January 7th, 2008 by Marcia

I’m starting the New Year with seeing everyone as
my neighbor.  Maybe I should add, as a wonderful
neighbor!  Have you seen the commercial that
shows cars zipping down a highway and then it
shows a couple of guys in the median barbecuing,
and the voice on the commercial says something
about seeing people on the road as potential good
neighbors.  I think it was an advertisement for
safe driving, but I’m not sure.  What stuck with
me was the image of the 2 people in the middle of
a busy freeway, cooking their dinner together and
laughing over a brew.

I think it’s a great idea for all of us to hold
that image in our heads for the New Year.  With
all the chaos around the world, the divisiveness
at home in the U.S., and whatever is going on in
your local communities or personal life, making a
conscious choice to see people, strangers
especially, not as faceless individuals who
aren’t important to you and your life, but rather
as neighbors, good neighbors who wish you well.
The benefits of doing this for yourself and the
good vibrations it sends out into the world are
awesome.

I was at the bank this morning, and went through
the drive-in part to make a deposit.  I put my
deposit into the capsule and sent it whooshing
into the bank via that pipe.  As I was sitting
there, the bank clerk happened to look up and
glance my way.  I waved at her and smiled, and I
felt a difference in myself as I did this.  I
really felt a sense of connectedness with her as
my human neighbor.  It’s hard to explain, but it
was just a confirmation for me of the change in
perspective I’m making.  In that brief moment, it
was a recognition, really, of that woman as my
good neighbor, as another partner on the planet.
In that past, I might have done the same thing,
but with a much more impersonal feeling.  It
would have been more of a polite gesture than
anything else.

Opening our hearts to ourselves and to each other
can come in small ways like this heart-felt wave
to the bank teller.  It can come in the gratitude
I felt over the Christmas holidays when I visited
some of my family in California.  I was able to
meet my nephew’s little boy because he was given
a liver transplant last year that saved his life.
Someday I might need a transplant, and who
knows, maybe that bank teller might be the one to
save my life!

I’m so much into the goodwill of the holiday
season that I have delayed in taking down my
Christmas tree (it helps that it’s a live tree,
otherwise this would be a fire hazard
extraordinaire!).  The lights and decorations on
the tree help me to connect with that peaceful
place in my heart each night.  Who knows, I may
leave this tree up a long time…I suspect
though, that the tree itself may be wanting to
move outdoors sooner than later!

Wishing you a blessed year of many wonderful
connections with all your neighbors too!

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