40 Things We Should All Be Thankful For in 2017

It's good to be thankful. And no, not because it's a friendly thing to do. Research has actually found that reflecting on things you're thankful for in your life is one of the most reliable ways of boosting your emotional well-being and happiness levels. That's why we've isolated 40 things we should all be thankful for this past year. So clear your mind of distractions, read on, and feel your spirits rise this holiday season. And for more ways to feel better, check out these 70 genius tricks to get instantly happy.

Superheroes are bigger than ever, with both Marvel and DC continuing to milk their current franchises for all they're worth. But Wonder Woman, starring Gal Gadot, was huge in a very different way. The film, which released in June, was lavished with praise and finally gave the world the female-centered superhero story it had clearly been waiting for. For more on Gal Gadot, here are 15 times she melted our Instagram feeds. 

Shalane Flanagan became the first American woman to win the New York City Marathon since 1977.

That would be Salt Bae, who went viral for his smooth meat-cutting skills and his stylish way of sprinkling salt. We'd argue that this man has generated more smiles in 2017 than anyone else. Bonus: Here's the one steak order that's guaranteed to impress any butcher, including Salt Bae.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's effortless cool, dapper style, and overall warm-heartedness made him a much-needed breath of fresh air at a time when American politics has never been more controversial. And speaking of Trudeau: If you like that stylish blazer, here's where you can buy it. 

And all of the great gossip that comes with it! And for more on Tay-Tay, read up on why all men not-so-secretly love her. 

In 2017, the hilarious inflatable T-Rex costume has taken the internet by storm. Every party, it seems, isn't complete without everyone's favorite stubby-armed dinosaur.

Prince, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, George Michael. In many ways, 2016 was the year the music died, with one legend after another leaving before their time.

With Get Out, director Jordan Peele used horror to bring up insightful and uncomfortable ideas that were simultaneously tough to confront and a hell of a lot of fun to watch—all while playing by the rules of the genre. That it rang up $100 million at the box office just makes it all better.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

The government released a new trove of intelligence documents regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Did Lee Harvey Oswald really act alone? Was there a second shooter on the Grassy Knoll? Why didn't the CIA want these files released? There are literally zero answers to these e questions, but we never tire of asking them.

Our country's obsession with British royalty was bolstered by video evidence of a sweet little girl stealing Prince Harry's popcorn while he wasn't looking during a volleyball match. His reaction to this, pulling faces and offering her more, made us very happy. Oh, speaking of Prince Harry: Here are the 10 princely ways he won Meghan. 

The Last Jedi will be released this year, and rumor has it that director Rian Johnson will be launching his very own trilogy, independent of the Skywalker saga. If you're 20 years old, you can safely expect another 75 Star Wars films in your lifetime.

This year saw the rise of unicorn cakes, mugs, costumes, clothing, housewares, and just about anything else you can think of. You can bring their magic into your life in whatever way you choose. Don't forget the Starbuck's unicorn frap craze, either!

Right when a flood-ravaged Houston needed it the most.

Just as Wonder Woman brought some much-needed diversity to superhero stars, Thor: Ragnarok changed up the tone and brought some desperately needed comedy to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Under normal circumstances, an astrological event might not qualify as a pop-culture phenomenon, but this one broke through in a big way.

After years of heartache and shock while George R.R. Martin has [spoilers ahead] haplessly killed off beloved characters, it finally looks like the good guys are finally getting the upper hand in the war for Westeros. But more importantly, Jon Snow and Danaerys Targaryen finally, finally paid off all that sexual tension and hooked up.

The only thing better than a nugget is a full-sized tender.

This fall, more than 70,000 fans packed into a stadium in Atlanta to watch some sports. No, it wasn't football. Is this the beginning of an all-new era?

Throwback Adidas have made yet another comeback. You've just been handed a perfect reason to not clean out your closet for the last 10 or 20 years.

Its success has opened the doors for the triumphant return of all of our favorite shows that left the airwaves years ago.

Why is this something to be thankful for? First: It wasn't your kid. Second, they were both fine. And third, Dennis the Menace-level hijinks is always hilarious.

Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway are two of the biggest stars in Hollywood history, yet they may be remembered for the biggest flub in Academy Awards history. Sorry, La La Land!

This year saw the explosion of cookie dough bars serving straight-up cookie dough. No ice cream! Just cookie dough. Isn't that awesome?

The first Spanish-language song to hit No. 1 since "Macarena."

This year brought us a billion new ideas for how to best apply avocado to toast.

She absolutely stuns in Lady Bird.

For years, Chappelle Show fans have had to tide themselves over with old Comedy Central clips and stand-up bits on YouTube. In 2017, he came back in a big way, with back-to-back specials on Netflix and a month-long residency at Radio City Music Hall. It was like he never left.

Celery is the forgotten veggie, as kale and cauliflower have gotten all the attention. But this ants-on-a-log favorite has been making itself heard in the culinary community, appearing on more menus and even getting a shoutout from Food & Wine as a "hot food trend of 2017."

The Book of Dust, by Philip Pullman, was released this fall, and once again we can all be transported to a magical alternate universe he created for the His Dark Materials trilogy, where peoples' souls walk alongside them as animals.

It was actually a decent fight!

James Murphy has made being the old guy at the party a badge of honor (or at least a source of some great lyrics) and his return this year with American Dream.

This year Jay Z showed, with 4:44, how a rap mogul can become a true elder statesman.

Not only did almost the entire original cast (and loads of big-named guest stars) return, but creator David Lynch did not water down any of his signature weirdness.

We're one lazy step closer to the day the robots take over.

Whatever you think of Amazon's Whole Foods purchase, the cost of your favorite foodstuffs will be falling. And speaking of healthy foods: Here are the 40 unhealthiest foods if you're over 40.

Margaret Atwood's book and the accompanying Hulu series was the true sleeper hit of the year.

While the NFL suffers through endless controversies and Major League Baseball struggles to find its new megastars, the NBA is officially the most exciting league in America. It's got the best and brightest stars and it's electric to watch.

So, the recipe and technique aren't necessarily new, but the beautiful depictions of cloud eggs on Instagram made us all want this ethereal treat for breakfast. Unfortunately, cloud egg critics weren't all that impressed with the actual taste and texture of the dish.

The Lego Batman movie came out this year, and it was possibly even more hilarious than The Lego Movie.

Stephen King's iconic, terrifying clown scared the crap out of us all over again this year, and we loved it. The 80s-set It broke records and pleased critics, scratching an itch for nostalgic, creepy fun that we didn't realize we needed.

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