Won’t You Be a Good Neighbor (The Friendster Next Door)

This story as it originally appeared in Upwardly Mobile Magazine

This story as it originally appeared in Upwardly Mobile Magazine

It’s sad but true that in an age where we’re wired 24/7 and can–and do–create community anywhere, we often don’t know the people who live right next door. With all due respect to Robert Frost, good fences don’t really make good neighbors.

With as little effort as a smile, a note, a phone call or the ringing of a bell you can help create a sense of community in your neighborhood. Neighborliness is always nice, but when you live in close quarters such as mobile home parks, it’s even more critical to care about your surroundings and engage with one another.

In honor of National Good Neighbor Day on September 28, here are some tips to make your neighborhood a happier, friendlier place to live:

Be Welcoming
“When you see your neighbors outdoors, strike up a friendly conversation with them. This is a great way meet, connect and stay in touch,” says Kathy Peterson, host of Lifetime Television show, “The Balancing Act.”

“Bake a batch of cookies (with your children if you can) and have them deliver the goodies to the newly-arrived neighbor, suggests psychologist Aaron Cooper, author of “I Just Want My Kids To Be Happy.” “Or invite your neighbors over for coffee or cocktails,” says Peterson. “This is a great way to get to know each other better.”

Be Gracious
Cooper suggests you offer to collect your neighbors’ newspapers and mail or water their houseplants, when they go away. Or when clearing snow in your driveway, or sweeping, clean a path in front of your neighbor’s home as well.

“Offer to help if your neighbor is in need and you can do it and want to do it. For example, cooking an extra dish for dinner and giving it to a neighbor who is not feeling well or is grief-stricken, will make both of you feel better. Compassion releases feel-good chemistry,” says stress management expert Debbie Mandel, author of “Addicted to Stress.”

Consideration Counts
“Maintain your home well so that it adds appeal to the neighborhood. Don’t allow your landscaping to become a weed patch or dead botanical landscape, and no cars up on blocks,” says Melissa Galt, author of “Change Your Interiors, Change Your Life.”

“Keep your noise levels reasonable,” she says. “Let neighbors if you are expecting packages and ask them if they can accept them for you.”

Address Issues
“It seems simple, but talk to your neighbors if you have a concern,” says Pam Ragland, author of “The 7 Why’s of Addiction” and “Radical Thought Shift.”

Make sure you notify your neighbors if you are planning construction or remodeling, especially if you require a dumpster, says Galt, adding, “don’t forget to invite everyone in for a room or housewarming when the place is ready!”

Safety First
“A good neighbor should offer to be there for their neighbors for any last minute emergencies and vice versa whether it’s taking care of pets, borrowing, etc.,” says Peterson.

“Do offer to be aware of strange vehicles and individuals cruising the neighborhood; everyone is part of safety. Don’t ignore unusual activity and assume it is expected; if in doubt, inquire politely out of kind concern,” says Galt.

If creating a healthy community isn’t motivation enough, think of your own health. “Being a good neighbor is healthy for both mind and body,” says Mandel. “We all need a support system and a helping hand occasionally to manage stress both acute and chronic. Because of proximity, neighbors are easy to make friends with–and we all know how difficult it can be to make new friends. Neighbors are a natural!”

Originally published in Upwardly Mobile Magazine

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