One Day at a Time, One Neighbor at a Time

We all want our neighborhoods to be better—cleaner, friendlier, safer, more connected. But too often, we fall into the trap of believing it takes something big to spark that change. A new park. A revitalized business district. A grant, a groundbreaking, or a bold new program launched with a ribbon-cutting and fanfare.

But Jeff Siegler, in his book Your City Is Sick, offers a powerful challenge to that mindset. “Improvement can’t just be bought one big-ticket item at a time,” he writes. “No one can get in shape by going to the gym once. No one can learn the piano by watching a YouTube video. I can’t get healthy in one day… At the end of the day, you just got to put in the work.”

He’s right. Whether you’re trying to improve your body, your marriage, your mental health—or your community—there’s no shortcut. There’s no magic fix. Real improvement is slow, messy, and gloriously incremental. And the good news is, we all have a part to play.

I’ve made this same argument about neighborhoods. We won’t fix loneliness with one block party. We won’t revive civic trust by hosting a single town hall meeting. And we won’t turn strangers into friends by launching one “neighboring initiative.”

Improvement comes one day at a time. One sidewalk conversation at a time. One cup of sugar borrowed. One trash can taken in. One encouraging note left on a neighbor’s windshield. It comes from showing up—not once, but over and over again.

The beauty of this truth is that it’s accessible to everyone. You don’t have to be the mayor. You don’t need a grant. You don’t need permission. You just need to act. Smile at someone on your street. Invite a neighbor for coffee. Pick up the litter you usually walk past. Shovel someone’s snowy driveway before they get to it. Leave the porch light on and the front door open (figuratively and sometimes literally).

When we stop looking for silver bullets and start taking small, daily actions, change sneaks up on us. Trust is built. Pride returns. The neighborhood feels different—because we are different.

So the next time you wonder how to make your neighborhood better, don’t wait for the city to fix it or for the stars to align. Just do one thing today that moves your street in the right direction. Then do it again tomorrow.

Because better neighborhoods aren’t built in a day. But they are built every day.

I tried to put this idea into a poem. Here it is:

One Day at a Time

I know I won’t change this place overnight—

No big event, no spark, no light.

One great idea won’t fix it all,

But small things might, if I answer the call.

I can show up, even if it’s just me,

With a smile, a wave, or some company.

It might not seem like much at first,

But sometimes kindness quenches thirst.

Being an engaged neighbor—really there—

Means slowing down enough to care.

It’s asking how someone’s day has been,

And meaning it—again and again.

It’s not about perfect plans or speed,

But noticing someone else’s need.

It’s lending tools or watching kids,

Or just saying hi, like my folks once did.

No, it won’t show up on the news,

These little things I get to choose.

But change begins with acts like these,

Like steady roots beneath the trees.

So no, I won’t fix it all today,

But I can help in my own way.

And maybe as we all engage,

We’ll turn this corner—we’ll make change.

Written by David L. Burton

MORE INFORMATION

Take the Engaged Neighbor pledge and become part of a movement! The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge at https://nomoregoodneighbors.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special invitations to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.com or burtond@missouri.edu. You can also visit his website at https://engagedneighbor.com.