We Are Neighbors

  "The federal government's been looking and asking people about how they spend their time for about 60 years. We've never spent less time socializing or more time by ourselves.  ...  The individual preference for solitude, scaled up across society and exercised repeatedly over time, is rewiring America’s civic and psychic identity . ” - Derek Thompson How Solitude is Reshaping America In Derek Thompson’s cover story for The Atlantic , titled “The Anti-Social Century,” he explores a critical yet underappreciated social trend: Americans are spending more time alone than ever before, and this shift has profound implications for our personalities, politics, and overall societal health. Thompson’s work reveals that self-imposed solitude has become a defining feature of 21st-century life, fueled by technology and modern conveniences. While alone time can be restorative, the pervasive and habitual isolation experienced by many Americans is reshaping the civic and psychological ...

  The Family Dinner Project: Strengthening Families One Meal at a Time The Family Dinner Project is a program that encourages families to come together for meals, conversation, and connection. It is based on a simple yet powerful idea: shared meals can strengthen family bonds, improve communication, and create happier, healthier relationships. While life can be busy, the project reminds families that setting aside time for dinner together is an important step toward building strong, supportive connections. Goals of The Family Dinner Project The main goal of The Family Dinner Project is to help families experience the benefits of eating meals together. Studies show that children who regularly eat dinner with their families tend to do better in school, have higher self-esteem, and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors like drug or alcohol use. Family dinners also provide a chance to share values, teach life lessons, and enjoy quality time without distractions. The project also...

  Lila loved her garden. It was her pride and joy, a small haven of colorful blooms and carefully trimmed hedges. Every morning, she sipped her coffee while admiring her hard work. That’s why her heart sank when she stepped outside to see tire tracks cutting deep into the soft soil and her prized roses crushed. She followed the trail to find her neighbor, Charlie, staring guiltily at his truck. His voice shook as he explained that his brakes had failed, and he swerved onto her property to avoid hitting a child chasing a ball into the street. Anger surged in Lila, but as she looked into Charlie’s weary eyes, she saw fear and regret. “The kid is okay?” she asked softly. Charlie nodded, his voice cracking with relief. “Well,” Lila said, surprising herself, “flowers can grow back. I’m glad everyone’s safe.” Over the next few weeks, Charlie and Lila worked together to restore her garden. He brought over fresh soil, new rose bushes, and a sincere apology. As the garden blossome...

Building strong communities means thinking about how to rebuild the connections within our neighborhoods. With trust between neighbors and strangers at an all-time low, social media dividing our attention and sense of community, and work and money taking up most of our free time, this is not an easy task.  But it’s still important to think about, and part of this project involves reclaiming a vision of what it means to be a good neighbor. At its core, being neighborly means taking time to connect with the people who live nearby. Of course, we all agree this includes being friendly: waving, stopping to chat, or agreeing to collect mail when neighbors are away. But for those of us who want to go beyond the occasional hello, it’s worth considering other actions, like inviting neighbors over for meals, hosting block parties, or starting interest groups.  Not only should we think about going the extra mile, but we should also ask why these actions can have such a big impact on pe...

  When it comes to being kind and helpful to your neighbors, people might wonder if this idea fits more with liberal or conservative values. In truth, kindness and neighborly help don’t belong to just one political side—they are a human idea that can connect to both perspectives in different ways.  Let’s explore how kindness and helping others align with both liberal and conservative beliefs, showing that it’s something everyone can value, no matter their politics. First, think about kindness and community through a liberal lens. Liberals often emphasize the importance of working together to make society better for everyone. They believe in equality, fairness, and supporting those who need help the most. From this perspective, being kind and helpful to your neighbors fits perfectly. For example, if someone is struggling to buy groceries, a liberal-minded person might see helping them as part of building a fair and compassionate community. This kindness reflects the belief that...

  On Jan 7, 2025, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued his "final prescription" highlighting the dangers of loneliness and social isolation among Americans. You can read the letter online here . In the letter, Dr. Murthy emphasized that lacking social connections can harm health as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Dr. Murthy urged people to prioritize building relationships and suggested that workplaces and schools create environments that encourage social interaction. Loneliness has become a significant issue in the United States, affecting people of all ages. Dr. Murthy's report points out that social isolation can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease, depression, and anxiety. The comparison to smoking underscores the severity of the issue, suggesting that being lonely can be as detrimental to one's health as well-known harmful habits. To combat this, Dr. Murthy recommends that individuals make a conscious effort to connect with other...

  This past week I expressed an opinion on social media opposing the idea of the Republic Mayor and Council members being paid to attend meetings and you would have thought I called for the burning of the community. One serial poster found it best to slander me personally, starting with untruths about my own salary and work, just because I don’t think paying the Mayor $800 per meeting (including special meetings that he can call) is very good public policy. It reminds me again of the short-comings of social media. What if social media could be a place where we discuss ideas instead of going straight into contempt and slander when someone has a different opinion? This is a question worth thinking about, especially because social media has become such an important part of our lives. Instead of being a space for open conversation and learning, many people use social media to attack others who disagree with them.  But what if that wasn’t the case? What if we could use social media...

  There is abundant evidence that social media makes people depressed, anxious, lonely, and unhappy.   Most studies find a positive correlation between time on social media and mental health problems, especially mood disorders (depression and anxiety). Fifty-five studies in one review found a significant correlation, and 11 had no relationship. Social media took off in 2010, and then we started to see its adverse effects shoot up among teens. Although teens may suffer the most, the American population isn’t doing well either. Why does social media cause these problems? We can’t say with absolute certainty, but as someone on the Internet before social media, I can guess what’s happening. 1) Toxic communication. Believe it or not, Internet forums and chat rooms didn’t use to be toxic. Today, if your Tweet goes viral, it wouldn’t be a surprise if you get hundreds of likes and others call you a dirty name. It’s poison for your mind, and it can make you sick. 2) Destroyin...

  Serving on a city council is considered a form of public service, a way to contribute to the well-being of one’s community through decision-making, policy implementation, and ensuring that local government meets the needs of its residents.  Traditionally, community service is understood as voluntary work that benefits others, typically without monetary compensation. This raises a pertinent question: Is serving on a city council still considered community service if the council members are being paid?  To answer this, we must explore the nature of both "community service" and the role of city council members, and examine how compensation may or may not alter the essence of the service provided. Nature of Community Service Community service is generally defined as work performed for the benefit of others, usually on a voluntary basis, and often without financial reward. It is an altruistic activity, carried out with the intention of improving the well-being of others or t...