Write To Life     by Elana Horwitz

Not Helping My Neighbor

Elana Horwitz

originally published in Partners In Kindness

My neighbors were moving away. All my offers of help had been turned down. My neighbor assured me, with a sigh of exasperation, that she would let me know if she needed any assistance.

I realized that my offers were a burden to her for reasons that she did not explain, so I changed my attitude on the spot, and asked that she not feel pressured to find some way to allow me to help, just so I could feel accomplished. It was frustrating to be barred from doing an act of kindness, but I resisted being "kind" at the expense of my neighbor's frustration!