Then he did the same. But that's precisely when I need to remember that pounding on the door or raising my voice doesn't jive with a desire for quiet. So first, impossibly, I find my own quietness. Then, I make my request as peaceably as I can. But by first trying to become the kind of neighbor I'd like to be, I nurture the peace I want to experience.
Peace tends to be a universal desire behind even the crankiest rules.
We want a world where we can enjoy our garden, walk the dog, experience unspoiled nature, find the newspaper in its proper place, and yes, even listen to Led Zeppelin or Lawrence Welk. There is, of course, the Golden Rule . But something interesting happens whenever I take the Golden Rule out of storage. I find that it still fits and that it goes with every occasion. I want to live in a community where people are friendly, so I say hello to people.