Buh-bye 2017. Well, hello there 2018 😀

We look back at the year that was. And look forward to what's coming next.

view in browser Friday 12.29.17 ---- breaking news ---- Officials this morning will try to figure out what caused a fire that killed at least 12 people when it swept through a five-story apartment building in the Bronx, New York ... A rooftop restaurant fire in Mumbai, India, killed 14 early this morning ... Gunmen opened fire at a church on the outskirts of Cairo this morning, causing a number of injuries. Whether you've arrived at the finish line fresh and invigorated for another trip around the sun, or are so exhausted you may wheeze out your actual soul, 2017 is (almost) OVER. Luckily, there are all kinds of cool and important things to look forward to in 2018. We'll get to that in a second. But first, here's a look back at the year that was.  By Doug Criss and AJ Willingham If 2016 was the revenge of the forgotten (Trump's victory, Brexit, and the rise of populist nationalism),  2017 was the year of boiling antagonisms: a year that didn't just shake things up; it blew them up.   Feminism was Webster's word of the year. And rightly so, this was the year when women, who'd been speaking out for forever, were finally heard.  The #MeToo hashtag revealed an iceberg of sexual harassment in the US that had been hidden for decades. In politics, business and media, the powerful were brought crashing down. Of course, 2017 was President Trump's first year in office. And it revealed a political landscape deeply fractured along lines of race, generation, class and geography.  Each side appeared increasingly uncomprehending of the other – and increasingly dubious that it's possible, or even desirable, to bridge their differences. Here's the President's first year in two minutes. 2017 felt like the year of nostalgic deaths. From Hugh Hefner to Jerry Lewis to Tom Petty, so many of the "greats" tied to the past, who gave their fans a sense of time and place, passed away.  Yes, it was a year when we laughed, we cried, we cry-laughed and, when words failed us, we relied on the sage power of GIFs. It's no surprise the most popular GIF of the year is an expression of confused, slightly offended disbelief.  So, take a look back at the year. In news, politics and sports -- in pictures. (Trust us, once you start scrolling, you won't be able to stop) Now, on to the New Year! So, what's on tap for 2018? Who'll win the Super Bowl? Will the Dow keep climbing?  Where will the President's approval rating end up? Here are some predictions  … and here are all the things likely to keep you up at night. With more than 450 seats in Congress up for grabs, politics will most certainly change in 2018. Chris Cillizza (he of "The Point" newsletter, which you should subscribe to) explains. But outside of all the serious stuff, there's also a ton of existence-friendly events, innovations and observances happening next year. The Winter Olympics! A royal wedding! A headless petting cat! Here's our list of the 18 things we're most looking forward to in 2018. So, next time someone says, "Do we really have to go on living for another whole YEAR?" comfort them by mentioning these.     Have a Happy New Year. See you Tuesday. Share Tweet ALL CNN NEWSLETTERS CNN Five Things shows up in your inbox every weekday at 6 a.m. ET. Like what you see? Don't like what you see? Let us know. We're all about self improvement. Did a friend forward you this newsletter? Sign yourself up!   Copyright © 2017 Cable News Network, LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved., All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to CNN newsletters. update preferences or unsubscribe