Neighbouring As A Practice Of Care
What I did not know was that spatial awareness deficit is attributed to medical conditions such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing issues to name a few. However, I still want to thread along this path of reasoning cautiously. Is neighbouring dependent on perceiving others within our shared spaces? This is where I am trying to go — I guess I am thinking of whether I can borrow this term “Spatial Awareness” beyond its clinical or cognitive use and to more or less employ it as an ethical tool necessary for care. Of course, I am not holding those genuinely struggling with medically diagnosed conditions at fault while writing this, as opposed to those who, for many reasons, are just not present. What does it mean to be truly present to another person? Perhaps neighbouring begins with attention. To be present to another is already to make room for their humanity, after which any act of assistance follows. The assistance which follows is evidence of recognition, as long as there is an effort of attention.
Neighbouring As A Practice Of Care
Am I your neighbour simply because we inhabit the same building, perhaps separated only by a wall? Am I your neighbour for the fleeting span of a shared seat on the U-Bahn or the bus? Am I your neighbour because I hold the elevator door — or because I kneel beside you to gather the groceries scattered from a torn paper bag? I suppose what I am trying to say is this: am I your neighbour because of what I do for you? And are you then my neighbour because I do these things for you? Must this relationship be reciprocated? Would we still be neighbours if we paid no attention to one another?