Bill O’Boyle

Bill O’Boyle

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Have we just about forgotten and discarded the art of being neighborly?

It seems to be happening — or just about gone.

December is the month when we are supposed to renew our faith in the human race and act, well, neighborly, or humanely to one another.

Even if such random acts of kindness are motivated by an expectation of what one might receive in return for being nice to another, so be it.

Fact is, we need a better world. We need friendliness. We need compassion. We need neighborliness. We need civility. We need acceptance. We need genuineness.

We need each other.

When is the last time you saw a picket fence and kids playing in the yard and a dog barking? Not that this scene would mean necessarily that you are in a good neighborhood where people are friendly and the grass is green and well-trimmed and the schools are quality and a playground is up the road. But I can tell you, that sure was a common scene not that long ago.

We have declined to the point where good news about a Wawa or a Sheetz coming to an area is met with raised eyebrows and criticism and doubt, instead of the rejoicing of a new business in the neighborhood.

I mean, do we even know our neighbors these days? Do we take the time to get to know them? Do we care at all about who are neighbors are and how we can be good neighbors?

And with political discourse having sunk to an all-time low, it all but prevents us from having friendships and fun with people we might not agree with on politics. Political discourse used to be healthy — it set the stage for meaningful debate that could and would, at times, end up effecting positive change — even in Washington and Harrisburg, not to mention our towns and neighborhoods.

Now we hear of surveys of Americans who say 20% of us would not even stop to help someone whose car has broken down on a busy highway.

Really? Have we become that insensitive? Are we that afraid of what might happen if we choose to help, another?

Is society now absent of all Good Samaritans?

And with so many of us working from home, have we lost that feeling of camaraderie and community and working together for the good of all?

Have we sunk to living in our own, private world, where we do what we need to do for ourselves and our families and that’s it? Do we believe that driving in our SUV and singing along to Christmas carols somehow creates an atmosphere of authentic holiday spirit?

Well neighbors, it does not.

As stated before, we need each other.

We need to be there for each other.

We need to help each other.

We need to help others who need our help.

We need to smile at one another and offer salutations and mean it.

We need to sincerely subscribe to the spirit of “giving is better that receiving.”

Yes, it’s nice to decorate our homes for the holidays, but it is even nicer to decorate the lives of others — to actively participate in helping where we can. We need more to volunteer. We need more to ring those bells. We need more to purchase those Toys for Tots and to help being smiles to children who really have little to smile about.

We need Christmas cookies and candy canes and popcorn balls, but we need more warm coats and socks and meals for those in need every day.

We can’t go about life with blinders on, hoping that it will all go away. We must do what we can to do what we can. Those of us who are able to help, quite simply must help.

Every now and then we hear those stories about whether or not Santa Claus is real. Let me tell you, Santa is very real.

Santa may not reside at the North Pole with a bunch of elves making toys all year that are delivered on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by magical flying reindeer. Note: I believe he does.

But as sure as Rudolph’s nose is red, Santa Claus exists.

Santa exists in each and every one of us — in our hearts. Santa is there to deliver every year and every day.

Santa may be right next to you. He won’t be wearing a red and white suit and he won’t have a white beard and he sure as heck won’t be walking around saying, “Ho, ho, ho!”

He or she might have a ball cap on, or a quilted coat, or a vest, or a coat and tie, or a hoodie, or sneakers. Santa might drive an SUV, or a hybrid, or a Chevy, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Cadillac, Lexus, Lincoln, or Dodge.

The point is Santas are everywhere and they are making spirits bright.

So please be a good neighbor.

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.