Befriending your neighbors holds an eightfold key to happiness and fulfillment. How well do you know your neighbors, and would they show up in your hour of need or celebration?
Would you support them if they asked for your help? Research has shown that most people hide from their neighbors, especially in big cities. One reason for this is that our busy schedules don’t allow us to interact, plus the ability of tech to connect us with faraway friends and family has reduced this innate need.
Another reason is that most people don’t want their neighbors’ “interference” or “nosiness.” They want to live private lives without unnecessary conflicts. However, studies have shown that the sense of belonging that the people around us foster can boost one’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Also, you don’t have to be best friends with your neighbors if you establish mutual respect and coordination.
This article explores the benefits of befriending your neighbors and fostering a community.
Reasons for befriending your neighbors
You can borrow things
Of course, most people take pride in self-reliance. But how often have you started a project and discovered that you need something immediately, such as your laptop’s charger? Or maybe you started cooking and realized you are missing a vital ingredient. We may feel ashamed and vulnerable when asking neighbors to lend us things, but it’s been the norm for ages.
Lending and borrowing are part of being a good neighbor if you give back borrowed things and return the favor. However, avoid becoming entitled to other people’s stuff and understand they have a right to refuse.
Security and safety
Close communities improve our sense of security because people look out for each other. Remember, security and safety go beyond crime prevention and reporting. It also involves emergency preparedness and how the neighborhood responds in such cases.
They give you neighborhood gossip
Mindless gossip is detrimental to society, but humans love stories, and if you’re new somewhere, these stories can help you a great deal. You get to know the history of your home or street, which families have been around for ages, what they do, where to get specific items, places, and people to avoid or ask your children not to interact with, and so on.
Gossiping has a negative connotation but can also change our negative perceptions of people we judge harshly. For example, that neighbor who looks like they don’t take care of their kids “well” may be chronically depressed. Or that guy we’ve judged as lazy because they are out of shape may be recovering from an accident. Plus, you can always ignore the demeaning and dumb details that don’t matter.
They can make your holidays and parties better
You can share your holidays and other important moments in your life with your neighbors. Not only does your family enjoy different delicacies, but you also experience a sense of accomplishment.
You expand your social network
Your neighbors have different social circles, and interacting with them may open new job networking opportunities, which can provide a potential source of income. Also, if you own a business, expanding this network can promote it or attract new investors.
Besides job opportunities, you can find people who share your hobbies and make them meaningful pursuits.
They can help you while you’re away
You may get an emergency that takes you out of town for the weekend, have a date night, or have extra tasks that will keep you at work until late, and that’s where a good relationship with your neighbor comes in handy. If you’re stuck somewhere, you may ask them to babysit your kids, take care of your pets, water your plants, or even collect your mail while you are away.
Even if you have a person for these tasks, you may ask your neighbor to check in on your property, children, or pets to ensure things are going smoothly.
You can improve your homes together
If you have a good relationship with your neighbors, you can work together to improve your homes and neighborhood. This includes joint fences, paths, pools, garbage disposal and collection, neighborhood surveillance, and individual home renovations.
Mental and physical benefits
Humans are social creatures, and we yearn for connections, as the Covid pandemic showed us. Isolated people are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, while socially connected people with a great sense of belonging are less likely to experience mental and emotional conditions. Social connections also reduce your chances of suffering from high blood pressure and heart conditions.
Takeaway
Building a relationship with your neighbor can lead to a sense of community, mutual support, and increased safety. It creates opportunities for social interaction, sharing resources, and fostering trust. Befriending your neighbors can turn a street into a network of care, where people look out for each other and enhance the overall well-being of the neighborhood.
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