It has been almost two full weeks since America got the unexpected news of their newest president-elect and it seems as though it is bringing out every awful part of 2016: the shootings in Orlando, deaths of so many unarmed innocent people, unjustified killing of an animal, unfortunate death of a little boy at Disney World....the list goes on. The bottom line is, so many people in America are hurting this year. People are living in fear of the future; nobody truly knows what comes next.

However, this is exactly when we need to keep our hearts alive. Yes, Donald Trump is our president. Yes, things do seem to be tearing at the seams in so many ways. But, we have made so much progress here in this country, and that is what we need to remember and be thankful for this holiday season. There are people who want to be cynical and talk about how the world is falling apart, but instead, it is so much more important to rebuild it. In twenty years, when the older generation isn't around anymore, it is up to us to find a way to fix all of the damage that has been created.

With that, America really does need thanksgiving this year. We need to take a moment to sit back and realize that we never have it as bad as we think. We have food to eat and roofs over our heads and it is our responsibility to use this holiday season to help those who don't have the same privileges as us. It is our responsibility to move on from all of the terror that has happened this year, but never forget the damage that it did. It is our responsibility to learn to pick up the pieces and start building; nothing good happens when all we can do is stare at the damage in fear.

Sometimes it's hard to see the goodness in a world where the media is constantly overwhelming us with headlines about crime, death, and a crippling society, but there is so much good in the world. There is so much to read, learn, discover, and explore. I hope Americans can remember that this holiday season. Remember to keep spreading the love that we all have in our hearts and fight for what we believe in, and be so extremely thankful that we have the right to do that. Remember to hug your family members this thanksgiving and treat everyone with respect. Remember that it is us to keep being grateful and it is up to us to rebuild our country.