Good Morning,
Last week I was camping with the Boy Scouts for summer camp. It was the first time I was back in Summer camp since I was a scout myself in 1984. As an adult leader, I saw the camp from a different eye than I did as a kid.
As a boy I thought about the merit badges I would earn, my stuff, my tent and the bugs in it, the fun I would have, what I would buy at the trading post, what was for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and when I was going home. I spent some time thinking about the boys in my patrol and my troop, but not as much as I thought about me.
As an adult leader, I thought mostly about the boys, my fellow adult leaders, the boys and leaders in other camps, what I would buy at the trading post and what was for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I guess some things never change.
During that week there was a lot of interaction between scouts from different troops as well as their leaders. We visited other campsites and invited other troops to our site. I have little to no recollection of interacting with other troops or campsites during my childhood.
What had changed between then and now was the inclusion of others into our time at camp and activities.
That is, it was not so much about what we were doing, or what we would get out of things, but more importantly, what we could do for others.
We were being good neighbors.
Being a good neighbor does not start and stop with the people who live next to you, or work in the next cubical. Rather being a good neighbor is being mindful of and interactive with those who are near you whenever and wherever you are.
When you invest your time into being a good neighbor, stopping to say hello, share a kind word and do something for someone else, you invest into your community. No matter where that community is.
It could be as simple as waving hello to every car that drives by at O’Dark 30 when walking the dog. I have been doing that for months. A few days ago, when feeling under the weather and not really loving the early morning walk, I noticed that every, and I mean EVERY car that passed by, the driver or passenger(s) waved to me.
You bet that raised my spirits and I waved back to each.
Being a good neighbor means putting deposits into that emotional bank account of everyone you interact with, no matter where they are and no matter what they do.
The end result is a community that is more enjoyable to be a part of.
Like inviting scouts from neighboring camps to join your dinner and campfire presentation to waving hello to everyone who walks or drives by, every little bit helps make where we live and play a better place.
In the end, it is all about others, and how we love on each other through our kindness, generosity and thoughtfulness.
Be a good neighbor, and make the world a better place, wherever you are.
Enjoy!
Sanford Berenberg
Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net
http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
Follow Me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sberenberg
http://learnandgrowdaily.com Click here to order: "Learn And Grow Daily!"
502-533-9336
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment