When I was growing up,it took a village to raise a child. I know that might sound cliche but it literally did. If I walked from my home to the market, many people knew what time I passed by their home, what I was wearing and who I was with. And in my culture, you had to greet all the adults along he way, while kneeling down. So, by the time you got to wherever you were going, your knees were burning. If you didn't greet someone and they happened to call your parents and report your wrong doing, that adult had the right to come to your home punish you and then have tea with your parents. And when they left, your parents gave you their spanking. Now, as a child, I got so angry because I thought that my neighbors were always poking their noses into my business. But now as a mother, longing for a community, I realize that it was a village raising a child, watching over each other and caring for one another.
Today, we hardly know our next door neighbors. Society has conditioned us to not get involved. Society tells us that "it is none of our business." We have become so reclusive that Community is a thing of the past.
So when I saw that Lifetimetv.com had a contest called the "Clean Start Challenge" sponsored by SC Johnson A Family Company, I entered the contest because even though I have always wanted a community where I live, it had never occurred to me that I could actually step out of my comfort zone and build one. My daughter and I started off with knocking on doors and introducing ourselves to our neighbors and letting them know of my quest which I call "Hey Neighbor! Let's Build a Community".
The response has been wonderful. Almost every neighbor that I have spoken to wants the same thing I want, which is a community. They just don't know how to go about it. Well, I have told them that as a community, I would like to see us come together and do things that will help us get to know each other as we build this community.
Our first community event was a blood drive, which was a success. Next, I bought the New England Patriots a card, took it around my neighborhood and had as many of my neighbors as I could get a hold of, sign it, just to let the Pats know that we are still proud of them. And that as a community we think that they are, and will always be champions.
I am so excited because my neighbors are responding to me and many want to be involved in our community. They are thanking me for what I am doing but I have to remind them that It is not about me. It is about all of us getting to know eachtoher, caring for one another and poking our noses into eachother's business just to say, "Hey Neighbor! I care about you and I am here if you need anything."
Please click on this link to vote for me: http://www.mylifetime.com/fun-games/sweeps/win-luxurious-spa-trip-two
I look forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to comment here or on lifetimetv.com.
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