The Claim
When norms are unspoken, crisis writes them — and crisis tends to write in fear and force. The person who hasn't decided boundaries will either refuse to help out of fear, or give until they're resentful.
This Week's Action
Write your giving threshold and have one norms conversation.
Write your giving threshold: what you can give readily (water, staple food, hygiene basics), what you cannot give away (prescription meds, critical heating for dependents), how you'll prioritize (the vulnerable first), and how you'll give (quietly, with dignity).
Have one simple conversation with a neighbor about mutual expectations. Not a formal agreement — shared understanding.
The spirit is one sentence: "If things get hard, we'll act like neighbors, not competitors."
Reflection
Did writing the giving threshold make me feel more generous or more protective? What does that reveal about what's governing me right now?