Dear Reader,

As we face autumn and step into winter, we face some tough times ahead. There are awkward family get-togethers and finals. When we thought there couldn't be a year worse than 2016, the universe proved us wrong. The news is getting more and more disturbing, everyday there is another gun violence, rape or terrorist incident somewhere in the world. Having optimism for the future seems pretty much futile at this point, but there's hope.

If we survived 2016, we can survive this.

You made it through that uncomfortable Thanksgiving family dinner, during which you forgot your cousin's name and your aunt wouldn't stop telling you to lose weight, last year. This year may not have been any different, but you have gotten stronger from the years of practice of attending these events. And this winter, you will go over relatives in the family photo album and not let your aunt see you grab that extra slice of pie. You will come out of that reunion with thicker skin and stories to tell.

Finals... More like finally the end of semester. You have worked your whole life, or at least a semester, for this test. I always say you only need one person to have faith and you, and that person is you. So, pour yourself a glass of hot chocolate, get comfortable and start studying!

The world is not perfect, far from it, but don't let that haunt you and ruin your life. If you need some inspiring stories in these dark times check out Our Better World, HuffPost, MSM and Good News. Positive things are happening in the world even if you don't hear about it. The best way to change things is to make a difference yourself. Of course we cannot put on a cape and fix the world, but buying that homeless man a coffee, donating your spare change to a charity or just helping someone get the cereal from the top shelf at the store all add up to make the world a bit brighter until the light in each of us has no choice but to shine out.

Zora Neal Hurston once wrote in her book, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" that God made people out of things that glittered and sung, and even when the angels got jealous and shattered them, they still glittered and hummed. People want to shine, so we must give them a chance and shine ourselves. Do not let mud ruin the spark inside you.