We live in a world where people ignore each other in elevators. We walk around with our noses buried in our devices. People sit at communal tables in coffee shops and never acknowledge the person next to them. We pass on the street and never make eye contact.
In a society that has more online "relationships" than real life ones, it is counter-cultural to smile and say a simple "hello," to your neighbor. If you haven't already, I encourage you to start there first.
Next introduce yourself and learn your neighbor's name(s). Because I'm poor at remembering names, when I first meet a new neighbor I will usually go inside and write their name and other pertinent details down immediately.
Be intentional. If you live in a large apartment complex, make it a goal to meet all the people in your hallway. If you live on a densely populated street, meet the people on either side of your home and directly across the street from you.
Do you live in a place where people are generally polite and know everyone's names? Or do you already know your neighbors names? Pause now to thank God for those blessings. Both you and your neighborhood are unique.
How have you made the first step in connecting with your neighbbors? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below.
This post is part of the 31 Days of Neighboring series.
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