In a world as divided and chaotic as the world we live in, it is hard not to get caught up in all the negative events that are taking place globally. Yet, it is important to take a step back and remember all the good things that have happened as well. As short as 2019 has been, so much has happened in the past two months that are important to recognize. Here are some of the top 5 best things that have happened in 2019 so far!
1. The most diverse body of the House of Representatives was sworn in!
On November 6, 2018 we saw a monumental change as the democratic party flipped the house and became the majority. Not only did 113 million people vote, making it the first time that over 100 million people voted in a midterm election, but we saw the most diverse group be elected into Congress. This includes 102 women, which exceeds the 85 who were elected in 2016. On January 3, the impressive new house was sworn in to office!
2. After a 48 year legal clash, a Minnesota gay couple’s marriage has finally been recognized!
Michael McConnell and Jack Baker applied for a marriage license in 1971 and because the clerk was unaware that one of the individuals was male the license was issued. Yet, the appeal was later stopped short before the license could be made official. Then finally on February 16, 2019, the couple received a letter from the Social Security Administration stating that their ‘71 marriage was valid. McConnell stated that, “We knew from day one when we were legally married in 1971 that we were right — that we had followed the law to the letter.” The couple is now thought to be the longest-married, same-sex couple in the United States!
3. Missy Elliot is the first female rapper to be inducted in to the Songwriter’s hall of fame!
This is a huge accomplishment as within the past decade, 88 songwriters have been inducted, only six of them being females! After being nominated in November, she has joined her rightful place next to Cyndi Lauper and Linda Perry in the hall of fame. Her impressive list of people she’s written songs for, including Beyonce, Whitney Houston, and Mary J. Blige, has made her nomination and induction not a surprise, but definitely a great achievement.
4. Grey’s Anatomy became the longest running primetime medical drama in history!
There’s no doubt that Grey’s Anatomy is one of the most entertaining, interesting shows on television. Not only does Shonda Rhimes dish out the drama, but she also makes sure to include messages about social issues and accurate medical portrayals. On February 28, Grey’s 332nd episode aired, passing ER’s record of 331 episodes and claiming the title of longest running medical drama!
5. “Black-ish” star Marsai Martin becomes Hollywood’s youngest executive producer!
Martin is set to not only star in “Little,” but also be a producer, making her the youngest executive producer at age 14! A remake of Tom Hank’s “Big,” “Little” follows a woman who is forced to relive her younger years through the act of a curse, transforming her from a successful business woman into a thirteen-year-old girl. The trailer, which was released on January 9, has caused a massive amount of hype and the film will be released on April 12. Shoutout to Marsai for being a girl boss at such a young age!