Emotionally speaking, why should each of us be a good neighbor? I was raised on the golden rule, a version of which is "love thy neighbor as thyself." So while most days I don't have time to think about kindness towards anyone else, I still look for opportunities to bless the lives of those around me, whether it be sharing vegetables from our garden or just offering a friendly wave and smile to someone driving by.

Think of a time when someone did something for you or a family member, and remember how it brightened your day, lightened your load, or helped you feel loved. I can recall two instances when neighbors did something wonderfully helpful for us. First, just after the cesarean birth of our second child, a neighbor living across the road brought a delicious meal to ease my burden and give my husband a reprieve for one night. Second, after last Christmas our next-door neighbor approached my husband, thanked us for the goodies left on his doorstep, and loaded all our empty boxes and discarded wrapping paper into his pickup truck.

His thoughtful gesture saved us a lot of time. Even though we don't have much in common with our neighbors, our few exchanges have been friendly and pleasant and so I consider them significant. And so we see the emotional motivations to be a good neighbor.

You don't have to know your neighbors to know that most people enjoy a break from their kids when summer is dragging on. And everyone loves a potluck now and then. Let your kindness motivate you, and you'll find ways to let your neighbors know you care.

So let's apply this lesson of caring to neighbors near and far. Remember that "neighbor" also refers not just to those with the same Home Owner's Association. The word takes on great significance when you think of it as applying to all of mankind. Make a personal goal to relate the aforementioned ideas and values to those close to home, and then broaden your basis of application to include a larger population.

"How To Be A Good Neighbor"
Eleven tips from eHow, How To Do Just About Everything

1. Welcome new neighbors with an introductory note or a friendly chat.

2. Maintain the area around your home so that it's neat and attractive.

3. Be conscientious about noises that might disturb your neighbors, such as vacuum cleaners, music, loud talk, and barking dogs.

4. End parties at a reasonable hour, and while you're at it, invite your neighbors to come, too.

5. Return anything you borrow from your neighbor, such as tools or appliances, as soon as possible. Express your gratitude when you do so.
Replace anything that belongs to your neighbor that you, your children, or your pets break or soil.

6. Respect your neighbor's privacy.

7. Offer to collect mail, water plants, and watch the pets while your neighbors are away on a trip.

8. Learn from neighbors with cultural backgrounds different from your own.

9. Invite your neighbor over to share good news.

10. Throw a house party once a year on a weekend or holiday to socialize with your neighbors.

Everybody's favorite neighbor Fred Rogers asked us all, "Please, won't you be my neighbor?" We all need a good neighbor now and then.