A Neighbor’s Reaction to State Budget Cuts

The other day I was watching the news on television when a story on the current budget crisis in Augusta came on. There were a group of people protesting some of the proposed cuts which affected their clients, or family. This group was representing some of our neighbors that have either mental or physical disabilities. The proposed cuts would eliminate services that help these people to survive with some independence and dignity.

I am still learning what it means to be a good neighbor, but if we as a society open our eyes to our neighbors and make an effort to know them as people, we can help to reduce the damages done by this type of cut. How is this possible? As we get involved with our neighbors, we will see that everyone has something to offer to society. You might find that the person next door that is forced to be in a wheel chair is good at woodwork. Once you know that, you may find that he is interested in teaching other people. The next neighbor might have teenagers that do not know what they want to do in the future. You might talk them into visiting the neighbor that likes to do woodwork. As they get to know him, the teenagers might find that they like to work with wood themselves and ask him to teach them. As they learn to work with wood, the teenagers might see another neighbor doing a project like building a shed and offer to help.

We need to forget the labels that society places on people in order to see the real person. Every person has a lot to offer to you, me and society as a whole. It doesn’t matter if they are physically unable to care for themselves or have mental challenges that make it difficult to communicate what is on their mind.

The first thing that our neighbors have to offer is skills. It could be a small skill like the ability and passion to make things with their hands, even small crafts. They can draw out the hospitality found in all of us who care for others. Compassion for others can be fostered when neighbors get to know each other. This may lead to friendship and happiness for both our neighbor and us. The final gift we can get from overlooking physical and mental disabilities in our neighbors is inspiration. As we see how they continue to live and be independent it will inspire us to see our own difficulties in a different light.

How could this help with the current budget crisis? As we get to know each other as neighbors we will work together to overcome any challenges in the neighborhood. Instead of hiring people to be caretakers the neighborhood, as a group we can work out a schedule to visit those in need and help them where needed. At the same time we want to foster any skills or passions that the neighbor might have. We could have that neighbor over to play games with the family, or do crafts with the children. By having the whole neighborhood involved everyone grows and friendships are born.

For those of you who are still skeptical about the skills and offerings that the handicapped can offer, please remember that one of the most brilliant minds in science belonged to a man who was physically handicapped, Stephen Hawking. Yes I know that Stephen was highly motivated and refused to let his handicap stop him. The thing is, as we interact with each other, we inspire each other and foster that same motivation and passion making this one less obstacle in living independently. Please think about this as you think about what it is to be a good neighbor.

Community-What Can I Do?

By the time this article gets published Christmas will be over with, but the season has brought some things to my attention. Maine residents are very good at coming together in small groups to help each other during the Christmas season or when someone is in need due to tragedy and illness. This tells me that we do care, but do not know what to do to keep this feeling going throughout the year. I think that the first thing we need to do is to realize what community is.

I believe that community is more than a group of people who live in a specific geographic location such as a neighborhood. A community consists of those same neighbors opening their eyes to really see who lives near them. When you do this you will notice the strengths and gifts that the neighbors have as well as any weaknesses or needs. Once you can see each other as a person with skills you can come together and work on common goals and overcome any weaknesses that you see.

I am still working on this aspect in my life. One way to begin the process is to opening up your home to your neighbors by holding a neighborhood barbeque or party and inviting everyone in the immediate neighborhood. If you cannot afford to supply all of the food or refreshments you can ask your guests to bring something so that you share each other’s cooking. Think about the families with children, and try to have activities that they can do so that they feel welcome. In the summer, if you have the room you could hold a community softball game. In the winter you could hold contests for the best snowman, or snow fort in the neighborhood. Anything that will bring neighbors together is good.

I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read my writing and invite you to comment on anything I say. You can email me at tedbessey@pathwaycrc.org. I usually post my writing at http://ted-growingtogether.blogspot.com/, so if you do not live in the neighborhood and would like to follow my writing you can do so there. I apologize in advance if it takes a while to publish my next article.