How high is your fence?
That’s a strange question, right?
What I mean is how open are you with others?
Is there a fence? Is it a small white picket fence or a 10 foot high one made of concrete?
Unbeknownst to us, we may be guarded from others.
Maybe it’s from childhood.
Maybe we had a traumatic experience.
Maybe we’re shy.
Either way, we build trust by being open with others and expressing ourselves. In turn, they are more apt to do the same. That’s how relationships build.
If we are always asking “why doesn’t it ever work out?” or “why don’t I get asked to…?” we might have to look at the imaginary fence in front of us.
What have we constructed to keep others out? To protect us from getting hurt.
It may be time to lower our guard. It’ll be difficult at first and there is a chance that we’ll get hurt but that’s the only chance we have to grow stronger.
Relationships are hard enough already.
Creating a wall between ourselves and others doesn’t do us any favors. It creates division.
Who is the type of neighbor we want living next to us?
Go and become that neighbor ourselves.
Friendly dialogue will ensue.