Whether you live in a house or an apartment, you have neighbors. You might share a morning coffee with your neighbor on your porch. There was a time when neighbors were always close to one another. We knew everyone’s name and what they did for a living.
Then we all got busy. Stay-at-home mothers got jobs and spent more time away from home. Jobs got more stressful. We started hiring out our yard work because we no longer had time. Even the kids got busier. Soccer practice, band rehearsal, this club, or that club. Aside from the occasional wave, we drifted away from our neighbors and became strangers. Our neighborhoods lost the “neighbor.” But we haven’t lost hope yet.
Bud is 81 years old and lives next door to a younger couple with a small child. Many might describe Bud as lonely, but we see him as neighborly. When his young neighbor told him not to worry about the lawn, Bud worried anyway. He was caught doing the edging.
Bud isn’t the only one though! Some people are trying to bring the neighbor back little by little, one act at a time. Recently, we witnessed a disabled man taking fresh, homemade sausage to a neighbor. There are more people out there working hard to bring back neighborly love. You don’t have to look far. This neighbor is offering tacos. I want tacos…
Staying connected with our neighbors can be wonderful. If you don’t know your neighbors, introduce yourself to them. Talk about the weather. Borrow a cup of sugar. If you have elderly neighbors, watch them and ensure they aren’t lonely and isolated. Your interaction with them will make their day!
Meg’s husband, a firefighter, and their neighbor Bud have developed a great friendship. It is heartwarming when her husband enjoys coffee on the porch, and the neighbor Bud asks permission to join him. The conversation begins with, “Are you busy?” Who wouldn’t want a neighbor like Bud to share a morning coffee with?
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.
