Cultivate Better Bonds
With Neighbors and Friends
Modern life is a lot
less conducive to friendships and neighborliness than it used to be. The
average American moves every five years. People drive straight into their
garages, hire lawn services, hang out in their backyards instead of their front
porches. These days, neighbors don't even know each other's names.
Good neighbors and good friends are a lot like electricity or running water: We don't know how much we depend on them until we don't have them. They make our lives more pleasant and give us a sense of who we are, both as an individual and as a member of the community. It is also just as important to know your neighbors are for safety reasons. As we all know the news is plagued with stories of immoral behaviors in our communities.
Good neighbors and good friends are a lot like electricity or running water: We don't know how much we depend on them until we don't have them. They make our lives more pleasant and give us a sense of who we are, both as an individual and as a member of the community. It is also just as important to know your neighbors are for safety reasons. As we all know the news is plagued with stories of immoral behaviors in our communities.
So how do we escape
the routine and go beyond the electronic devises to meet our neighbors?
The
surprising thing is that all it takes to enhance your relationship with friends
and neighbors is respect for their feelings, concern for their property, and a
helping hand when it's needed. Here's how to nurture the relationships that are
just as vitally important to your life.
1. Strike up a conversation over the fence or on the sidewalk. It's okay to be the one to break the ice, even if you've lived next door for years. Most neighbors enjoy making small talk with the folks on the other side of the fence. So as you see them at work in their yards or at play in their pool, smile, wave, and say hello. Ask how their kids are (whether they're toddlers or in college), whether they could use an extra zucchini from your garden, or what they think of the prices at the local supermarket.
2. Extend yourself to the new family down the block. These days, the old Welcome Wagon is a thing of the past. But your new neighbors may be feeling lonely and unsure, especially if they're far from home, and might appreciate a friendly face bearing fresh-baked brownies. If they have kids, tell them where the children in the neighborhood live. Clue them in to the best places to eat and shop. Invite them over for coffee when they get settled, give them your number, and point to your house as you say good-bye.
3. Be considerate, especially of elderly neighbors. If your neighbor hasn't brought in his garbage cans yet, roll them back into his yard. Random acts of consideration will have your neighbors talking -- and the talk will be good.
4. Invite your neighbors to your next bash -- or throw one in their honor. What better way to meet your neighbors than to invite them to an informal barbecue, pool party, or holiday open house? Better yet, you might even consider throwing a get-together just for them. Deliver the invitations in person to everyone who lives on your street and chat with each for five minutes before moving on to the next house. This way, you will get an idea of what your neighbors are like so that you can plan for appropriate food and music.
1. Strike up a conversation over the fence or on the sidewalk. It's okay to be the one to break the ice, even if you've lived next door for years. Most neighbors enjoy making small talk with the folks on the other side of the fence. So as you see them at work in their yards or at play in their pool, smile, wave, and say hello. Ask how their kids are (whether they're toddlers or in college), whether they could use an extra zucchini from your garden, or what they think of the prices at the local supermarket.
2. Extend yourself to the new family down the block. These days, the old Welcome Wagon is a thing of the past. But your new neighbors may be feeling lonely and unsure, especially if they're far from home, and might appreciate a friendly face bearing fresh-baked brownies. If they have kids, tell them where the children in the neighborhood live. Clue them in to the best places to eat and shop. Invite them over for coffee when they get settled, give them your number, and point to your house as you say good-bye.
3. Be considerate, especially of elderly neighbors. If your neighbor hasn't brought in his garbage cans yet, roll them back into his yard. Random acts of consideration will have your neighbors talking -- and the talk will be good.
4. Invite your neighbors to your next bash -- or throw one in their honor. What better way to meet your neighbors than to invite them to an informal barbecue, pool party, or holiday open house? Better yet, you might even consider throwing a get-together just for them. Deliver the invitations in person to everyone who lives on your street and chat with each for five minutes before moving on to the next house. This way, you will get an idea of what your neighbors are like so that you can plan for appropriate food and music.
5. On your computer at
home or at work, make "call friends" a standing appointment. Don't have a computer? Keep a Post-it note on
the phone, the bathroom mirror, the car dashboard, anywhere you're likely to
see it. Also make sure your friends' phone numbers are programmed into your
cell phone. Then call that friend when you're stuck in traffic or waiting in
line and chat for 10 minutes. Alternatively, schedule a standing once-a-month
lunch -- same time, same place.
6. Make time for friendships. Nothing makes closeness fade away than never talking with or seeing each other. While some bonds of friendships may be strong enough to span long silences, most aren't. If you cherish a person's friendship, make time for him or her, whether it's just the occasional phone call or a weekly get-together.
7. Remember: A true friend doesn't flee when changes occur. Nothing is sadder for new parents than to find that their single friends have abandoned them because of the baby. The sign of a good friend is one who stays true through it all -- marriage, parenthood, new jobs, new homes, the losses. Just because situations change doesn't mean the person has.
8. Sweat the small stuff. Yes, there are times when it doesn't pay to sweat the details, but in a friendship, it's the little things that count. Notice her new haircut. Remember to ask about her mother's surgery or her daughter's new baby. And if you're truly a good friend, you'll know when she needs some cheering up -- a simple arrangement of flowers if you can afford it, a simple card or e-mail if you can't. It really is the thought that counts.
9. Be a good listener. It can be the hardest thing in the world to do -- to simply listen as he or she pours it all out or is seeking your advice or opinion. To be a better listener, follow this advice:
6. Make time for friendships. Nothing makes closeness fade away than never talking with or seeing each other. While some bonds of friendships may be strong enough to span long silences, most aren't. If you cherish a person's friendship, make time for him or her, whether it's just the occasional phone call or a weekly get-together.
7. Remember: A true friend doesn't flee when changes occur. Nothing is sadder for new parents than to find that their single friends have abandoned them because of the baby. The sign of a good friend is one who stays true through it all -- marriage, parenthood, new jobs, new homes, the losses. Just because situations change doesn't mean the person has.
8. Sweat the small stuff. Yes, there are times when it doesn't pay to sweat the details, but in a friendship, it's the little things that count. Notice her new haircut. Remember to ask about her mother's surgery or her daughter's new baby. And if you're truly a good friend, you'll know when she needs some cheering up -- a simple arrangement of flowers if you can afford it, a simple card or e-mail if you can't. It really is the thought that counts.
9. Be a good listener. It can be the hardest thing in the world to do -- to simply listen as he or she pours it all out or is seeking your advice or opinion. To be a better listener, follow this advice:
·
Maintain
eye contact. Offer nods and murmurs that indicate you understand her point of view.
·
Don't finish your
friend's sentences. If you catch yourself planning your response while your
friend is still talking, gently remind yourself to focus on him.
·
Minimize distractions
-- don't type, open mail, or watch television while you're on the phone with
your friend. Your friend will undoubtedly hear your disinterest in your responses.
·
Be careful with
advice. Assume your friend wants to vent, not necessarily ask for a plan of
action.
Comments
Post a Comment