A few days ago, there was a blackout in our street. I don’t like going into another person’s house to charge, so the only option left was charging in the mosque during Taraweeh.
This went on for about three days before NEPA finally restored power.
After their “reconciliation,” the light still didn’t reach our apartment.
I lent my neighbor my extension box. She returned it burnt.
I’m not blaming her. I know that if something is meant to burn, even if I’m the one using it, it will burn.
But I gave a simple instruction:
Make sure my extension is the one plugged directly into the wall not into another extension. I don’t trust connecting extension to extension. The cable of mine is very strong.
She said okay. But she didn’t follow the instruction. Now I’m the one affected. I can only charge my phone. I can’t charge my laptop because the charger needs an extension. And I prefer reading on my laptop I don’t feel comfortable reading on my phone.
She now has other options. I don’t.
Helping is good. But helping should not leave you stranded. Not everyone handles your things with your level of caution.
Sometimes people agree to instructions but don’t understand the weight behind them. And when things go wrong, the owner bears the inconvenience.
This experience taught me something simple but important:
Give from surplus, not from survival. If losing it will destabilize you, think twice.
It’s not selfishness. It’s responsibility.
Boundaries are not wickedness.They are wisdom.
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