Is There Anything Wrong In Helping Out A Neighbor?

If you live in a neighborhood, like so many of us do, is there anything stopping you from helping out your neighbor?  I mean, really helping out.  Not waiting for said neighbor to ask.  I've always been the type to stop and ask myself:  'What is wrong with this picture?'  I don't know if it's a matter of pride or just not wanting to be a bother, but it always seems when someone needs a hand and they have nobody to ask, they just do without.  To me, that is just wrong.  I grew up in a military family where whenever we moved into a new housing area, neighbors came by to see if we needed anything.  It didn't matter what it was, if it was needed, it got done.  I brought that way of thinking with me wherever I went.  However, that was not what I saw around me.  It always seemed that the ongoing attitude was 'Every man fends for themselves'.  That's just wrong in my eyes.  First of all, I am not asking anyone to be a doormat.  That is not the intention of this post.  What I am talking about is genuinely helping out your neighbor when the opportunity presents itself.  The rewards so far outweigh the time invested.  And by rewards, I mean just feeling good about yourself.  By no means, tell everybody you know what you did to help out in detail.  It should never go beyond 'I helped out a neighbor' today.  If it does, then you're just tooting your own damn horn.  Let the neighbor, if they so choose, do the telling.  Be that unsung hero and let it go at that.  Maybe I just have more compassion for my fellow man.  Maybe you, the general public, need to realize that there is a human being in need and not just an object.  I cannot be the only one that thinks like this but I sure do feel like the exception over the rule.  So if you see somebody that genuinely, and that is the key word here, needs help and you can be that help, step up and just do it.  Believe me, it will go a long way in that persons eyes.  And whatever you do, do not accept a monetary reward beyond cost of materials, if any.  Remember, it's not a job.  In my mind, I take it as an insult but remind myself, they may just not know any better.  If they could pay for it, they probably would have already done so.  Don't rob them in the process of your good deed.  If that's the only reason you're doing it, go back to whatever you were doing and let the real human beings take care of it.

As always, these are my thoughts.  If you agree or disagree, let me know.  I may not agree with what you have to say but if you got this far, let me know.  And thank you for your time.

J.