for the progress our country is making, but I’m thankful for the high points of my year.

I got married to an outstanding partner who loves me.

I got so good at knitting that people bought things from me.

I paid off my car loan.

2018 was a weird year with so much good mixed in, and it makes me ready for all the good things that 2019 will offer.