Unfortunately, the acrimony isn't likely to end quickly. Many Hillary and many Trump voters absolutely detest the other person.
Media pundits are calling for Democratic and Republican politicians to come together. But we citizens need to take on this responsibility ourselves as well. Here are a few ideas to get the process started:
1. Greet your neighbor who voted for the other candidate. Ask after their health. Compliment their garden. Ask what they're doing for Thanksgiving. Mention something about the neighborhood that you both care about.
2. Send a love note. If you have a family member or close friend who voted for the other candidate, send them a little note affirming your love or friendship. Email's okay, but a handwritten note is better.
3. Do something together. Pick up trash on your block, rake leaves together, walk to the subway or gym or post office together.
4. Gather a council circle. Invite members of your community to sit together in council. Bring a stick, stone, or special object that can be passed around. While each person holds this object, they may speak from the heart without being interrupted, questioned, or asked for explanation. Being able to speak like this is very freeing. Deep emotions often bubble forth. When each person is finished, they pass the "talking object" to the person on their left, and the process continues until everyone has spoken. Ask people to take a vow of confidentiality that what is shared in this circle will not go further.
5. Don't expect miracles. Your effort to bridge differences may not be welcomed at first. Don't be discouraged. Keep trying.
In fact, don't take any of these or other suggestions simply in order to get results. Do it because you're a bridge-builder, a mender of brokenness, a giver of beauty. Do it as we do all our RadJoy acts of beauty for wounded places... because we recognize that a place, in order to be whole, must accept each of its parts as valuable and worthy of love.
