Prompt: Good Neighbors

There’s an old saying that “good fences make good neighbors,” but perhaps that needs to be updated a bit. Perhaps “having boundaries makes good neighbors” or “staying in your own yard makes good neighbors.” The former is direct, the latter is more figurative, although that is also good advice if you take it literally.

The tricky balance comes from knowing when to reach out to help a neighbor and when to mind your own business. The easiest solution is to ask them if there’s anything you can do. They will probably say no, even if (and maybe especially if) they do need help, so you just need to make sure they know you’re willing to step up when they ask. If you’re clueless like me, you can also ask if they want you to mind your own business or if it is something you can help with.

Also, having boundaries and staying in your own yard means not gossiping to the rest of the neighborhood. Don’t be that person. Just don’t. Be a good neighbor to have a good neighbor.