neighbors......tall grass, weeds, & last year's leaves

You have one. I know you do. The neighbor that doesn't keep their property up as good as you would like, or has loud parties, or parks cars in your way, or blows leaves into your yard or the street....or maybe you don't care for the color of the house, or the type of decorations they use......whatever it is.

I have a house on either side of me that could, if I let them, drive me absolutely to distraction. Twenty years ago, two little old ladies lived next door to me - one on each side. The houses were old, not updated (no central air for example), but the ladies managed to mow the yard and keep their homes reasonably repaired. Eventually.....both ladies died -and the homes passed to their daughters.

That's when it got bad, mostly in the spring, when grass grows quickly and needs to be treated for weeds. But also in the fall, when leaves need to be raked and composted. Nothing was done. Then...the honey locust tree died. Then the fence fell down. Then, the driveway cracked, and the guttering fell off.

One of the daughters still lives in her mother's house, the other house is abandoned. It was empty for nearly three years. Finally that daughter came back home to live, but she would say strange things (like her dog could fly), or just sit for hours staring into space. And she turned out to be a hoarder, a pack rat. She is gone again, probably living with family. And the homes continue to age, fall into disrepair, and the grass grows tall. Weeds, trash, limbs/branches, and last year's leaves are a nuisance.

I bring this all up to describe the circumstances, the "back story". But I bring it up to make a certain point too.......one that has to do with "living my yoga".

Last weekend, tired of looking at the front yard of the occupied home (I basically ignore the abandoned one, I'm helped by my wooden fence that blocks the view), I got my gloves, gathered all of the fallen branches and trash for the fire pit or the dumpster....hopped on my tractor and mowed her front yard. I set the blade on the second highest setting. She was not home when this took place. In years past, she sometimes would pull in the driveway when I was just finishing up, give me a look (or maybe say thank you) and go inside. I think she is a little socially inept, or maybe even a little bit impaired, or maybe ashamed?

I love my tractor. I work hard to afford to pay for my yard equipment and everything else I own. She has a mower (have helped her start it before) but doesn't seem inclined to use it very often. Mowing with a lawn tractor is easy work. Just ride awhile. I enjoy the ride. So....(and here is my point)...why did I finally feel resentment? Wasn't I just doing what I've always done? Helping out when I could no longer stand to look at the tall grass is my problem, though there are health concerns with unkempt properties (standing water, ticks, unsafe tree limbs, etc.)

I have to be able to perform a deed, without resenting it! If it's my choice to mow her yard, I can't be mad at her for NOT mowing it! I have the means (I own the equipment, I can buy the fuel), I am blessed with the physical ability, and I made the choice to act. That should be cause for gratitude not resentment. Just thinking about these things is a step toward living the yoga I say I practice.....

I will say that once I finished, I let go of the results. Maybe she noticed, maybe not. Maybe she will thank me, maybe she won't. She might think about mowing her own yard (I didn't touch the back yard), or it might not be on her mind......who knows. That is the part I can feel good about.

The next time I decide to mow her yard, I hope to do so in a spirit of service and unselfishness...then just continue on with my day and let it all go....thus "living my yoga".