Turning Pain into Meaning
Hadassa Ben-Ari Shares a Heartwarming Lesson from a Painful Moment
There's a reason we all love Hadassa ben Ari. She is deeply authentic and shares her heart and soul with us, and we are better for it.
Beloved Israeli author and creator Hadassa Ben-Ari recently opened up in a touching social media post about one of the most hurtful things anyone has ever said to her, and how it ultimately led to a beautiful realization.
Reflecting on a conversation years ago, after returning from a writing retreat brimming with excitement, Hadassa shared stories that deeply moved her from others at the event. A close friend at the time responded harshly: "You're not authentic. Why are you talking about other people? I asked how you felt, what you experienced."
Those words stung deeply, ending their friendship on the spot. But as Hadassa bravely shared, time brought healing and perspective.
Just a few weeks ago, sitting with a dear friend and mentor, she heard something that mended her heart: "How did she not see it? Your gift in this world is listening to others' stories and bringing them to light. The radiance you share comes through the stories you choose to tell."
In that moment, Hadassa felt a profound sense of closure and affirmation. One person saw a flaw where another saw her greatest strength, her ability to amplify voices and spread light through empathy.
Tying it beautifully to the spirit of Hanukkah, she wrote: "This, friends, is the story of Hanukkah. Are we people of light or darkness? Do we gather good stories or bad ones? Do we interpret with kindness or criticism? And do we believe that one small flame can truly illuminate the world?"
Hadassa's vulnerability reminds us all how a hurtful comment can, with time and the right hearts around us, transform into a celebration of our unique gifts.
Her words are a gentle nudge to choose light and to see the light in others.