Humans are ever changing creatures with immense abilities to form meaningful connections. Out of the abundance of this connections communities are formed. One of the most beautiful thing about communities formed by humans is the oneness and sense of belonging that exist among them. In most place where they still share the ideology of what a community stands for, they never have to look over the shoulders every now and then, for the bond that exist within the community members is enough to protect each and everyone's interest.
I have had a taste of what true bond of a community feels like, in a far away land where I once served. It was a beauty to watch a very small population of people cherish each others interest. Whenever they hold meetings due to some issues in the community, they send out town crier to inform the members of the community about it and once they are aware of the information, they all move as one and assemble.
It is the kind of community where you can be cooking in your kitchen and ask your neighbour to watch your food. You might have guessed, they are just bunch of locals and far less educated than most community but yet, the community strives on love and everything else blossoms.
Here in the city, things are a lot different. Communities exist but not in the way it is meant to be. It is like a congregation of strangers, we all live in harmony the best we can, preserving mutual respect. As long as both parties maintain there boundaries, there shouldn't be the any issue whatsoever.
I have been living in this community for the past 15 years, I wouldn't say I have been home throughout the number of years we have been here but at least I can say my parents house have been here for that long. The closest thing to unionism we have here is LCDA meetings, you should see them while they hold this meetings, people divided based on their interest, each group waiting to use the words of another as a justification to trespass on their rights.
I wouldn't dare to say I know any of my neighbours, the best thing we do most times is to greet each other when we pass by and that is where it ends. The house beside our house by the left have been sold for at least 3 times, which means for every time the house is sold, a new owner emerges, which also means a new neighbour. Instead of our new neighbour to live in his new home like his predecessors, he decided to rent it out. I have only seen him once and that was the time he came to finalise the purchase of the house.
My neighbour by my right, he is traveler. The house he built beside us must be one of his many houses because his family only visits once in a while. It is very difficult to get hold of the man, he is always here and there. While the house in front of us, he, his family and my family could have been good friends but what goes on in the head of this people is something that is still a mystery to my family.
You see, our houses are divided by a fence, even if you scream in the night for help, it is not sure that help is coming. That is the rate at which people in this neighbourhood mind their own business. Is it people like this I would ask to look after my family or come to my rescue when needed? I don't even know them. Though we have a lot of family friends around but not all of them reside in the same street as ours, so I wouldn't consider them to be our neighbours.
Are you the kind of neighbour you would like? We are also the kind of neighbour that mind our business just like everyone else, so what does that make us? 😅 I'm sure when you ask our neighbours the same question, they would be like, those people always keep to themselves without mingling with people but the reality is, they are also doing the same thing. What further promotes this lack of bonding among us and our neighbours is our fences, the moment everyone of us locks our gates, everyone just do their thing without involving anyone else.
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled Know thy neighbour in hive learners community.
Cover image - 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗏𝖺
Image 1 - image used is mine or else indicated otherwise
