In these tough times, it’s important to remember that people are inherently good.

Whether you follow local, national or international news, it’s been a depressing few weeks.

It seems no matter which newscast you watch or headlines you read, the news has been nothing but bad.

Lately, the news has been dominated by the inexplicable murders of Hiawayi Robinson and Kenneth Hood, a devastating school shooting in Pakistan, threats of violence surrounding a Hollywood movie and footage of terrorist attacks the world over.

Mix those headlines with the frustrations of daily life, and you’ve got more than enough reason to see the worst in the world around you.

But, it’s important to remember there are more reasons to see the best in the world.

That is where we can learn from the children we once were.

There was a time where we saw the best in the people around us.

Regardless of how someone hurt us, forgot us, or let us down the day before, we saw the best in them and the whole world around us.

As adults, it cannot be said enough that we need to keep that aspect of our childhood alive, no matter our age.

There has always been wickedness in the world, it just seems that lately there are more ways for us to learn about acts of evil.

For every story of horror that shakes our sensibilities, there are so many more that embody the inherent goodness and selflessness of people.

In recent months, I have started writing a weekly feature about local organizations that seek to improve the lives of Baldwin County residents.

The work these groups are doing should serve as beacons of hope for everyone in the county.

Among the groups I’ve profiled, Repair Baldwin provides home repairs to elderly or low-income residents, Prodisee Pantry provide hundreds of meals to needy families every week and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes spreads the word of God to coaches and student athletes at the grade school, high school and college level.

I have featured several other equally important groups, but the most heart-warming fact for me is that I’ll never be able to highlight the work of every volunteer or ser organization in Baldwin County.

There are too many people in and around the county who spend their spare time doing nothing but trying to make this an even better place for all to live.

Yes, the headlines have been full of tragedy and terror as of late, but that does not mean the world is going to fall apart anytime soon.

Go ahead, tell me I’m too optimistic — I’ve been called worse — but I truly belief there is far more good than bad in the world we live in.

Let’s be sure to remember the good this holiday season, rather than the bad.

Jay Sowers is photo editor of Gulf Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at jay@gulfcoastmedia.com.