Okay, we get it — 2016 kind of sucked. And by “kind of” we mean that most people we know had a considerably frustrating, stress-filled, emotionally trying year. Whether it was the painful, seemingly endless election process or losing artistic icons, the hits just kept coming. And although we can’t really help you navigate through the remaining portion of the hot mess that is 2016 (unless you need a group of awesome people to run your social media and give you hugs), we did compile a list of five non-crappy things that happened this year. So wipe away your tears, pull yourself together, and let’s celebrate those who gave us a giggle and hope for 2017. Because, frankly? That’s all we can do.
Tiny Magic Shops for Mice
When you feel like the world is falling apart, make tiny stores for mice.
Seriously.
It helps.
A small town in Sweden and a group of mystery artists (Anonymouse) have begun to create little shops for mice. The teeny bakery and cheese and cracker stores were built from things the artists had lying around, such as bottle caps and matches. The mouse businesses are not quite open for customers, but residents of the tiny town have begun to bake goods and leave gifts for the mice. So if you’re rolling through Sweden, take a moment to look down to embrace the magic that reminds us of the coolness of Ralph S. Mouse.
Apple’s Frankenstein Commercial
Let’s face it, 2016 hasn’t exactly brought people together, so it was refreshing to see Apple’s new commercial, which features Brad Garrett playing Frankenstein’s Monster. The uplifting two-minute spot follows the creature as he works to learn “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” just to ingratiate himself into the torch-bearing town. Not only is this a perfectly executed example of the power of emotionally-charged marketing, but it also gives those who feel down about the state of the world a small sense of hope. And that’s really what we need right now.
Joe Biden/Obama Memes
No matter your political affiliation, there is something absolutely magical about Joe Biden’s loose lips. Our favorite silver fox’s inappropriate comments have taken the internet by storm and most certainly cost huge corporations millions of dollars because employees can’t stop reading and sharing the imaginative crowdsourced memes. Sure we know Biden and Obama didn’t actually have these convos, but the creativity hundreds of Americans put into writing them reminds us that, even in the face of uncertainty, our friends and neighbors are hilarious. Thank you, meme makers. Thank. You.
We Brought Our Parents To Work
On LinkedIn’s “Bring In Your Parents Day,” we decided to invite our folks into WideFoc.us World Headquarters to teach them about social media. And to actually prove that we have real jobs and don’t just play on “The Twatter” all day. More important than what we taught them about using these marketing tools in business is that we were reminded just how crucial it is to surround ourselves with people who completely adore us, no matter how many late night mistakes we make. Sure, parents can annoy and challenge us in ways that are undeniably exasperating, but the amount of pure love and faith they have in our ability to succeed surpasses any frustration we may feel. So, from this team of jaded, dark-web-loving wordsmiths, go hug your damn parents. As soon as possible.
OshKosh B’Gosh’s New, Wicked Adorable Model
2016 definitely had its share of political, religious, environmental, and unrelentingly intolerable human behavior stories, so when we came across a ginormous corporation embracing a beautiful little boy with Down syndrome in their new ad campaign? We teared up. Asher Nash’s mom petitioned hardcore for operations to begin including children with disabilities in their ads, and it totally worked. Asher is now the new face of December’s OshKosh campaign. Because we’re in the business of marketing, we understand the importance of inclusive advertising and how it can completely change (for the better!) the face of a company. Well done, B’Gosh. Well. Done.
We know it’s been a tough year, but try to take a moment to really think about the positive people and moments in your life that kept you moving through your days with some modicum of hope. We are certainly grateful for the support and love we get every day from our clients, friends, and colleagues. We can’t do anything about the suckiness of 2016, but we can vow to make a change for the better today. So go out into the world, make a difference, give a hug, and keep on shaking. It’s all going to be okay. We promise.
--by Stephanie March
Stephanie March is a Denver native (people seem to like this detail), hates hiking, the mountains, but will travel for a cold PBR and an enlightening convo about the awesomeness of Anais Nin. She’s a community manager and specializes in sending semi-inappropriate GIFs to her team members. It’s a skill, people.
