I love the internet. One of the wonderful things about it is the ability to archive moments with ease and find them later. Once December hits, it feels like you’re all of a sudden bombarded with roundups and lists about the year in review.

It’s true that no year is ever like the last and won’t be like the next. It’s all a custom mix of the expected and moments we never saw coming. In finding what I wanted to write I thought, what did I say at the beginning of this year, and according to Overheard, I was pretty optimistic stating: “2015 was great, but I’m excited to see what surprises this New Year has to offer.” Now that we’re at the end, I’m not so excited and would much rather break up with 2016 altogether.

To me, the past 12 months were filled with dramatic upheavals and major upsets worldwide. From the deaths of major cultural icons, events such as Brexit and the rollercoaster of a U.S. election to all of the crises both man-made and natural, it’s been difficult to absorb.

And while we’ve spoken about provocative industry changes before—from vision care and retail to technology and research—the mammoth changes of 2016 will undoubtedly follow us as an industry into the New Year as the ripples continue to pan out. Whether the changes are beneficial or otherwise, only time will tell.

Each year, we anticipate fresh starts. I still believe we should hope 2017 is one giant mea culpa for these last 12 months, but there is much uncertainty facing us. What I do know is that whatever happens it’s important as an industry and as people that we approach life’s surprises with an open mind, compassion and as much kindness as we can possibly spread around.

2016 was definitely one for the record books, but I’m ready to let it go. It’s done. We’re over.

jwilson@jobson.com