National Do Something Good For Your Neighbor Day

There are a few things that I like about the national holiday Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day. First, I like that the way to celebrate this national day is both vague and specific all at once. Second, if you’re fortunate to have good neighbors, this day is easy-peasy to celebrate. And last, the word neighbor can be defined as: “1. A person who lives near another. 2. A person or thing that is near another. 3. One’s fellow human being.”, according to Nationaldaycalendar.com. In other words, if you don’t want to celebrate with a person who lives on your block, you can celebrate with a cubicle neighbor at the office or the workout neighbor at the gym etc. The possibilities are endless!

Let’s start off with what I meant when I said that this national day is vague. The person who founded National Do Something Good For Your Neighbor, Starr Valentino, wants to bring awareness that we are all neighbors and neighbors need to treat each other with love and respect. It seems like such a general request from Starr but yet the impact, if followed thru, is so great. On May 16th, which is National Do Something Good For Your Neighbor Day, showing love and respect can come in all shapes and sizes. The site Nationaldaycalendar.com lists some great suggestions such as:

• “Help a neighbor bring their garbage bin to the curb on garbage day.

• Offer to weed a flower bed.

• When running errands, ask if there’s anything a neighbor needs.

• Invite them over for a cup of tea or coffee. Visits are always nice!

• Drop a note in the mail just letting them know you’re thinking about them.”

And just like that, this national day goes from being vague to being SPECIFIC. Visions of thoughtful pinches run thru my mind: picking up trash around a neighbor’s yard, leaving a treat on the porch for a neighbor to find, making sure newspapers, fliers and deliveries to out of town neighbors aren’t sending out clues to the world that they are not home and offering to walk a neighbor’s dog.

In MPLS, the taco truck parked in the alley between the two blocks. We knew our backyard neighbors more than the neighbors across the street in front of our house. This particular taco truck came for so many years. Luis always took care of us. And our neighbor Cathy, always made the margaritas. It was a great set up.

Next, if your neighbors are as worthy as mine are, both in our former MPLS hood and at my current Wash Park abode, celebrating or showing love and respect will be very easy. Years ago, I wrote a post entitled, “Love Thy Neighbor” and in the post, I brag about having the ultimate neighbors. I didn’t think I could find better neighbors but I have to admit, when we moved to Denver, we picked the best street to live on. We have some pretty amazing neighbors. Last week, we threw a block party and the amount of teamwork that went into the event was outstanding. The neighbors helped me get the necessary paperwork in order to host a block party. They also walked around the block collecting signatures on the petition to close the street off from traffic. In addition, the neighbors kept track of rsvps and collected $5 from each home because we needed the required insurance for the block party. Weeks prior to the party, my neighbors had a margarita taste-testing and guacamole taste-testing because they wanted to make sure to have the perfect accompaniment to the tacos from the taco truck. I LOVE THAT! On the night of the event, neighbors brought out tables, chairs, games, chips, salsa, things for the kids to play with and drinks. Someone made sure to have the trash cans out and dads were handling the piñata. The whole vibe of the block party was very community-like. The amazing thing to witness was the clean up after the party. Many neighbors did their part to dismantle the set ups and the party was cleaned up minutes later. It was super cool. When National Do Something Good For Your Neighbor Day comes around this year, I can’t wait to pinch some of my neighbors.

Piñata time! Some of these kids had been going to our annual Cinco de Mayo Taco Truck Party for years. We miss them.

And finally, for all of you who cringe thinking about your next door neighbor because of some issues or differences, it’s time to think outside the box. Neighbors can be anyone really. Think about long term or short term neighbors - someone you have laid your yoga mat next to for years or the person at the Starbucks table who you sat by while you worked on editing photos for the client. We can do something good for these people who are our neighbors. For example, scooting our chair in at the Starbucks table so others can get by or gathering our paperwork so that there is more room for the other person to work side by side. Or for your yoga neighbor, leaving an inspiring quote on their mat for them to find before class begins. These are all good things and your neighbor will appreciate the gesture.

I am thinking about the ripple effect if we all took a moment to be aware that we are neighbors everywhere we go. We should be respectful and loving to our neighbors. On May 16th, the awareness of being a good neighbor is key. Once others catch on, it’s like being part of something big - a movement. Hopefully one day, the day that’s set aside for National Do Something Good For Your Neighbor Day turns into weeks, months, years.

Pinches,
Barb