SLOVENIA'S 5 CORE VALUES

Fortunately, individualism has not prevailed everywhere.

A completely different atmosphere can be found in the small, hilly settlement with an enviable view of the valley, known as Javornik nad Štorami. Here, neighbourly harmony and support have been well preserved, with neighbours often coming to each other's aid in everyday tasks. They also visit each other frequently and otherwise there is a pleasant atmosphere of friendship between them.

I experienced the latter first-hand a few days ago, when I was visiting these beautiful parts of Slovenia. As I was sitting on the terrace, enjoying the sun and the pleasant rays of the sun on my face, I noticed a man nearby named Miran Slomšek, who was busily harvesting firewood on his neighbour's land. After he had been working in the scorching sun for a while, at my sister's suggestion we took him a cold drink to freshen him up a bit. He greeted us cheerfully and we had a nice chat in passing.

Miran said that the giant tree that had fallen down near his neighbour's house on one of the windy nights had been standing alone for some time. He knew that his neighbour was generally very busy with work and chores on his farm, so he offered to help him cut the tree down instead. The neighbour agreed and Miran rolled up his sleeves, took the chainsaw in his hands and within a few hours, the sawed tree was left with a hefty pile of firewood.

During our chat, Miran nicely rounded off with a thought that well illustrates the neighbourly relations that the people of Javornik nad Štorami have forged with each other: "We are really good neighbours. In many villages they are not, because they just look at who has more, not at giving or helping." He added that: "Why should it be so when, after all, no one is disadvantaged by participation?"

This has been confirmed in this story. Miran's neighbour was very happy to help him, but he also wanted to thank him in his own way. In return, he gave him the firewood left over from the fallen tree, as he already had enough. Miran gladly accepted the firewood.

Mateja Sekavčnik, 10. 3. 2025