Planning Can't Solve all Your Problems -- Good Neighbour Rules

 Have you ever found yourself complaining that there doesn't seem to be any accountability?  Every time I turn around it seems someone is looking for somebody to take care of them.  We want the government -- all levels -- to resolve all of our issues and, quite simply, that's impossible, not to mention, unneccesary.  Sometimes, we need to take responsibility of our own well-being, our own happiness. 

We have all heard the story about the guy in the Tim Horton's line-up that buys the coffee for the car behind.  There are lots of phrases describing the same philosophy:  'pay it forward', 'treat others as you would like to be treated', 'smile and the whole world smiles at you' . . . I'm sure you get my drift.

And what are we hearing so much about at the planning level these days?  The focus is squarely community focused.  Get out into the neighbourhood; become aware of what is going on in your own back yard; eyes on the street.  So why is it that we are having to be reminded of what it means to be a good neighbour?  Our grandparents and parents knew these lessons. Where did we go off track?  When did we decide that knowing who lived next door was no longer important? Why did we choose to be insular?

Here's a little refresher course in being a good neighbour.  Give it a read, think about it and maybe even put one or two of the suggestions into practice.  I don't think you need your municipal government telling you how to act with kindness and thoughtfullness in your own back yard. . . . or do you?

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Good-Neighbour