52 Weeks of Neighboring - Week 10

April 19, 2020 Kristopher Swanson

Neighboring Tip of the Week - Engage in an online conversation with a neighbor, or neighbors, in a positive way.

Happy Sunday, folks!

It’s time for another context-of-coronavirus neighboring tip! We hope this email finds you healthy and well.

This week, we’re thinking about how online platforms are a fantastic way to engage in conversations with neighbors in the midst of this pandemic. In doing so, we can interact with neighbors we have not yet met in person, continue fostering relationships with the neighbors we have already met in person, and remain informed about what is happening around our neighborhood - and we can do all of this from our own homes.

Do you take part in any social media conversations, or are you a part of any other online groups? If not and you are interested, this is the perfect time to join one! It is likely that your neighborhood, neighborhood association, or any other association in your neighborhood that you are a part of already has a Nextdoor or Facebook group that you can join. If you do join one of these groups, or if you are already a part of one, then that’s where this week’s tip comes in. This week, we encourage you to think of one positive way that you can engage in an online conversation with a neighbor, or neighbors, and then, we encourage you to do it! We emphasize doing so in a positive way because, while we do believe that these online platforms are a fantastic way to engage in neighborhood conversations, we also realize that some of these online conversations can give off negative vibes, and who wants to be a part of those? Let’s commit to engaging positively in our online conversations with our neighbors and with all of our fellow humans. In what seems to be a period of heightened global anxiety due to the coronavirus pandemic, this seems more important than ever.

Maybe this looks like starting some sort of online group with your neighbors so that everyone can stay in touch? Maybe this looks like posting on your neighborhood association page about how beautiful the budding trees in your neighborhood are? Maybe this looks like sharing a neighbor’s post that contains an encouraging story? Maybe this looks like commenting something kind and encouraging on a neighbor’s post? There are so many ways we can engage in these online conversations with neighbors in positive ways, and even if doing so only encourages one neighbor, isn’t it worth it?!

Happy neighboring!

P.S. In this Tuesday’s episode of our podcast, hosts Adam and Matt talk about grieving, and how to walk alongside our neighbors in their grief, in the midst of this pandemic. Please tune in if you are interested! You can find The Neighbor Next Door on any podcast medium, but here are links to some of the most popular ones.