Do you have great neighbors? Maybe it's time you let them know how much you appreciate them. Here are Heath's Favorite Five ways to acknowledge them and show your gratitude for the good things they do everyday.
1. The first thing Heath said was to host a BBQ.
Of course. A little neighborhood get together with good food is a great way to connect with neighbors. A nice outdoor potluck party in the warm months will make memories. A warm and cozy food get together in the cooler months is also a fantastic way to unite neighbors and enjoy the longer dark evenings.
2. Take care of things for them when they are out of town.
If they need someone to feed or care for a pet, get their mail or newspaper, water some flower pots, or take the garbage to the curb in their absence, then you might volunteer to help. If there are other simple chores that need to be taken care of in the case of a short absence, having someone close to home taking care of those things and keeping on eye on the house gives peace of mind as well as builds friendships. Be sure to have each other's phone numbers. A little check in text or call can be very helpful if you see something not particularly right at their house.
3. Be a considerate neighbor.
If you know your neighbors are having an extended family function in their backyard, please don't think it's a good time to mow your lawn. If you know they are recuperating from a surgery, shovel the snow from their sidewalk. If your dog likes to howl at the moon at 4:00 am, take care of it. If your kids leave their front yard strewn with their bikes, scooters, and pogo sticks, clean it up.
4. Take them something.
It's always delightful to get a little snack on a paper plate that you didn't make. There are all kinds of holidays that make it easy to purchase or make a little gift to share with your neighbors. It's nice to know someone thought of you. Delivering a small pot of flowers in the spring, a slice or two of watermelon in the summer, a basket of veggies from your fall garden, or a holiday basket in the winter goes a long ways to show your appreciation and friendship.
5. Stay in touch, listen, and be happy.
With the weather warming up this month and next, you and your neighbors will most likely be spending a little more time outside. That gives you the chance to see each other more than the winter months might have allowed. Be neighborly and exchange greetings when you both happen to be out. Over the fence chats about the weather, family members, upcoming events, or even yard concerns are great ways to stay in touch with your neighbors. And don't forget the smile. A study completed in part by a sociologist at Harvard tells us "When one person in the network became happy, the chances that a friend, sibling, spouse or next-door neighbor would become happy increased between 8 percent and 34 percent, the researchers found."
For most people neighbors are an integral part of life. Hopefully your neighbors are great. If not, step out and be good to them so they have good neighbors. Try to express your appreciation and let them know how much you enjoy them. The month of February gives us 1 hour and 9 minutes more minutes of daylight. Let's enjoy it.
Brought to you by Heath Harvey @ HeathsHomes.com
No comments:
Post a Comment