How To Neighbor Well
What does it mean to neighbor well? Shannon is a mother, a friend, a wife, a daughter, and a neighbor. She shares what it means to practice the art of neighboring - pursuing strategic encouragement, preparing for spontaneous moments, and bringing life with great intentionality and fun!
Here are 3 practical ways Shannon neighbors well:
Be available! As you meet your neighbors, exchange contact information and offer tangible ways to support and help your neighbors. Keep your garage open, sit out front, and extend the invitation for parties, gatherings, and dinners!
Be prepared! Often what stops people from being a good neighbor is by not being prepared. Maybe you feel there’s not enough food, the house is not clean enough, etc. There are two ways to look at this. One is to be as prepared as you can be - by having extra snacks or quick appetizers in the freezer, having different games available, etc. However, hospitality is more than what you have; it’s about who you are - welcoming, warm, and willing to hold space for those who need it!
Be present! Shannon shares this great story of when a neighbor’s water heater broke in the middle of the night, and how their family was able to show up well for them - the joy in the challenge! There will always be last minute, happenstance moments where you have the opportunity to connect well with others!
Shannon also talks about how her and her family asked, “What can we do with this space?” in regards to their physical home. This was never about only her being a good neighbor, but helping model good neighboring to her kids and to other neighbors as well.