Member Rating:
Rediscovering the Lost Art of Community Building
Feeling isolated? Here’s how to make new bonds with those around you.
Not so many years ago, it wasn’t uncommon to know everyone in your town or neighborhood. Not just friends and neighbors, but also store owners, mail carriers, schoolteachers — in short, all the people who make a community strong and vibrant. In today’s fast-paced world, it may seem that you never have time to converse with your loved ones, let alone strangers. But there are many reasons you should take the time to connect with the people you interact with daily. “Feelings of well-being and happiness are strengthened when you’re part of something bigger — part of a community,” says Peter Block, author of Community: The Structure of Belonging.
Unfortunately, fostering feelings of community beyond friends and family is something of a lost art. It requires reaching out and giving of yourself. Kindness, eye contact, opening doors, saying hello, smiling — these are the building blocks, says Block. Try these suggestions to make your wider community feel like home.
Take time to get to know people. Instead of rushing through your daily tasks, slow down and talk to the people you meet as you go about your day. If you’re home when the mail gets delivered, for example, make it a point to greet your carrier. Decide to find out what gifts and skills reside in your neighborhood or block. If there are children on the block, find out their names and what they like to do. The connections you make keep the block safe, help raise children and are good for your health.
Frequent some favorite spots. Being a regular at a restaurant or coffee shop has hidden benefits beyond the occasional freebie. Establishments where people eat and drink are places where they also tend to linger — and talk. By tapping into the knowledge of the staff and other regulars, you can stay in the know on neighborhood and town news that might not make the paper but is nonetheless important. What’s going on in schools, minor crimes in the area, which mechanics do the best work — all this information can be gathered from your network of acquaintances, plus you’re supporting a local economy.
Go for a stroll. Cars have an isolating effect. You drive from point A to point B and don’t meet or talk with anyone along the way. Getting out of your vehicle and taking a walk opens up the possibility of meeting new people, especially in your neighborhood. Instead of just nodding and smiling as you pass others, spark up a conversation. Offer some information about yourself, and ask a nonintrusive question. A comment such as “I live down the street — might you be one of my neighbors?” allows others to offer as much information as they’re comfortable with.
When you take time to get to know the people who make your community strong, you open yourself up to a greater sense of happiness, safety and purpose. From the delivery guy who notices when a neighbor who lives alone hasn’t retrieved her packages to the store owner who sets aside the last of the hazelnut biscotti because she knows they’re your favorite, being part of a community — however large or small — makes you feel good.
Rate this article:
Post a Tip or Comment
SHARE
