Across America today, the bitter mid-term elections are over — aside from a few races still to be decided in runoffs.

Today, the winners celebrate and start to face the realities ahead, and those who fell short must lick their wounds, bolster their pride and carry on with their lives.

At the end of the day, our country moves forward, as it has for nearly 250 years. It’s the beauty of what makes America great, or should, that we can come together on Election Day, choose our government representatives and do so peacefully.

As citizens we must bury the ceremonial hatchet today (and not into the backs of our political opponents).

For far too long now we have collectively allowed our country’s differences to define and divide us, but we know better, and we should act better.

That uncivil focus does nothing to help our country and everything to hurt us.

The best part of our country is — or used to be — that we can have political divisions, sometimes bitter ones, and still come together as one.

We can still do that, but it takes effort. It takes being grown ups and not acting like children toward one another.

Let’s be civil and work hard to follow the simple rule of seeking first to understand the other person, then to be understood. If we can do that, much of our differences can be compromised to a good end.