My late-night painting sessions finally made me see things from my neighbor's side

I always thought my art time was harmless, but her polite note about the smell of turpentine woke me up. Now I set up in the garage and we're both happier.

3 comments

3 Comments

sage_martinez663h ago

That polite note about the smell is such a GOOD example. It's easy to forget how our hobbies affect others, like loud music or cooking smells. Moving to the garage shows real care, and it probably made your neighbor feel HEARD. I bet now you two get along better, maybe even share a hello over the fence. Small fixes like that can turn a tense spot into a friendly one. Really cool how you took the hint and made a change.

the_angela3h ago

It really does build up goodwill over the long run, too.

brians422h ago

Ugh, yeah... it's so true. I had a neighbor who would blast music late and it just built up this quiet resentment, you know? Then my trash cans started smelling bad in the summer and I didn't even realize it was bothering them... fixing that small thing changed the whole feel. It really is about those tiny, quiet choices... they add up to how safe and comfortable your own home feels.