Commute, work, commute, dinner, Netflix, sleep, repeat.
Where’s the time to know your neighbours these days?
You might only catch a glimpse when the post goes to the wrong door or when the dog gets out. This current generation is the loneliest to live in, and we can blame technology, pandemics, streaming and work, but honestly, if you’re not in education, how do you make friends? If you’re not fond of a trip to the pub, it can be hard to find yourself in a situation where you can have a chat with a stranger.
Community Centres have been doing the work more in recent years. Local classes bring people out of the woodwork; exercise, board and card games, bingo, yoga, the list goes on! There’s something for everyone. It’s daunting, but what better way to bring back the childhood sensation of bonding with a stranger that starts with “hi, what’s your name?” and have it feel normal.
But even more than that, it opens up the world. Suddenly, strangers are the woman from your yoga group, the man from bingo night, and the food shop isn’t a slog; it’s a catch up!
Picture the post office; awkward silence interrupted with quiet coughs and someone watching a a full volume Instagram reel on their phone. Imagine it’s replaced with catch ups and questions and “small world!”, and best of all, people join in. Maybe you’re chatting with Sandra from Bridge, and the post office clerk is her neighbour Marge and next time, the office is empty, and you’re catching up with Marge. Maybe she joins the class too, and on a nice day, you take the time to have a sit down afterwards with a coffee. Suddenly you’re realising how many neighbours you just didn’t know!
A community doesn’t need to be a big group of besties; it just needs to feel connection. Communities look out for their own – maybe that means knowing someone who can lend a hand when the plumbing is acting out, maybe it means knowing your neighbours number if their shed window is open during an orange rain warning, maybe it just means saying hello on the street.
The world isn’t small, it’s just full of people waiting to connect.
