It’s no secret that this year has brought a lot of change — whether you voted for it or not. In my personal life, I’ve been navigating a series of changes since spring. While not all of the change that’s happened is “bad”, I’m struggling with the rapid pace of my routine and familiarity evolving into something unknown and new.

Recently my neighbor’s wife passed away. They were married for 80-something years and were together since high school. The day of their graduation they eloped and went to college together. Watching him navigate this change has been both sad and incredibly encouraging. He’s embraced this change as best as he can. While having to adjust overnight to being without his wife and best friend of eight decades, he decide to dive even deeper into change and sell his house.

As he’s packed up everything he and his wife have collected over the years, said goodbye to the last place they shared together, and moved into a retirement community, I found myself looking at change differently.

When I think about my neighbor’s decision and how he decided on the next steps for him, I admire how brave he is. He wasn’t afraid to sell the house. He isn’t afraid that he’ll regret it a year later. He wasn’t afraid to downsize and donate their things. He wasn’t afraid to ask for help. He wasn’t afraid to walk into the next aspect of life. He may be anxious and curious about what’s to come, but he’s not letting that stop him from moving forward and embracing change.

I think that’s beautiful and a great reminder that even when change is hurtful and unexpected, we can continue to walk toward it and find other aspects that are beautiful and build a new sense of peace and stability within that.

My mom planned a neighborhood brunch for him next weekend, so we can all gather one last time as neighbors and support him. I can’t wait for us to share about all of the ways he has impacted us. When I think of home, he is one of the faces that appear in my mind. He is woven into the memories that I treasure. During the pandemic and lockdown, we grew especially close as a block. The mass global change helped us all to slow down, get to know each other better, ask for help, and share our lives with one another. His new neighbors are incredibly lucky to have him nearby and to be in community with him.

The Comfort Of Our Neighbors

My neighbors are people I’m closest to — and not just in proximity. They’re the first ones that show up when support is needed or when exciting events and things happen. I know that not everyone has the comfort of community, but if you are willing, I hope that this week you take the first step to build deeper relationships with your neighbors. Even if you’ve lived next door or down the block from them for 20 years.

There’s unity, comfort, and power with knowing there’s a familiar face nearby you can trust and navigate life with. Especially during times and with things we can’t control. Such as, global pandemics, executive orders/ new bills, natural disasters, illness, and death.

3 Easy Ways To Build Deeper Relationships With Your Neighbors This Week

Write them a letter and stick it in their mailbox or deliver it to them face-to-face. Include how you want to get to know them better and ask if they’d like to go for a walk, come over for a meal, or go out to brunch as a neighborhood. Be honest and also share something about yourself!
The next time you see your neighbor outside (when they don’t look in a hurry or busy), ask them a deeper question. Are they looking for any opportunities right now or facing any major decisions that you can support them with? If you know any information about them, follow-up with them on it. How’s their hobby going? Did they complete the house project they were working on a while ago? If those make you feel nervous, start with a genuine compliment. Comment on how beautiful their garden looks. This is a great bridge to learn more about how they care for their plants, the hobby, and for them to know/ hear that you see them and the effort they’re putting into caring for their home and making the block feel beautiful.
If you don’t have their phone number, ask to exchange it in case of emergencies or if they want or need anything. Share how you’re trying to be more intentional with your neighbor-based relationships and build community. This is especially great if you live in an area prone to natural disasters or are more isolated from town. Our neighbors can provide help a lot faster than it could take first responders to show up or for news to reach them.

I’d love to know how you connect with your neighbors this week! If you feel comfortable, DM me on Instagram and share!

Last Week’s Favorites:

Now, for your dose of entertainment. Continue reading for recommendations!

What I’m Watching: The Gilded Age

If you aren’t watching The Gilded Age on HBO, you need to start it! The show ‘s third season began this month and WOWZA. It’s incredible. “This period drama follows a young woman who moves in with her “old money” aunts and quickly gets entangled in the social war between them and their “new money” neighbors. Exposed to a world on the brink of the modern age, will she follow the rules of society or forge her own path?”

What I’m Reading:

Technically this is a re-read. I read the book when it first came out, but I’m waiting for my copy for the sequel from the library and wanted to refresh my memory about where the first book left off. I highly recommend A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales.

“Feisty, passionate Beatrice Steele has never fit the definition of a true lady, according to the strict code of conduct that reigns in Swampshire, her small English township: She is terrible at needlework, has absolutely no musical ability, and her artwork is so bad it frightens people. Nevertheless, she lives a perfectly agreeable life. But she harbors a dark secret: She is obsessed with true crime. If anyone in her etiquette-obsessed community found out, she’d be deemed a morbid creep and banished from respectable society forever.

For her family’s sake, she’s vowed to put her obsession behind her. Eligible bachelor Edmund Croaksworth is set to attend the approaching autumnal ball, and the Steele family hopes that younger daughter Louisa will steal his heart. So Beatrice must be on her best behavior—a difficult challenge when a disgraced yet alluring detective inexplicably shows up to the ball.

Beatrice is just holding things together when Croaksworth drops dead in the middle of a minuet. As a storm rages outside, the evening descends into a frenzy of panic, fear, and betrayal as it becomes clear that the guests are trapped with a killer. Contending with competitive card games, tricky tonics, and Swampshire’s infamous squelch holes, Beatrice must rise above decorum and decency to pursue justice and her own desires—before anyone else is murdered.”

What I’m Listening To:

Of course, I’m still streaming The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. When that’s not on repeat, I’ve been listening to a new to me artist, Max McNown. I really enjoy the songs Better Me For You and St. Helens Alpenglow.

Looking To The Week Ahead:

As we enter a new week, I encourage you to go out of your way to deepen your relationship with your neighbors. Pick one neighbor and start small. Scroll back up and read the section on how to do this, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, shy, or want inspiration. You got this!