Winter Garden Magazine March 2015 | Page 9

SENsE OF COMMUNITY By Monte Martin Seeking a better sense of community? Look to neighbors and find new friendships that build upon a foundation of identity. In today’s fast-moving world, relationships can seem fleeting or don’t deepen past a superficial level, yet these connections, as trivial as they can seem, have the potential to grow into something more. Focus attention on casual acquaintances with neighbors. Actions speak louder than words. Say hello. Smile. Wave. Offer a helping hand. Ask how someone is doing, and mean it. If a yard needs mowing, newspapers pile up in a driveway, a neighbor isn’t around like they used to be, don’t assume they are lazy or don’t care. Check on them. Call. Knock on their door. Leave a friendly note. They may be ill or have a serious family issue! Knowing your neighbor cares can go a long way. Ensuring the well-being of our neighbors is a nice way to build a sense of community. Not everyone is open to the idea of sharing. But, most of the time it is because neighbors are strangers! But by connecting, you may discover those neighbors as eager as you to have personal connections defined by substance as well as proximity. march 2015  |  Winter Garden Magazine   |  9