In case you were wondering, Alaska is already at the bottom of the trash can. Hawaii's cool though, it can stay.

See, I thought I was a pessimist before. I had already acknowledged 2016 was a rough year. I even wrote a list of television shows to watch to help forget the world was falling apart. But even that was optimistic. Television can't help us now.

It was really two events that occurred concurrently this past November that brought on this change in perspective.

The first thing that happened in November was I started working in retail. Closing the store after a busy retail day and observing the disaster left by customers too lazy to clean up after themselves really hammered home my growing realization that people are terrible. And don't get me started on customer service.

The second event should be obvious. There was an election that happened that was... kind of a big deal.

Before the election, I believed that despite its many (MANY) mistakes, America has been on a forward, progressive path. It gets better. Really though, the only reason I could've believed this, the only reason I was shocked by the results of this election, is privilege. I've always lived in liberal, metropolitan areas and have been protected by my geographic and economic bubble. I've been sheltered from the realities facing many people throughout the country.

My experience is one many millennials can relate with. We were the generation that came of age with the election of America's first black president. We gained our liberal arts degrees with classes taught by liberal professors in liberal universities. We carved out our own progressive spaces on the internet, echo chambers that, it turns out, aren't representative of all voters. Like many millennials, I had never voted for a losing presidential candidate, although unlike many millennials, I had actually voted (no, I'm not bitter, why do you ask?).

This election was a wake up call, intellectually, but I just wanted to go back to sleep. The results of the election only made me feel more powerless. What's the point of working towards a better future if all the work of the past eight years can be so easily rewritten by a relatively small percentage of people?

With the choice between fight or flight I always seem to chose to play dead instead. This is probably another reaction allowed only by my privilege.

So, on the eve of the inauguration and in the face of this realization that we as Americans and also as humans are even more trash than I had thought, what do we do about it? What can we do about it? No seriously, I'm really asking, because I have no idea. All I know is my response, both when I turned to television earlier last year and when I immediately wanted to disengage again after the election, is definitely the wrong one.  

My "Any Excuse to Wear a Hoodie" Christmas Sweatshirt 

My "Taking it Slow in the Snow" Sweater

2016 has pretty much been an unmitigated disaster. 

We've endured mass shootings, growing racial tension, attempted military coups, the death of musical legends, Brexit, and the potential of a Trump presidency. Not even an amazing, surprise Beyonce album could redeem 2016.

2016 has been pretty terrible personally as well. While it hasn't reached the levels of death and destruction seen on a global scale, for me 2016 is a year of unemployment and mild post-grad depression. In the face of these personal disappointments and the greater tragedies occurring almost daily throughout the world, there is only one place for a millennial to turn to for comfort. Netflix.      

Here are a list of comfort shows that can act as a brief reprieve from 2016.

"I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked... I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet"

That indecision, the feeling of having both too many opportunities and too many limitations resonated with me a year into my post grad life. Like Esther I thrived off the structure and stability of the education system. Looking into the formless, undefined future is terrifying and paralyzing. Like Esther I had a hard time getting out of bed and a harder time motivating myself to the simplest tasks. Her fear and her indecision throughout the novel were my fears, my indecisions.

Though written 50 years ago, millennials can see ourselves in The Bell Jar. It's almost like what defines us as millennials are also some of the same traits that define us all as human.    

1. H&M  2. Black Milk Clothing  3. American Apparel  4. American Apparel  5. J.Crew (Keep in mind - I bought most of this on sale because of the whole unemployment thing)

1. Pants that resemble pajamas in every way except that these are somehow acceptable to wear in public 

I still remember the magical moment three years ago in H&M when I discovered the perfect pair of pants. Made of a lightweight fabric with a fairly inoffensive pattern, they billow around my legs comfortably. Light enough to throw on at the end of summer when I didn't feel like shaving my legs, neutral enough to layer with for colder fall weather, these pants are more versatile than expected. They've traveled with me to three continents. They've been the perfect alternative for days I've wanted to wear sweatpants but also needed to leave the house. I've since bought another similar pair.

A photo posted by Rebecca (@rebeccaaleida) on Jun 8, 2013 at 3:15pm PDT

The first time I wore the pants, you can clearly see how happy they make me

I don't know how much longer these pants will be socially acceptable (or if they even are) so take advantage while you can.

2. Leggings 

A photo posted by Rebecca (@rebeccaaleida) on Mar 4, 2015 at 4:09pm PST

Yes these are leggings with Dobby on them, please don't take fashion advice from me

3. Oversized knits

I recently read an article with fashion tips for short girls. At 5'3'' my wardrobe should at least somewhat resemble the short girl "do's" in the article, right? Wrong. Instead, I learned I was mostly choosing the unflattering "don't" option. These oversized sweaters are probably my biggest fashion faux pas. But I don't care and I'm recommending them anyway.

In the fall and winter, I live in these oversized knit sweaters. When they're long enough to cover my butt they might shorten the appearance of my legs but they're also perfect to wear with leggings. They are ridiculously comfortable but are still a step up, style wise, from a baggy sweatshirt.

Extra points for a turtleneck sweater that you can burrow into to protect from the wind or to protect from being recognized by the casual acquaintance you'd rather not make awkward small talk with.

Earbuds and a knit turtleneck are the perfect human repellent

4. Rompers/Jumpsuits 

A photo posted by Rebecca (@rebeccaaleida) on May 28, 2016 at 6:24pm PDT

5. A chambray button down

I recently watched the second season of You're the Worst in anticipation of the new season, which came out yesterday, August 31st.

The show's premise is not unlike Hulu's Difficult People or other FX(X?) shows Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League. You're the Worst features four terrible, self destructive friends as they get into trouble around Los Angeles. And, while hilarious and charming, the first season of the show did little to distinguish itself from it's sub-genre.

However, the second season of the show delves deeper into these four characters. Some episodes feel more like a drama, although the show rarely sacrifices humor entirely, even when addressing serious issues like depression and PTSD.

Through both seasons of the show however, it became clear that this show is perfect for trash babies everywhere. Here are five reasons why.

1. Day drinking... and night drinking

Every main character is deeply irresponsible in different ways. One thing they have in common is that they all avoid dealing with their problems by drinking, to hilarious results. Jimmy, a writer struggling with his second book, spends his day at the bar, claiming constant drinking is part of his writing process. When Jimmy and Gretchen realize they're becoming a conventional couple, the two go on a week long bender to prove to themselves that they're still irresponsible.

The best drinking moments though occur on "Sunday Funday," when the group goes to brunch, drinks (of course) and "[squeezes] every drop of life out of the weekend before Monday."

The fact that three of them are mostly unemployed doesn't stop them from hating Mondays

 

2. All the food

Enjoying food paid for by some else

3. Jimmy and Gretchen

At the core of the show is the growing relationship between Jimmy and Gretchen, two reluctant, commitment-phobes who find themselves falling for each other despite their best efforts. Although the show is focused on their relationship, it avoids common tropes of other relationship driven shows. This unflinchingly honest portrayal of relationships is funny, relatable and refreshing. Don't expect dramatic airport declarations, passionate kisses in the rain or other rom-com moments. Their romantic moments are small moments of acceptance and understanding, shown without fanfare. In the same vein, don't expect the contrived relationship conflicts or a tiring "will they/wont they" plot. The problems these two encounter within a relationship feel real and develop organically.

Nothing is less appealing to a neat freak

4. Just Gretchen in general 

Of the four characters, Gretchen is the one I relate to the most as a trash baby. Her disaster-zone of an apartment, her willingness to eat candy off the floor, her cynicism, and her self destructive tendencies are hilarious and sometimes true to life.

A true trash baby

In the second season the character is given more depth with a storyline that dominates the season. Gretchen's struggle with clinical depression is honest and heartbreaking. This storyline is one of the major reasons why the tone of the show became more serious in season two and the introduction of this new dimension was a definite improvement. You can't help but to feel for the character and root for her recovery.  

5. And the disaster they leave in their wake