52 Weeks of Neighboring - Week 21

Neighboring Tip of the Week - Be mindful of your own emergency preparedness and how this relates to your neighbors.

Happy July, friends!

This week, we have been thinking about how becoming more connected with our neighbors is the gift that keeps on giving. For all of us at the Neighboring Movement, it is absolutely the most joyful of blessings to know our neighbors! Every day, these connections shower us with so many gifts, many of which we never even anticipated. One of these gifts that surprised us is how much more we are now prepared for any emergency that may occur. Pondering this led to this week’s tip: Be mindful of your own emergency preparedness and how this relates to your neighbors.

We think that being mindful of your own emergency preparedness is not only good for your well-being but also that it may help you become more connected with your neighbors! So, this week’s proposal is to think through what you or others might do in the case of an emergency and to also think through how your neighbors may be involved in this. Do you have contact information for your neighbors, and do they have yours? Do you know any of your neighbors’ plans in the case of an emergency, and do they know yours? These are good questions to ask yourself, and we also suggest talking about them with your neighbors. When we choose to share more personal things with our neighbors, this helps build trust, and remember, trust is one of the most essential elements in neighboring.

One of the many ways that the power of human connections is displayed is in the midst of a disaster or emergency. It is true than when someone experiences a natural disaster or family crisis, they are more supported by who they know than what they know, and this is a beautiful thing! In times of trouble, we rely on one another! If each neighboring tip had a corresponding song, this week’s would definitely be “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers…

When neighbors are well-connected with one another and committed to the well-being of their fellow neighbors, they are able to stand together in times of trouble.

Happy neighboring!