With the New Year right around the corner, we take a moment to reflect on the good and the bad while resolving within ourselves to ensure that next year is better than ever. The year of 2016 proved to be a prosperous one for me personally, but it has been quite grim for many others. I’m reminded of the water crisis in Flint, MI; the Zika scare surrounding the Olympics; the terrorist attacks in European countries like France; the shocking deaths of icons like Prince and Muhammad Ali; the Pulse nightclub massacre; the unnerving (yet unending) documentation of police brutality; the destruction of hurricane Matthew; and so on. I can certainly understand why many are happy to bid 2016 farewell and good riddance. I in no way intend to diminish the real issues people are facing but am sending a lighthearted memo to 2017. Here are a few of the things (in no particular order) that need to be left behind in 2016.

1. Colored contacts. I thought these were a thing of the past until I saw one of my Facebook friends update her profile picture sporting a freakishly unrealistic pair.
2. Group text messages especially around the holidays. I understand the convenience factor for the sender, but stop it. Receiving one of these is annoying for a couple of reasons: a) it’s impersonal, b) the recipient is left wondering who are all of these people, c) the reply doesn’t go to the sender but to the group. Notification overload.
3. Facebook Live. This new feature isn’t all bad, but it seems that the majority of the people using it shouldn’t be. I really don’t care about your shopping experience at Wal-Mart. Write a review instead.
4. Bad posts. A social media post can be bad for a lot of reasons but my pet peeve is over sharing. I’m sorry you and Pooky aren’t getting along, but relationship problems don’t need to be broadcast. And the laundry you’re finally doing? No one cares about that either. #TMI
5. Bubble gum music. You know what I’m talking about…the song is catchy and sounds good, but the lyrics are either vulgar, lack substance, or both. Unfortunately, bubble gum music has taken over the airwaves of radio. Is a dope beat with a thoughtful message too much to ask?
6. Remakes that no one asked for. Independence Day without Will Smith. Why? When Madea tops your numbers, you’re doing something wrong.
7. Deceptive Marketing. This includes not only the transformers ladies who look completely different with makeup but also ridiculous TV commercials. I remember when Pizza Hut came out with their flavored crusts. All of the choices were advertised as “free”. Of course it’s free. Or were you planning on giving me a pizza without crust?
8. The misuse of GoFundMe accounts. These are not to be used for vacations or your rent money. You’re going to need a better financial plan in 2017 than this.
9. Work meetings that should have been e-mails. Can I go back to my cubicle so I can look up jobs I might actually want on LinkedIn? #kiddingnotkidding
10. Chain letters/memes. Please show me where it says in the Bible that I will receive an abundance of blessings in three days if I share your post with ten people?

I could add much more to this list, but I’d be writing for several days into 2017. What are your thoughts? What do you not want to see in 2017?