Love yourself/Lifestyle/Life Lessons
ThePower of Love, Peace, and Community: Embracing Yourself and Your Neighbor
“Love your neighbor as yourself for the sake of peace. That’s what we need to adopt to be a better country.” — Brandon Marshall.
My name is Arita, and here’s my story.
I received a package, and it wasn’t mine. It belonged to my neighbor, two houses from mine. I took the box to my neighbor, and he was on the driveway, and I said hello. The neighbor looked away while I was talking to him. He was hostile to my presence, grabbed the package from my hand, and walked back to his opened garage.
I was stunned, and it took me a few seconds to move. It was like I was dreaming, and I wondered if I was dealing with a human being or a wild animal. Finally, I returned home, and I kept playing what I witnessed in my head until my partner came home from work. I told her about the incident, and she put her hand on my shoulder and said, “The neighbor’s behavior is not about you, he has trouble with something, and I hope he finds peace.”
Although I heard her empathic words and reflected on my experience, my reflection informed me that I have never been treated or witnessed something like that. My partner smiled and suggested, “Welcome to the real world. You own your own business, so many people treat you nicely. But unfortunately, some people are bitter, resentful, and hateful.”
I interjected, “But are we not supposed to love our neighbor as ourselves?” “No! Love your neighbors who have your values, look, talk, dress, and share the same political view with you,” We smiled and started cooking dinner.
I thought maybe Mr. Neighbor was busy, and he felt disrupted by a stranger. The truth is many people don’t know most of their neighbors’ names or faces, nor do they know theirs. That’s okay, but why the hostility? We are neighbors and can live peacefully and look out for one another.
My story is a reminder that we all are humans. What does love your neighbor as you love yourself mean? Neighbors can be more important than faraway relatives or police. We all are humans and can make mistakes and learn from them.
My partner suggested that I shouldn’t keep the list of my neighbor, and I agreed. Keeping a list drains energy, and I’m letting his nasty behavior go. In addition, I can’t change my neighbor, but I can change my behavior next time.
We finished cooking dinner, ate, and enjoyed our evening playing cards.
What do you think of Arita, her partner, and her neighbor? Join the conversation below.
Help yourself grow. People who love themselves and others rarely inflict harm on others. Love yourself.