Do you want a better career, improved health, more meaningful friendships, a stronger sense of community and more solid finances? Consider saying hi to your neighbors.
While that may come across as a sales gimmick, it’s actually true. A 2023 study by Gallup showed that routinely greeting six neighbors is linked to higher well-being across those five essential life areas. And, technically, you don’t even need to leave home to do this.
But, if we’re honest (and if I’m honest), the awkwardness of knocking on a front door or finally meeting someone after years of living right next to each other might keep me from doing any of that. Even as someone who has intentionally gone out to meet my neighbors and host neighbor meetups, I still get anxious walking up and greeting new folks.
And yet, this past weekend, my neighbor two doors down dropped off cookies her daughter had made (like insomnia-style, massive, delicious, ooey-gooey cookies). A few weeks ago, my next-door neighbor helped me jump-start my car battery when it was dead, so I didn’t need to call a tow truck. And during the last hurricane we had, when power got knocked out, my back neighbors gave me a fresh cup of coffee over the chain link fence so my brain would still be able to function.
It turns out that facing the awkwardness of meeting a stranger has now given me neighbors who care for one another every day.
We know there are neighbors like mine in every community, and maybe even some you haven’t met yet. And what better way to break the ice, say hi, and connect than through celebrating?
Megan Ginn is the director of Community Building Strategies at CommunityWorks, where she helps residents implement a new, joy-filled path to strengthening their community through discovering gifts and building connections. She is also the president of the Azalea Park Safe Neighborhood Association and enjoys cultivating community with her dog Juniper.
In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed an official proclamation to make September 28 National Good Neighbor Day. Since then, people have found ways to celebrate their neighborhood and connect with their neighbors in small, fun ways. From passing out cookies to hosting a neighborhood walk to having happy hour in their front yard. Inspired by the holiday, leaders in Missouri and San Francisco decided a single day wasn’t enough and launched Good Neighbor weeks to host city-wide celebrations.
This year, we’re joining in the celebration with the first Orlando Good Neighbor Week! From Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, we’re celebrating the people and places that make our communities home across Central Florida. Our hope is to make it a little less awkward for you to meet with or reconnect with your neighbors. Throughout this week, we’re providing simple, stress-free ways like these to help you connect:
Participating in events across the city and in your neighborhood.
Bringing your neighbors together through neighbor meetups and neighbor jams.
Spotlighting amazing neighbors through sharing stories of simple acts of neighboring.
This year is just the start, and we hope Orlando Good Neighbor Week becomes an annual celebration across our community.
Find out more and join in today at OrlandoGoodNeighborWeek.org or follow us on Instagram at @orlandogoodneighbors.