What a beautiful day it was last evening thus a yard cleaning ensued. Yesterday after work we began our spring cleaning in our yard only. We figured out about half way through it was more than we could handle in one day. Regardless, we got what we could get done in one evening done and decided to revisit the task this weekend sometimes. The challenge lays in the the fact that our bodies are now so sore that we have to talk them into working the next time!!!
One of the tasks we had was to transplant several flowers and starts. It brought to mind for me the concept that we need to bloom where we are planted. What does that mean? It means that wherever you reside that you need to make the most out of it and become a beacon for others...a helper, a guide, a positive influence. This has been interesting for me to try and live.
Our neighborhood was dubbed as the "ghetto" by a sibling. (Although its not in my opinion as bad as some places I have to travel to for work.) The challenge we were faced with when we moved here was the fact that no one talked to each other. We were lucky to get to know the neighbors on either side of us and behind us. But what have we done with that relationship? Nothing.
This year things are going to change. We will get to know more neighbors...intentionally. How do you build a better and more safer neighborhood other than through getting to know the people you live next too? When we bloom where we are planted we make positive steps in revitalizing our neighborhood and in making it safer for others. Today I am going to strive to become a better person to my neighbors and in my neighborhood.
I really don't think that your home is in that bad of a location. You never know where the safest place is. Just the other day, there was a robbery by gunpoint in a very up-scale South Bend neighborhood. Where we live, I just found out that a sex offender that lived about 1000 feet from our home, has been sentenced to 45+ years, and then concurrent 20+ yrs. I hope that 65+ years is enough. From what I have read, this idiot has sexually molested lots of little children, and it happened right down the street from us. Many of these kids were present while another one was being abused. And they knew that they were to be next. One of the most shocking things about this story, is that the youngest child who was molested, was 2-months old. I just couldn't believe that when I read it in our newspaper.
ReplyDeleteSo not only do we live in an iffy neighborhood, oh did I tell you that a 20 yr. old guy hung himself right across the street from us about 20 years ago, but now I even feel guilty that I have allowed this to happen so near to me. I do understand that there is nothing that I could have done, since I didn't know of this outrageous thing going on.
(I think I got off on a tangent there.)
Okay, “bloom where you are planted.” This can be tricky, since it may not mean that you must get to know your neighbors. Blooming at home, might be interpreted as being nice to the neighbors. But it could be that you should get involved in other ways with community, or even write a book. Maybe blooming is to increase your knowledge, so you can offer a service to those around you. I have lived in the same home for 36 years, and I’ve seen as many as five different families occupying the same home at different times. I can tell you that some people don’t want to be friends. They have their own thing going, and they may not be interested in you. Others may be into something else, such as, a house across the street was rented by woman who was entertaining different men quite often. When this would happen, she would send her two children, about 5 and 7 out in the yard to play. The older one, the boy, one day was out there swinging a sword around. It looked real, but as I drove by in my car, I told myself that it must be a toy. I found out later that it actually was a full sized-real sword. I think that my point here is to simply be careful who you become good friends with. Okay, if you’ve managed to keep reading this far, we’re done now.
Oh David, for crying out loud. Go outside and make friends. :) and take Bodhi with you. Don't listen to him Melissa. I would dearly love you as a neighbor. I bet neither of us would ever get anything done. Get outside and make friends. NOW..............
ReplyDeleteOne more thing. I want to see one first name posted on this blog after you go out and make friends with a neighbor. I would love to hear about your adventure of meeting and greeting a neighbor not yet in your phone book.
ReplyDelete