by Jared Garrett

Created on: January 07, 2009   Last Updated: July 22, 2010

In a world of cookie-cutter homes, are you a cookie-cutter neighbor? In other words, do you simply exist alongside your neighbors rather than doing what is necessary to be a good neighbor?

The truth is: in order to develop the qualities of a good neighbor, we actually need to make real, deliberate effort. Because when all is said and done, qualities are the manifestation of habit, and habits are the manifestation of deliberate action.

So what are the qualities of a good neighbor? What is it that makes one person a good neighbor while others are mediocre or simply bad? Do you have to be a good friend in order to be a good neighbor? Do you have to keep your side of the fence painted and well-maintained to be a good neighbor?

Do you have to send your teen's budding rock band out of the garage to be a good neighbor?

Perhaps. Let's have a look, shall we?

We can start with a non-example. Several years ago, this writer's daughter took an unsupervised ride in her stroller, down a slight embankment and into a wall. It was an ugly-looking trajectory to say the least. However, this writer rescued his daughter and, comforting her, took her where he could have a look at any injury. This writer's neighbor erupted from her home, screaming her 'neighborly' concern.

When this writer said he didn't think any harm had been done, beyond a bruise, the neighbor insisted that the EMTs should be called. This writer had no interest in such a thing, since this writer, having worked as a First Responder, knows perfectly well what to look for. The neighbor worked herself into a frenzy, ending by telling this writer that it was his responsibility as a father to call a professional.

This writer took a close, careful look at the injury and could tell that it was not bad at all. He recognized the Hand of the Almighty in protecting his daughter and expresses silent gratitude. Then he informed his neighbor that he knew what he was doing, thannked her, and headed inside with his now calm daughter.

The neighbor swore she would call child services and the EMT herself.

This was not neighborly. This was pushy and irritating. Happily, the neighbor didn't make those calls, probably realizing that she had been carried away in the heat of the moment.

So now we can discuss the qualities of a good neighbor.

The first quality of a good neighbor is an active demonstration that we are aware that we live in close proximity to others and that we respect space. This means that we won't let our things spill

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