HOLLYWOOD—In just a few days everyone will countdown, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…Happy New Year 2016! Every year as the clock nears midnight on December 31, the eyes of the world turn once again to the dazzling lights and energy of Times Square. With great anticipation running high, New Year’s Eve at the symbolic center of New York City has become more than just a celebration-it’s a global tradition.

As the famous New Year’s Eve ball descends, an estimated 1 million people in Times Square, millions nationwide and over a billion watching throughout the world are united in bidding farewell to 2015, and expressing joy and hope for the year ahead. Who could forget Claire Morgan’s speech in the film “New Year’s Eve.” As you can see the ball has stopped half way to its porch. It’s suspended there to remind us before we pop the champagne and celebrate the New Year, to stop and reflect on the year that has gone by.

To remember both our triumphs and our missteps, our promises made and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or close our self down for fear of getting hurt. Cause that’s what New Year’s is all about, getting another chance. The chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more, and stop worrying about what if and start embracing what will be. So when the ball drops at midnight, and it will drop, let’s remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other. And not just tonight, but all year long.

What a year it has been. A year of maturity, growth, awareness, and development. It might not seem like a lot has changed, but when you look back, nothing is the same. You might not even be ending the year with the same people you’ve started with. As we reflect, you might not even have the same mentality and outlook. It’s okay. As you evolve you’re going to change. You’re going to grow apart from certain people, situations, and circumstances that aren’t in your best interest. The beautiful thing about leaving a year behind is collecting the lessons you’ve learned that you can use in the upcoming year.

You only get better when you take your shortcoming as an opportunity to learn and grow. It’s that time of year that we make the same resolutions once again: get focused, lose weight, go to the gym more often, setting goals, spend more time with family and friends. In the spirit of the New Year, these resolutions are always made in good faith; however, only a few of us will actually succeed. All those promises we make on the stroke of midnight will soon be a fleeting memory in just a few weeks.

The curtains are sadly closing on 2015, but what a year for music it has been. We look back on some of the top hits of 2015. If you weren’t a fan of Justin Bieber you probably are now. The pop star completely transformed his image this year and the song “Sorry” marks his new beginning as a mature pop star. His comeback also included hits such as “What Do You Mean,” and “Love Yourself.”

And, Adele had a very merry profitable, Christmas. Thanks to her, nobody can say “hello” without “its me” coming after. The global superstar stormed back onto the charts with this incredible ballad. Her number one album “25” has now sold more than 7.1 million copies in the United States alone. It’s the first album to sell more than one million copies in three different weeks since Nielsen Soundscan began tracking sales in 1991. A comeback well done. The number one spot, the best song of 2015 is “Hotline Bling,” by Drake. The rapper had a sleeper hit on his hands until he premiered the music video that spawned thousands of memes.

Rose’s Scoop: Gone, but not forgotten in 2015 are Leonard Nimoy, Anita Ekberg, BB King, and Omar Sharif. Your work will live on.

Wishing Everyone a Happy, Safe, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!