Get to Know Your Neighbours

Do you know your neighbours? If you’re like me, you’ve only spoken them when you’ve bumped into them at the supermarket (where you can’t really escape them!) and not at the most likely place – your street. Before that accidental meeting, I had not spoken to them for 3 years since I moved in – something which I regret. I regret this because neighbours can be the kindest and most helpful people - and not to mention that they can be a valuable resource to have in times of strife.

One such time of strife I remember well: early one morning our bin mysteriously caught on fire – and if a (former) neighbour of ours had not been up at 6am to put it out, the fire would have surely spread to our house and engulfed us. I remember staring at the mangled burnt mess of the bin and promising myself to get to know (and profusely thank) my neighbour for looking out for us.

Having a good relationship with your neighbours offers a plethora of benefits. Not only can you borrow an egg or some sugar at a moment’s notice, but any neighbourhood issues can be resolved with a minimum of fuss. One example is the problem of an old and decrepit fence – negotiating the replacement and its cost can be done in a civil and friendly way that helps both you and your neighbour to come to an amicable agreement.

But how do you make friends with your neighbours? I would start by offering to do something nice for them. Do you have an excess of lemons from your tree? Offer to give some of them to your neighbours. Are your neighbours going away for a period of time? Offer to collect their mail for them. Sometimes the smallest gestures go a long way to creating a lasting and valuable relationship.


#_relationships
#_wellbeing
#_communication
#_people

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