National Good Neighbor Day

“Good neighbors make great neighborhoods”

National Neighbor Day celebrates the importance of being a good neighbor while contributing to one’s community and each other. We all want to live in a happy community and good neighborhood. It is proven that when we are content about the place where we live, our health and overall wellbeing is improved! 

Nowadays community is more important than ever. Even the simple act of waving ‘hi’ to your neighbors is a positive action and it helps when being a good neighbor. This is beneficial for everyone, and especially so for elderly folks living in a neighborhood. Isolation and loneliness is a serious issue for seniors. It is very important for seniors to have neighbors that check in on them to make sure that they are ok healthwise or just to say hello and remind them that they are connected and valued in society. 

Being a good neighbor starts with the good neighbor mindset. When you establish the mindset of a good neighbor mindset, you create a better neighborhood, community, and society. 

-Connection: Introduce yourself and connect with others in your neighborhood. It simply starts by saying ‘hello’! A good way to start doing this is to smile and wave hi when going for walks in your neighborhood.

-Invitation: Invite neighbors to join you for something fun. Having a neighbor over for a meal is a wonderful way to get to know your neighbors. However, during COVID this can be a challenge. Instead, you could invite a neighbor to join you at a local outdoor sports game (like a high school baseball game) or at a local farmers market. Also, if you are a more private person, that way you can still connect and build up a relationship at the pace that is most comfortable. 

-Celebration: When it comes to holidays, birthdays, or milestone moments in the lives of others, cheer them on and don’t miss out on congratulating them. Holidays are always a great opportunity to spread a little cheer by leaving cookies or a festive note in their mailbox with best wishes. It is also a neighborly act to place a considerate note on the door of an elderly person’s house to let them know that you are thinking of them. 

-Awareness: Keep your eyes and ears open. Stay attentive to the safety and security of the people and homes nearby. We are safer and stronger together. For instance, texting or calling a neighbor and letting them know that they forgot to close their garage door is very appreciated. Another way to be a good neighbor is to help take care of senior neighbors by helping salt or shovel their walkway to prevent falls during the snowy season.

-Availability: Availability is the highest benefit of good neighbors who truly care and look out for one another. When needed, show up to help and support others living around you.