We live in a world and age where people tend to mind their business and turn down any opportunities to interact with their neighbors. Everyone seems to prefer their families' company to an opportunity to interact with their next-door neighbor, and this got me thinking. I mean, gone are the days when the sense of community was very high, a time when neighbors did almost everything together, be it talking, eating, or visiting each other's homes. That was the kind of environment I grew up in and was raised in, but fast forward to the present day, and that's no longer the case. But then, what am I doing concerning that? Am I taking steps towards interacting with my neighbors or following the trend of minding my business as well?
You see, the truth is that I actually missed those days of community engagement and sense of community that were in the atmosphere during my childhood days. During that era, we did almost everything together as neighbors. I mean, as a child, I could easily follow our neighbors' parents to their shop and stay there all day without my parents being concerned about my whereabouts. Can that happen today? Absolutely not. Back then we usually visited each other's houses and watched television till the dead of the night, and our parents didn't really mind, but nowadays everyone prefers to stay in the comfort of their house. I guess we can thank or blame the evolution of technology for that, depending on how we see it.
Although I'll say I blame technology for it, because even families who live in the same house now hardly interact with each other because everyone got a phone that got them glued to its screen for hours. It is what it is, and in response to the prompt for today that talks about how our relationship with our neighbor is, I must say that I'm probably one of those sets of people who prefer to mind his business. I'm that type of person who enjoys being alone and spending time with my family, and I've come to notice my neighbors are the direct opposite, so in order to not let their traits conflict with mine, I tend to create a gap between us.
Does that mean we don't talk? Absolutely not, we actually do talk, just that it's occasionally, but each time I get an opportunity to speak with them, I do take it with all seriousness. Take for instance when I'm coming from work, I not only get my household snacks, but I also tend to buy something for their own children as well, and my doors are always open for the children to come to my house to watch TV, especially in this period when electricity is scarce, but what I don't do is go to their place and the like.
I also try to help as much as I can in my little way. I remember one time my neighbor travelled, leaving his wife and children behind, and due to how close our houses are to each other, I remember overhearing the wife tell their children that there's no food at home and she's unable to reach their father. Later, when I stepped out and saw the children playing, I gave them a token, which I'm sure would be enough to get them a proper meal for that day, and when they showed their mother, she came to thank me and must have been wondering how I found out.
On another occasion I was sitting in front of my house and saw my neighbor interacting with a man hawking all types of home appliances like blenders, irons, and the like, and I noticed the ridiculous amount he wanted to sell the blender to my neighbor for. I stylishly called the attention of my neighbor and told him how much I purchased the same type of blender for on Jumia, which was three times less than what he was about to buy it for. He thanked me and discharged the seller and later came to me to guide him on how to buy things on Jumia, so even though I tend to mind my business, it doesn't mean I won't come through when I know I can be of help to my neighbor.
We are humans, and the beauty of humanity is in togetherness, unity, and coming together to help each other out of their challenges, or just being there to keep each other company, cheer one another up, and motivate ourselves to greatness. So, paraventure, an emergency were to come up in my house, given my history of helping out my neighbors during challenges, I'm certain they'll try their best in helping me out as well even though I'm not at home.
And talk about the type of neighbors I'd like to have. The truth is actually yes, I'd prefer neighbors that are just like me, who although they mind their business, look out for the good of everyone in their environment, just like I'll do. If I can have people like that in my neighborhood, then I can rest assured that we're in a safe space and an environment that's great to raise one's family.
All photos are mine.