Most of us have probably heard someone tell us at some point that "it's the little things that count, that mean the most". Whatever the situation was, the phrase offers a little beacon of hope, a small smile, a gentle push to get up, wipe away the tears or anger or frustration or despair, and go on.

In light of the recent election and resulting aftermath, when so many people are confused, scared, bewildered, shocked, etc, that's exactly what we need to do. Look at the little things that count. Choose to see the little things, the beautiful little things in this world. Whether that's a blooming flower, a gorgeous tree changing colors in the crisp November air, or just the glorious rays on sunshine coming down on your face as you sit on a rooftop or a grassy patch.

More importantly, choose to see the people around you. Surround yourself with friends, with the people who support you unconditionally at home, at school, in the lab, out in the city. Go have lunch with them, spend some quality time with them, talk with them, and know that you are not alone.

Yes, it's hard to know where to look or what to think or feel when the waves of despair and fear come crashing down. The shock that settles in quickly turns to a terrifying sense of what might come in the future, followed by a panic of fear and "what am I supposed to do next?" thoughts.

We move on, and we move forward.

I'm not trying to get into the details or the specifics, and I'm not trying to brush off the concerns other people have - they are all legitimate and come in varying degrees of relevance to all of us. But I'm saying that I refuse to let this make me curl up into a ball and stop for the next four years, or even the next four days. It's the little things that count, remember? Those little things, those precious little things, whatever they may be, will get me out of bed every morning and ready to rock whatever I'm going to do. Sometimes it's so hard, and sometimes it feels like you just can't, but we have to keep fighting. We have to keep moving forward, to our goals, to our future.

There are so many beautiful things in this world. So many things to be thankful for. Friendship. Support. Community. Dreams and goals and milestones and places to go. The sunshine and stars. Music. A warm cup of coffee or tea. Books. Family. Friends. A smile from someone, be it a friend or a stranger. Hugs and laughter when someone makes you forget all the rest for a minute. Love.

Find those moments, find those people who bring the light back out for you. I thank these people for bringing the sparkle back into my eyes every day, whether they know it or not. We're going to make it through, we're going to fight our way through, and we're going to be stronger for it. Those little things add up fast, and I choose to see them and make them count. What are you waiting for?