We live in a world where many people love minding their businesses. It's all about waking up early, rushing out to the day's activities, coming back late, locking the doors and and the gates,, and facing their families. Some neighbors these days use a wall that looks like the wall of Jericho to barricade their house from others, lolz. That's why you can live together in an estate or community for months and even years without knowing your neighbors.
My neighbor and I
When I was growing up, I could still remember how our neighbors usually looked out for each other. My mom usually felt at peace leaving my siblings and me to the market,, knowing that whatever happens,our neighbors will be there to come through. But gone are those days,and I don't blame anyone for for being stricter due to evils that have prevailed in our world today. People now live with their neighbors with a high level of boundaries and privacy.
Connecting with each other as neighbors is gradually fading away like it was in the past,but the question is, if an emergency were to come up and you were away from home, would you be able to trust your neighbors with your home or your kid?
Personally,I know a good number of my neighbors, as much as I mind my business as well. I may not be the type that pokes my nose into her neighbors' affairs, but I make sure to be free with them in a way that they can talk to me for anything. Life is all about balance; if you say you want to be an island of yourself and your family,you wouldn't know what tomorrow holds. I keep saying that we need each other to survive. You might find yourself in a situation tomorrow that even your money can't save you from, but your neighbors can. Now imagine having enemies as neighbors. How can they assist you? This is why I know my neighbors and maintain healthy,balanced relationships with them..
I have had two emergency crises with my son's health,one during the midnight and the other during the daytime,yet it was my neighbors who came through for me in all of these. That midnight was a terrible experience; when the whole crisis started, I couldn't hold my phone firmly,not to talk of driving. My husband has been away from us in another state due to work, but my neighbors usually show me unimaginable support.
It was during the fuel scarcity era; ordinarily,anyone you call upon might give you thee excuse of not having fuel in his car. After all, we are just neighbors and not relatives,but my neighbor left his comfortable sleep at 2am and drove us to the hospital without collecting a dime from us, even if it's to replace his fuel. Of course there was no Uber at that odd hour, but my neighbor did it for me..
The second time during the day,I picked up my phone and called another of my neighbor, and the woman informed her husband, who was eating at that time, and the man left his breakfast to attend to me and my child. A lot of times, the school bus will bring my kids home, and maybe I am away from home; my neighbor doesn't hesitate to keep my kids for me and make them comfortable until I return to pick them up.
In the same way, I usually give them any assistance I can whenever they call on me. I wouldn't also deny that I have some neighbors that are no-go areas, but it's not a problem; I greet them and pass, but the ones that make themselves approachable, we relate to, still maintaining a healthy boundary and supporting each other.
Overall, it's all about striking a balance for me.
Images are mine; they are my neighbors and I😉