Donald Trump was inaugurated on Friday, January 20th, 2017.

And things right now feel hopeless.

People are scared. The future is uncertain and seems much darker than the past eight years have been. The Obamas are out of the White House – we have replaced an inspirational and hard-working family with one surrounded by controversy and hatred.

This hateful, underqualified, disrespectful, and unstable man is in charge of one of the most influential countries in the world. He is ignorant, uninformed, inexperienced, and uneducated, which is ridiculous

In the wake of this, it is extremely important to do what you can to encourage a better U.S. for everyone. Things are really scary right now, even for those not directly attacked by Trump.

What’s crucial now is to do what you can as an individual, for yourself and others. Make sure your friends, your family, your acquaintances know that you value and support them. Take pride in your differences, in your identities. Praise the parts of other people’s identities that aren’t valued by our new president.

Make yourself available as someone to talk to in times of need. Listen to those whose voices cannot be heard.

I also encourage you to reach out. There are numerous support lines and countless resources for all people and situations. Having a person you can find comfort in during times of fear or grief is also helpful, whether it’s a therapist or a sibling or a friend. Talk, or don’t talk. Just try to find a place where you feel safe and accepted.

Know that there are people all over the world that treasure you. Unfortunately, there are also bigots and xenophobes and racists and homophobes, but there are communities that support you and treasure you for all that you are. Find the people who appreciate you for who and what you are. Embrace and accept yourself.

Find distractions – draw when you feel scared. Buy a coloring book and some nice colored pencils and put away an hour per day to draw. Do origami when you’re stressed. Learn to play the guitar. Go to the gym to express your frustration in a healthy manner.

Take care of your physical and mental health before anything else. Take time to shower, go to the doctor when you are sick or hurt, sleep another hour if you know you really need to. Don’t sacrifice important parts of your daily life. Find and revel in your routines.

It’s okay to be selfish sometimes. It’s okay to know what’s best for you at the moment.

Be kind to yourself and others. Be forgiving. Allow yourself to make mistakes sometimes. It’s okay to slip up sometimes. Let yourself test your limits. Know yourself and your comfort zones.

I am scared. But I also have hope.

Take care of yourself in the wake of the inauguration. You are important, too.