How to Heal a Nation: Finding Unity After the Election

Elections have a way of reminding us just how deeply we’re divided. After the votes are counted, it’s easy to look around and feel either relieved or devastated, depending on which side we were rooting for. This post-election season, I've been watching the reactions flood in online: some are celebrating, some are mourning, and others are angry, even resentful. The comments, the memes, the divisive posts—it can all feel overwhelming, like a constant reminder of just how far apart we seem to be.

I get it. We all have deep feelings about what we think is best for our country, and when things don’t go our way, it’s natural to feel frustrated, maybe even hopeless. But as I watched the reactions pour in, I started to feel something softer, deeper—a feeling that, for me, goes all the way back to my childhood.

As a kid, I used to dream of a world where everyone was happy, where there was no fighting or conflict, and everyone got along. I know it sounds “childish,” and maybe it is. But it’s a part of me I’ve never been able to shake. That innocent, idealistic part of me just wants everyone to feel connected, to feel seen and loved, to feel like they belong. And maybe that’s why, as I grew up and saw the world in all its complexity, part of me still clung to that simple hope: that somehow, someday, we could heal these divides.

So, how do we heal a nation after an election that left so many feeling torn apart?

The Story of the Bridge Builder

There’s an old story I’ve always loved, one that speaks to the kind of unity we need today. In a small town, two brothers lived on neighboring farms. They’d been best friends their whole lives, but one day, a simple misunderstanding spiraled out of control. Words were exchanged, tempers flared, and before they knew it, the brothers had become bitter enemies. They stopped speaking, and each built a fence along their property line to keep the other out.

One day, a carpenter came through town, looking for work. One of the brothers approached him and said, “I want you to build me a wall—a high, strong wall between me and my brother. I don’t want to see him, I don’t want to hear him. Make it so I never have to think about him again.”

The carpenter listened carefully, then nodded. “I understand,” he said. “I’ll get to work right away.”

But instead of building a wall, the carpenter built a bridge—a beautiful, sturdy bridge that stretched across the property line. When the brother saw it, he was furious. “I asked for a wall!” he shouted. But then, his anger softened as he looked across the bridge and saw his brother standing there, waiting, just as surprised and moved as he was.

Slowly, the two brothers walked toward each other and met in the middle of the bridge. And in that moment, they remembered what really mattered—that they were family, that they loved each other, and that no disagreement was worth losing that bond.

This story might sound quaint, but it holds a powerful message for our times. In a world that constantly encourages us to build walls between us and “the other side,” maybe what we need now more than ever is a bridge. Because no matter who we voted for, we’re all part of the same human family.

Why Politics Can’t Heal Us—But People Can

The truth is, healing won’t come from a single election or a single politician. Policies can change things, but they can’t change people’s hearts. And our divisions aren’t just about policies—they’re about deeper beliefs, fears, and experiences that have shaped us over time. When we look at someone with an opposing view, it’s easy to dismiss them as “ignorant” or “brainwashed,” but that’s a shortcut that blinds us to their humanity.

Think about it: if we only surround ourselves with people who think like us, who affirm our views and validate our beliefs, we’re building our own walls. We’re limiting our chance to understand, to empathize, to see the world through another lens. Healing a nation means breaking down those walls, or at least finding ways to see over them, to meet others on a bridge of understanding.

When was the last time you sat down with someone who had a completely different perspective from yours and really listened? Not just to argue or prove a point, but to hear their story, to understand the fears and dreams that led them to their beliefs? What if we approached each conversation with an open heart instead of a pre-prepared rebuttal?

Reconnecting with Our Inner Child

I know this sounds idealistic. But sometimes, we need that kind of idealism. Sometimes, we need to look back to that part of us that believed in a better world, that innocent voice from childhood that saw people simply as people—not as labels, not as enemies, but as fellow human beings.

As children, we didn’t look at someone and see a Democrat or a Republican, a conservative or a liberal. We saw a friend, a potential playmate, someone to share our toys and stories with. Somewhere along the way, we lost that innocence, and maybe it’s time to find it again.

What if, instead of reacting with anger when we see a post that triggers us, we paused and tried to see it with that same childlike innocence? What if we saw the person behind the post, tried to understand their story, their fears, their dreams?

How to Build Bridges in Our Own Lives

Building bridges doesn’t mean we have to agree with everyone. It doesn’t mean we ignore injustice or pretend everything is okay. But it does mean we try to see the humanity in each other. It means we recognize that even when we disagree, we’re still part of the same family.

Here are a few simple ways we can start:

1. Listen First, Speak Later – Next time you’re in a conversation with someone who has a different view, make it your goal to understand before you respond. Ask questions, dig deeper, and try to see things from their perspective.

2. Pause Before You Post – Social media has made it easy to fire off reactions without much thought. Before you post something that might be divisive or hurtful, take a moment to consider: “Am I building a bridge here, or a wall?”

3. Reconnect with Your Inner Child – Remember the part of you that believed in a world where everyone got along. Maybe it sounds naive, but that childlike hope can be a powerful guide in a world that feels increasingly cynical.

4. Show Up with Kindness – In every interaction, big or small, choose kindness. Whether it’s holding a door open, offering a smile, or simply saying, “I hear you,” these small gestures can make a big difference.

5. Look for Shared Humanity – At the end of the day, we all want similar things: safety, happiness, connection, a sense of belonging. Remembering this can help us see past our differences and recognize our shared humanity.

A New Kind of Healing

Healing a nation isn’t about “winning” or “losing.” It’s about showing up with empathy, with open hearts, and with a willingness to build bridges instead of walls. It’s about remembering that, no matter how different we may seem, we’re all connected.

Maybe I’m still that kid who dreams of a world where everyone is happy and united. But I believe that if each of us can tap into that inner child—the part of us that sees people with innocent eyes, that believes in the possibility of peace—we might just start to heal.

Let’s start building those bridges, one conversation, one act of kindness, one moment of understanding at a time. We don’t have to wait for politicians to do it for us. The power to heal is in our hands, in our hearts, in how we choose to see each other.

So, here’s to a new kind of healing, one that starts with us. Are you ready to build a bridge?