We all showed up in the neighborhood at different times. We each arrived during the appropriate chapter for our individual story lines. As usual, we each had our own priorities, pursuits, and interests.

Our dear neighbor, Linda, (pictured above center with the orange lei), has lived on our street since 1995. She has seen many neighbors come and go.

If there ever was a perfect neighborhood role model, Linda would be it!

She knew everyone, and we all knew her. Not only did she know everyone, she pretty much knew the back story of each neighbor’s entire family tree including their pets!

Whenever she saw you, she would ask how you were doing, how your children were doing, your mother, brother, your pets. She genuinely cared and wanted to know. In the winter time, she would march right to your door with a shovel and begin a conversation while clearing your front porch of snow. If anyone needed the name of a contractor or a cup of sugar, Linda was our go-to.

And as a bonus to her model behavior, Linda was not shy about going the distance during our summer block parties with spirited festivities that lasted well into the night. 🙂

But when Linda decided to move away to be closer to her family and friends, it became very clear how meaningful she had been to the fabric of our neighborhood.

I went door to door to invite each neighbor to a surprise party for Linda. Everyone had the same reaction. They expressed loss at the thought of her leaving, well wishes for her next chapter, and a sincere desire to send her off with good spirit and a proper celebration. So we had a lovely gathering for Linda, which helped to bring us all a little closer together too.

It truly made me feel the impact of having a great neighborhood.

When you feel connected to those around you, it gives a sense of comfort, support, positive energy, and a feeling of belonging. In fact, this is why National Neighborhood Day was created! The mission is to inspire the fostering of neighborhood relationships that in turn build stronger and more caring and effective communities. The dedicated website says, “Communities work better ( students perform better, crime rates are lower, kids are safer, people live longer) when neighbors know one another better. Knowing your neighbor on a first-name basis, as National Neighborhood Day suggests, is a surprisingly effective first step toward a better America.”

Loving your neighbors sure makes a lot of sense, right?!

I hope this post inspires you to be a good neighbor and love your neighbors, even if they don’t live right on your street. This will make you feel more at home and do your part to help build a culture of kindness and acceptance that will enhance our communities in the future for generations to come! In fact, you can start here and now by taking the Good Neighbor Pledge!

If you are ready to join a new neighborhood, send a note below so that we can discuss your plans!