The person next door
This subject has been coming up a lot as of late. Do you know the person next door? Why or why not? What do you know about them? Do you trust them? Why or why not? Should you?
These are all interesting questions. However, I have been wondering why it is always restricted to the person next door. I remember growing up in a community where we knew everyone on the block and several others around the block. Why don't I know them now? How do I change it?
Several months ago, my parents took us on a little journey in time. We were coming home from a buffet style eatery when they turned off the main road and took me down memory lane. We were soon in a neighborhood that looked familiar. Then we were in front of a house that I remembered. I was what 3 or 4 when we lived there. Why and how could I remember a place like that? When asked what I remember, I remember the people next door. Our car ports were side by side. I remember running across the car ports in my pajamas leaving a plate of cookies, ringing the doorbell and running as fast as my little legs could carry me to my door and hiding. We have pictures of that place, but I don't ever remember doing what was in the pictures. I only remember doing something for my neighbors. I don't even know if they were members of our faith. I just know they were neighbors and we did something for them.
I have several fond memories of similar events in my childhood. As I got older, I remember random acts of kindness we offered as friends to others. I remember leaving notes, flowers, cookies, and more at peoples homes, places of work, and on their cars just to make them feel welcome, needed, or appreciated. I need to do more of that now.
I think we all do. When we first moved to Utah, I remember getting a plate of cookies with a ghoul note on it. We were to hang the ghoul in our window. How can we incorporate the same idea year round. Passing it forward to others. Or maybe it should be an invite to dinner, a gift of thanks, or just a reward for a recognized act of kindness or good. I encourage you to think about how you can do something more for the neighbor next door, down the street, across the hall, downstairs, or where ever you feel so inclined. Just do it.
Love ya,
Dad
These are all interesting questions. However, I have been wondering why it is always restricted to the person next door. I remember growing up in a community where we knew everyone on the block and several others around the block. Why don't I know them now? How do I change it?
Several months ago, my parents took us on a little journey in time. We were coming home from a buffet style eatery when they turned off the main road and took me down memory lane. We were soon in a neighborhood that looked familiar. Then we were in front of a house that I remembered. I was what 3 or 4 when we lived there. Why and how could I remember a place like that? When asked what I remember, I remember the people next door. Our car ports were side by side. I remember running across the car ports in my pajamas leaving a plate of cookies, ringing the doorbell and running as fast as my little legs could carry me to my door and hiding. We have pictures of that place, but I don't ever remember doing what was in the pictures. I only remember doing something for my neighbors. I don't even know if they were members of our faith. I just know they were neighbors and we did something for them.
I have several fond memories of similar events in my childhood. As I got older, I remember random acts of kindness we offered as friends to others. I remember leaving notes, flowers, cookies, and more at peoples homes, places of work, and on their cars just to make them feel welcome, needed, or appreciated. I need to do more of that now.
I think we all do. When we first moved to Utah, I remember getting a plate of cookies with a ghoul note on it. We were to hang the ghoul in our window. How can we incorporate the same idea year round. Passing it forward to others. Or maybe it should be an invite to dinner, a gift of thanks, or just a reward for a recognized act of kindness or good. I encourage you to think about how you can do something more for the neighbor next door, down the street, across the hall, downstairs, or where ever you feel so inclined. Just do it.
Love ya,
Dad
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