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August 6th marks National Friendship Day, a holiday meant to celebrate connections with friends and bring everyone closer together. Friendships play a critical role in all of our lives, and as we grow older, they evolve and take on new meanings. Nonetheless, our friendships are always special as they support us, bring us happiness, and help make this big world a lot more meaningful.
In a study measuring the happiness of nearly 5,000 people over the span of 20 years, researchers found that increased happiness triggers a year-long chain reaction that benefits not only a person’s friends, but also their friends’ friends, and even their friends’ friends’ friends. That’s a lot of happiness that can go around as a result of positive and strong relationships!
Arden communities are designed to be filled with others who share similar interests and life experiences. As we honor this important day this August, we want to emphasize how a friendship can also take on the form of being a friendly neighbor. Keep reading for a couple of simple ways to build your connections with your neighbors and brighten both your life and community everyday!
Be Neighborly
Being neighborly is more than just acknowledging your neighbors when you first move in. Maintaining a positive environment also includes the simple acts of kindness and friendliness that are important to extend on a daily basis. This can range from saying hello when you head out on your morning walk, exchanging smiles when you see one another around the community, or being open to conversation if the opportunity arises. If a new neighbor just moved in, you can even get them a small flower bouquet. Connecting with others is worth the effort, and you never know when small things like these can be enough to turn someone’s day around!
Practice Mindfulness
It’s always better to be respectful of others immediately from the get-go in order to create and keep community friendships on the right foot. If you have a dog, be mindful of keeping them on a leash when they’re not inside the dog park and maintaining a respectful distance for your neighbors who may not be so comfortable with pets. When you have guests over, also try to let your neighbors know ahead of time so that they’re aware of any noise increases on the day of. And if you know they’re going on a vacation soon, offer to keep an eye out and keep them updated on any community news. In short, be the type of neighbor you’d like to have next door.
Extend an Invitation
Embrace the mentality that everyday is National Friendship Day and reap the benefits of developing genuine friendships with your neighbors. Invite them over for dinner, a walk, or even to the dog park to get your dogs together for a playdate. If you’re not quite at that stage, getting out of your comfort zone can also be as simple as introducing yourself and asking your neighbor something about themselves. These are all great ways to inspire friendship and continue to build community.
Get Involved
Getting familiar with your neighbors can only happen if you actually see each other around! Arden is proud to offer a wide variety of community amenities that are perfect for residents to easily socialize and enjoy meeting new friends through a program-enriched lifestyle. Attend one of our fitness or wellness classes, join a resident club, or visit the health and wellness room, outdoor lounges, fire pits, and more.
Expect the Unexpected Friendships
Scientists have found that what separates the happiest 10% of the population from everyone else is the strength of their social bonds. When you remove the barriers that are disconnecting you from other people, you will be empowered to interact with others and meet new friends. It’s difficult for social networks and online friendships to replace the ones you find in real life, so encourage yourself to move beyond your comfort zone and interact within your community. You never know who you will meet, what you will have in common with them, or if they might be the new friend that you never knew you were missing.
Arden is dedicated to building communities where positive neighbor relationships are the standard. If you want to learn more about our 55+ active adult communities and different ways you can get involved from within, click here.