Why you should get to know your neighbors...

Why you should get to know your neighbors...

In my last article, I shared with you how together we could make our neighborhood a better place.?

I have often spoken to you about what being neighbors means to me and what a neighborhood should look like. I do think that a neighborhood should be a place where our neighbors are not strangers anymore, where we share services, tools, smiles and fun moments, where we help each other out through kindness and collaboration. A place where each one of us feels included no matter his political views, race, age, sexual orientation or religion and where we think it’s important that in our communities we can count on each other.

This is the reason why we launched a community building app for neighbors willing to get to know each other and help one another out. But MyNabes has also always been a way for us to drive out individualism and isolation, which is a real challenge sometimes in today’s society.

We tend to forget that behind this elderly person who passes in the street, there are memories, stories and much more.

As you know, at the origin of MyNabes there is Ginette, an amazing elderly lady who never married and has lived in the same building since 1935. With her, I learned so much about Paris during World War II, about what she was able to learn during the many conferences in which she participated but also from her many travels.

I also understood that we could make radical choices, she never married quite simply because the man she loved was not available and she was never able to love again after him. Ginette left us 5 years ago and I really miss her but I have fond memories of this beautiful relationship of grandmother and granddaughter which lasted 10 years.

When I launched MyNabes, I sent a handwritten letter to introduce the app to my 315 neighbors and an adorable lady wrote back with a lovely letter asking me if she could come to my house for a cup of tea because she had ideas to promote the app.?

When the time of our meeting came, I saw an elderly person arrive probably in her late 80’s who started by apologizing because she had some short-term memory issues and as the conversation progressed, I discovered an incredible person who has dedicated her entire career as a filmmaker to giving a voice to those who do not have one and to focusing on strong subjects. She was nominated for the Emmy awards and also for the Oscars.

Throughout her career, Dorothy Fadiman has provided fresh perspectives on complex issues. Subjects range from holistic healing to progressive education; from aging to the universal Spirit within all faiths. Her work also documents controversial subjects such as women's reproductive rights, HIV/AIDS in Africa, and the disenfranchisement of Native Americans.?

Who would have thought that this pretty grandmother could be so amazing. I have known Dorothy for 4 years and even though we no longer live in the same city, we continue to exchange emails and check in on each other.

I know that we don't all have the possibility with our busy lives to take time to be more present with our elderly neighbors’ lives but, you know, it only takes small things to make our neighborhoods more enjoyable for everyone and to integrate our seniors into our neighborhood life...

Sometimes all it takes is a simple hello, a smile or a compliment to brighten up our elderly neighbors’ day and besides, it works for all neighbors in general.

And if you can, why not offer to take their dog out when you walk yours, go on a walk with them around the neighborhood, take them to the grocery store when you go shopping, or just ask them if they need anything. Make sure they're warm enough when it's cold and ok when it's too hot. Leave them sometimes on their doorstep, a drawing made by your children for example. There are lots of small gestures that don't take a lot of time but that can have an incredible impact on the life of our neighborhoods...

What I want to tell you by writing this article is that sometimes we should take a few minutes to think about the others. Many of us don't have the time but want to help so why not start with our neighbors....

And as you can imagine, at MyNabes, we have thought of everything so that you can connect with your neighbors. We have all the categories you can think of to meet all the little needs that we may have on a daily basis and even your desire to discover and meet your neighbors.

So together, let’s make our neighborhood a better place!