How To Live An Amazing Life Now: Day 31 – Connect With A Friend/Neighbor/Community Member

The world has become smaller enabling us to connect with each other around the world digitally 24/7 and yet we seem to have become increasingly disconnected from the people we see every day. We spend our day staring intently at our cell phone and playing with our fingers. Most of us text our messages instead of a verbal interactions for valid reasons – save minutes and get a response right away not the dreaded voice mail! We connect via social media such as Facebook,  Instagram and Twitter with people all over the world but are we gradually losing the art of making physical connection neighbors and community members and even our friends and family members?

We need each other though we might not admit it. There are some of us that want to connect with one another beyond the tweets that seems to be the norm in the technological age. When we talk with each other, we build connections and form relationships. Having conversations is how we learn, create understanding and stay connected with each other.

How do we become more in touch with each other in our communities? This easy guide will show you through some of the ways to connect and stay connected with members in your neighborhood and community. Start now to develop new or stronger relationships with the people we meet every day.

 

5 Ways To Connect

Greet One Person A Day

Whether you are waiting at the bus stop or walking the dog, take a few minutes to look up from your gadget, make eye contact, greet or nod to your neighbors. You can even strike up a conversation by giving a compliment. Kind words are free and they go a long way!

Do One Kind Act A Day

When you are running errands such as going to the library or to the post office, ask your neighbor especially elderly folks whether they need to return a book or buy stamps. Such kind gestures will brighten someone’s day and warm your heart.

 

Volunteer To Warm Your Heart

There are lots of volunteer opportunities in any neighborhood. Do you know that volunteering will help you focus on others and help you lead a more healthy and fulfilled life?

  • Volunteer at your church to serve God. Circles are better than rows. Be a member of a small group or lead a small group or bible study.
  • Volunteer at a thrift store where proceeds benefit the low income communities
  • Volunteer to read to combat adult illiteracy or child illiteracy.

Be Part Of Your Community

  • Participate in neighborhood cookouts
  • Support local businesses
  • Take part in community gatherings such as festival, neighborhood day
  • Attend local city council meeting or town hall to promote building more trees in the neighborhood

Organize and Build Leadership Skills

  • Organize a block or neighborhood yard sale during spring and summer. This is common in my neighborhood and has helped me connect and meet my neighbors.
  • Organize a food swap
    • Trade your homemade bread or jam or kimchi. This can be done on a small or large scale. It can be organized on a small scale as a social gathering where friends gather to swap and chit-chat or large scale where foodies in the community would come and participate. It is fun to share and trade food with like-minded neighbors that enjoy the simple art of creating homemade food.
  • Build a “Little Free Library”
    • Todd Bol built the first Free Library in his front yard in Hudson, Wis. in 2009 as a tribute to his mother, an avid reader and former teacher. The Free Library promotes literacy and community. When you pause to go through the books available, you inevitably meet someone in the neighborhood that might have contributed the book that you are browsing through.