Although I live in the largest city in the world, New York City, you’d be pleasant surprised that the place I call home is a small town neighborhood, where everyone comes together to support one another.
Neighbors are an integral part of our life – whether you like it or not. Good Neighbor Day celebrated on September 28 is an annual holiday that promotes neighborliness and niceness towards people who surround us. Who is surrounding you? I have a cast of characters on my block who always have our backs. We’ve been on our block since 2003 and have shared a lot of laughs and cry with those who surround us. If you don’t know your neighbors well, today is your chance to start the conversation and build a relationship. Here are a few tips to be the best neighbor possible:
Come Together
Get to know who is living in your community by inviting your neighbors over for a barbecue, pizza night or have a block party. Enjoy good food, light spirits and take a dip in the pool or hang by a fire pit to establish friendly relations.
Make An Impression
A smile, saying hello or sending a small gift can go a long way in making a positive impression on a new neighbor. Being in a new place with new faces can be overwhelming so welcome them in on behalf of the rest of the neighborhood. Continue to give smiles and waves to show that you are always approachable.
Give a Helping Hand
Establish a relationship by helping out a neighbor. Ask elder neighbors if they need help with their yard or taking out the trash. See if a single mom could use some extra help watching her child while she runs to the grocery store or maybe help out while a neighbor’s on vacation picking up their mail, watering plants or watching their beloved animals. Our neighbors constantly help out in our home from cleaning up to helping out with minor repairs or watching our pets. We love having neighbors we can call upon when in need. Our block rose up in October 2012, when Superstorm Sandy flooded the first floor of our homes.
Keep It Clean
Don’t be the slob on the block. Take initiative and keep your curb appeal tidy. Your home not only reflects on you personally but also on the community that surrounds your house. Keep up by ensuring that the front of your home remains attractive to the eye, raising the value of your entire street. Check out these tips to help curb a neighbor’s bad view.
Acknowledge & Celebrate Life Events
As you begin to build a relationship with your neighbors take note of important dates, holidays and life events they celebrate to help them commemorate that special day. Many of our neighbors have been by our side supporting our successes.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Be observant of your neighborhood, from the people to the homes to the common areas. If you see some unfamiliar faces checking out a house or a neighbor who hasn’t picked up their newspaper in awhile be sure to check in and report unusual behavior before situations escalate. This will help keep your your neighborhood safe.
Party Off the Block
Plan to get together off the block to get to know each other.
The benefits of being a good neighbor are endless and actually forces your neighbor to reciprocate – they’ll be good to you, too. Here are some other ways to bring your community together and enhance neighborhood relations.
How will you celebrate National Good Neighbor Day? Let me know in the comment section below and tell me how you deal with those on your block.
Happy Neighboring,