Dear Winks,
This is for you.
I recently witnessed a powerful example of reconciliation that truly moved me—and it’s a story worth sharing.
After everything that’s happened in recent years—the anger, the division, the hurt—one of my dear friends, (we’ll call her Winks) found herself grappling with a deep sense of betrayal. She discovered that her lifelong best friend had voted for a man whose actions and rhetoric seemed to disregard the well-being of so many people—across the country, around the world, and even the planet itself. The pain, confusion, and sense of betrayal she felt were undeniable. It’s something many of us have experienced in one way or another—when a person we care about makes a choice that feels incomprehensible to us, especially when that choice seems to run counter to everything we stand for.
But here’s the thing that left me in awe: Winks found a way to reconcile with her best friend.
It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was incredibly difficult. But in doing so, she took a step that most people simply can’t bring themselves to take. Winks looked inward, took responsibility for her own reactions, and sought to heal a relationship that had been strained by differences too great to ignore. It took an unimaginable amount of courage to see that her initial response—though valid—might not have been the most constructive one. And in that moment of self-reflection, she found her way back to her truest self.
What Winks did in that moment is truly remarkable. It’s easy to assume that activism is about fighting against something, standing our ground, and staying firm in our beliefs. But Winks showed that love, understanding, and compassion should be just as much a part of our activism as our anger and our fight. She didn’t allow the divide with her friend to define their relationship. Instead, she chose to see their differences with compassion, to listen with an open heart, and to understand that their bond—one that had lasted nearly fifty years—was worth the effort it took to heal.
She didn’t let the issues of the moment sever what was truly important. She recognized that their shared history was more valuable than any political difference. She realized that they had written too much of each other’s stories to let this one chapter tear them apart. And the most beautiful part? In the process of reconciling, she didn’t just heal a relationship—she healed herself.
By choosing to see things from her friend’s perspective, Winks expanded her own heart and worldview. She didn’t have to compromise her beliefs; instead, she gave space for growth, for connection, and for the possibility that people can change. It was a powerful reminder that our differences don’t have to be a barrier between us—they can be the starting point for deeper understanding.
What Winks demonstrated was strength, empathy, and resilience in a way that’s rare and difficult to achieve. It’s one thing to stand firm in our beliefs, but it’s an entirely different level of courage to open ourselves up to seeing the world from someone else’s point of view. To stand in their personal space, to feel their pain, to try to understand their joys—it’s not easy. But when we do that, we open the door to growth, to healing, and to the possibility of a deeper connection.
This kind of reconciliation isn’t about ignoring real issues or pretending that everything’s okay when it’s not. It’s about being strong enough to keep the door open, even when it feels like it would be easier to close it. Healing doesn’t always mean fixing everything at once. Sometimes it means taking small steps toward understanding, toward growth, and toward finding common ground. It means continuing to move forward together, even if it’s slow.
I’m proud of Winks, and I’m inspired by her example. She’s demonstrated something invaluable about the power of love, patience, and understanding in a world that can often feel divided. Her ability to reconcile with her friend, despite their differences, is inspirational.
Reconciliation is hard work. It requires us to look at ourselves, to be honest about our own reactions, and to remain open to the possibility of healing. Winks has shown us all that, even in the most difficult circumstances, we can choose compassion over division. We can choose to stand in someone else’s shoes, to listen, to learn, and to grow together.
In a time when so much feels divided, perhaps the most powerful way we can grow our own army for change is by winning over hearts and minds, one conversation at a time. It’s not just about fighting for our beliefs—it’s about inviting others into the fold, helping them see the world from our perspective, and building bridges instead of walls. By doing this, we strengthen our collective power, and we move closer to the world we want to see.
We may have a long road ahead of us in the fight for what’s right, but it’s clear to me that the path toward change must include love and understanding, just as much as it includes passion and activism. And when we come together, even in the most difficult of moments, we make the world a little brighter for all of us.
(You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one…-John Lennon),,
Hello Butterfly! 