Election Day is still a year away, but we’ve already had months of campaigning, debating, bickering and mudslinging.

The World Health Organization also recently announced that processed meat causes colorectal cancer — and red meat probably does too.

It is common for media outlets to take upsetting news and stretch it out for as long as possible since “bad news” grabs the most attention. “What you don’t know might kill you — more on that on tonight’s 10 o’clock news” is frequently heard.

There’s only so much one can take before getting jaded and numb.

We strive to cover as much local news with as much variety as possible. Some of it is upsetting, such as the recent CREG Report, which presented some somber prediction’s for the state’s economic future; and some of it is uplifting, such as our local school district’s overwhelmingly positive report from an accreditation team recently.

So, with the holiday season upon us, we’re going to kick things off with some reasons to be happy … or at the very least, not questioning whether or not your sandwich is the equivalent of a cigarette while dreading a year of political mudslinging.

• We actually are living in the most peaceful and least violent time throughout the course of recorded human history, according to Dr. Steven Pinker, a winner of the Pulitzer Prize and a professor at Harvard.

• Deaths caused by cancer have decreased by 20 percent since the early 1990s, according to the American Cancer Society.

• The U.S. Supreme Court’s building has a basketball court above the courtroom, aptly named “The Highest Court In The Land.”

• Wyoming is a trendsetter state — we were the first to allow women to vote, the first to have an artificially lit football game and we’re home to the first national park, national forest and national monument.

• Smiling is a natural human instinct; even a blind person who has never seen a smile instinctively smiles when happy.

• Cuddling has been scientifically proven to be good for the body and soul. According to the Medical University of Vienna, cuddling increases oxytocin, which causes stress relief and can help wounds heal faster.

• Pizza has been scientifically proven to be the most delicious food in the world. According to the University of Michigan, pizza tastes so good that it’s basically addictive.

• Cows have best friends and get stressed when separated, according to researchers at Northampton University.

• Another strange, but oddly uplifting, cow fact is that dairy cows produce more milk when listening to relaxing music. According to a study at the University of Leicester, the best songs for increasing milk production include REM’s “Everybody Hurts” and Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

• Otters hold hands while sleeping so they don’t drift apart.

• Penguins “propose marriage” by seeking out a special pebble and presenting it to their potential mate; and they keep the same mate for their entire life. Sea horses also mate for life, and hold each other’s tails when traveling.

• Just like how every human has a unique fingerprint, dogs have unique nose prints. So next time there are smudges on the window, check for nose prints to find the culprit.

• The voice actors for Mickey and Minnie Mouse (Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor) were married in real life.

• While we’re on the subject of children’s cartoon voice actors, Jim Cummings, today’s voice for Winnie the Pooh, calls sick children in hospitals to help them feel better.

So with all of this in mind, enjoy your bacon and don’t let worrying about what the future might hold stop you from enjoying today. After all, there is quite a bit to be cheerful about.