PRESIDENT’S CORNER

2013-August

by Kyle Jensen, MHA President

Do you feel connected to others, or do you feel overcrowded, even threatened? Feeling connected, along with other aspects of neighborhood life, can impact both your levels of happiness and stress. I would like to discuss a few ways you can enrich your life.

Socialize: With our busy schedules, we don’t always see friends as often as we’d like. For a bit of socializing that takes only minutes out of your day, stop and chat with the people you see on the way out to your car. The more people you have available for shared social support, the better you feel.

Pooled Resources: I have heard stories of neighbors who share dinners, making it easier to serve a homecooked meal. Others trade fruit from their trees or vegetables from their gardens. I went to a pool party at the Martin home, brought a projector for an outdoor movie, and the following day they offered me the best jar of homemade jam made from fruit off a tree in their yard. When you give a neighbor eggs, they may come back with a plate of cookies baked with the eggs you supplied. Sharing with your neighbors provides a sense of generosity and builds relationships. Recently, I asked a question on our Facebook Chat Room regarding an injured hawk and within seconds I had a ton of options on how to handle the situation. The same result can be had with our email system (residents@mistletoeheights.org).

Use the resources available to you; that’s why they are there!

Security: Knowing the people around you can bring a sense of security. If you need something—a cup of sugar or someone to call the police if they see someone lurking outside your home—it’s nice to know you can depend on those around you and they can depend on you.

A perfect example is the group of urban campers who made the area their temporary home earlier this year. We communicated, watched each other’s homes, and reported suspicious activity until the issue was resolved.

Home Pride: Knowing those people who live around you provides a greater sense of pride in your home and neighborhood. Coming home just feels better.

Smile: It’s simple enough, but if you’re not in the habit of smiling and giving a friendly hello to the people you encounter in the neighborhood, it’s a good habit to start. While not everyone will return the friendliness immediately, it’s a quick way to get to know people and build relationships, even if you’ve lived close for years and haven’t really said much to one another.

Talk to the Elders: Veteran members of the neighborhood often have a wealth of knowledge about the area. You may be surprised at how much you can learn if you stop to take the time to talk to those around you.

Host A Block Party: If you know several of your neighbors’ names but want to get to know them better and meet those you don’t know, try throwing a block party. They’re surprisingly fun and easy. (See page 8 for instructions on how to host your own block party.) Josh Lindsay hosted a fantastic block party called “The Boulevard Banquet.” It promoted unity in the neighborhood and was a great excuse to get together. A big thank you to the Lindsay family.

While you may not think that you alone can change the neighborhood in which you live, you can change the experience you have in the neighborhood by getting more involved with those around you and taking pride in our area. I highly recommend taking a morning or evening walk. It’s a great stress reliever that also allows you to get to know many of your neighbors, gain an understanding of who lives where, and feel more at home in your surroundings.

If you have a story about pooling your neighborhood resources or want to share something you learned from an elder or want to let us know of a block party you are putting together, please email newsletter@mistletoeheights.org.

We would love hear about it. Let me know how I am doing. Let’s make our community better than it already is. I want to meet you. Find us:
• Our Chat Room www.facebook.com/groups/mhneighbors
• On the back of your newsletter (drop us an email)
• Our webpage www.mistletoeheights.org/contact
• Our next members meeting (Aug 20 @ 7:00)

Join us as we make an effort to clean up our neighborhood and improve the quality of life for all those that live here.