Our Community is our Collective Strength: 15 January 2024

THEME: Community (Image credit: David Sinclair on Unsplash)

I embrace a mixed community. In every way possible.

In the dark weeks of COVID’s legacy, it was due to the near daily cups of tea brewed by a true gentleman that meant I did not loose faith in my ability to keep moving forwards. 

I have been gifted the wisdom of an elderly neighbour. His life experience, professional skills, and clarity of thinking have been one of life’s great gifts to me. 

Often stopping for a chat during the construction of one of my developments, our near daily chats continued long past the project’s completion.

His gift began one dark day. Mr K stopped by (I was obviously rather stressed) and said; ‘is there something I can do to help?’ ‘Yes’, I replied, ‘please listen to this letter I have written.’

With delicacy he slaughtered it and had me re-write it. The outcome was superb. A nasty dispute was averted and a professional resolution achieved. That was the first of three battles that he supported me through – and we positively resolved the cases too!

I am fortunate to have accessible housing in the area that I live, enabling those in their older years to live actively within their community. 

Nearly daily, Mr K messages me with ‘the kettle is on’ (or a creative variation on the phrase). Naturally, I would abandon my work and hop those few doors down the street and we would chat over a cuppa.

Mr K is many years my senior. Had he moved into a senior living facility, enjoying the company of similar aged people, and his family, I would not have met him.

Instead, he is active within our south Auckland community. The value Mr K has given to me and (indirectly) my team members is immeasurable.

Our community is our collective strength.