In our May series Goodness is Giving this week we will be focusing on helping our neighbors and friends. There was a time when knowing your neighbors was the norm and it was easy for neighbors to call upon one another for help. Today with jobs around the world and the global economy, it is sometimes difficult to create those connections of 
community. A community does not just happen, it is something that grows over time with an ebb of flow of people that create it.
With ipods, tablets, smart phones, personal computers and our modern technology we can become very insular and self-focused. Granted this may not always be a bad thing, but in the context of community it may well be a detriment. Get outside and meet the folks in the community…walk to the store. Help an elderly neighbor carry her groceries home from the market. Offer to help the mother of 3 trying to corral the children into the car.
Today we are becoming inured to the difficulties of those around us. We are so busy with our personal communications devices we are driving off the road or walking in to fountains, but we feel we are too busy to connect in our own neighborhood. Put the Phone Down! Make the commitment to spend at least an hour a week interacting with your neighborhood. It is through connections of concerned and caring people that we can change the world. To enhance your enjoyment of your connection experience take a walk around your neighborhood and visit with the folks you find there.
The positive energy garnered from just paying attention to someone or something outside of ourselves is amazing and long lasting. Take the time to step outside yourself and look back in to see if you are reaching out to your community in a way you are proud of. There just might be some fantastic rewards for both you and your community by your just becoming an active part. When we give to our community, we are creating strong bonds that will help include us in our own community. By giving of our time and energy to the community in which we live we are rewarded with stronger bonds, friendships, and people to rely on when you need help. Those are some great benefits, right?
There are more Goodness is Giving posts, inspiring pics, and a Tarot Reading Giveaway on facebook! Check it out!
