If I were to ask you, “What does it mean to be a good neighbor?” what would you say?
I mean, first, what does it even mean to be a neighbor? Am I talking about the people who live next door? In your neighborhood? Beyond your neighborhood?
And once we settle on what it means to be a neighbor, how do we even decide what it means to be a good neighbor? I mean, sure, I think we all agree that we shouldn’t blow our leaves into our neighbor’s yard or blast music from our apartment at three in the morning. But what about going out of our way to help our neighbors? Should we stop and lend a hand if we notice they’re in need?
And while we’re on the subject, how are we even supposed to get to know our neighbors? Should we sit in a lawn chair in our driveway until someone walks by and force them into a conversation? Or creepily stare out our apartment window until we notice someone in the parking lot, and then chase after them before they disappear? Is there any way to make meeting and getting to know your neighbors not awkward?
These are all questions I’ve asked myself (specifically the staring out the apartment window example. Not that I would chase a neighbor down if I saw them in the parking lot, but meeting neighbors in an apartment building can be tough, man). Which is why I was so thrilled to sit down and talk to Alex, Elora, and Kristy during a recent recording for the You’ve Heard It Said podcast. In this episode, these three women share how they became good neighbors. How they met, how they moved past the awkward moments of getting to know each other, and how they became true, lasting friends who support and depend on one another.
Their story inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and make an effort to meet my neighbors. And if you’re trying to figure out how to be a good neighbor or wondering how you can form relationships with your own neighbors, their conversation is a great place to start.
