I have a very specific strain of social anxiety. It is the fear of small talk within 50m of my home. I don't love small talk in the best of circumstances, I sometimes joke with my friends that I only do big talk. This usually has very positive or very negative results but whatevs, I'd rather be entertained and impolite than bored with every human interaction.
I understand the purpose of small talk, it is a quick no intrusive means of connecting but despite my happy go lucky exterior, I like rules and the rules of small talk are constantly evolving (like are we allowed to ask people about their job now?) I think it would be easier if there was an alternative to small talk, like joining in with a chorus of a popular 90's hit (Backstreets Back anyone?).
Apparently introverts don't like small talk and I think I'm an introvert. Although I'm as exciteable as a labrador puppy and have a mild case of showy offiness, I do find constant interactions quite draining. This is why I think small talk close to my home makes me feel scared. My home is my sanctuary. I can pad about in fleece, talking to no one and thinking about nothing and my social skills reignite like a rechargable battery. If I have to make small talk near my home there's always the fear that the conversation will find it's way into my house! My safe space. This fear makes life with neighbours difficult. Making benign chat about greenfly is good neighbour 101. Or so I thought...
Corgi HomePlan have launched a campaign called How Safe Is Your Street and it's all about encouraging people to make sure their neighbours are okay. That means less chat about the weather and more talking about what life is really like behind closed doors.
60% of people surveyed by CORGI HomePlan said they would like to know their neigbours better and would like to do more for their community. A more connected community is a safer community and it all starts with a conversation. For lots of ideas about how to build a better community have a looksie at the How Safe Is Your Street hub.
For any readers that want to prioritise safety both inside and outside of the home enter the competition below to win a carbon monoxide alarm worth £40.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
photo credit: 13 February 2011 via photopin (license)
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knock on their door and ask to borrow something
ReplyDeletePop your head over the garden fence to introduce yourself and offer your assistance if they need it :)
ReplyDeleteTalking about the weather is a good subject all us Brits do that and introducing your self letting them know your name and asking there name
ReplyDeleteSend a Christmas card
ReplyDeleteIf you`re stuck for a babysitter just give us a shout
ReplyDeleteTaking them cakes or chocolates.
ReplyDeleteA friendly hello and how are you next time you see them going to their car etc
ReplyDeleteBeing polite and saying hello when you see them
ReplyDeleteAsk if they would mind feeding the cat while you were away at any time.
ReplyDeleteSay Hello, introduce self etc.
ReplyDeleteRachel Craig
Invite them round for a summer bbq (with just your household and theirs so not to scare them off).
ReplyDeleteI always send new neighbours a homemade welcome to our street card
ReplyDeleteKATHY D
Offering them a coffee.
ReplyDeleteHaving a chat outside our doors, then inviting them in for a cuppa
ReplyDeleteFriendly chat when arriving back at the same time
ReplyDeleteashleigh
Hi, hope I don't make too much noise?!! I'm real quiet, so it works :)
ReplyDeleteInvite to bbq
ReplyDeleteA street party is always good for breaking the ice with ALL your neighbours and it's great fun too :)
ReplyDeletebring some cake around and suggest eating it
ReplyDeletetalk about the weather
ReplyDeletesay hello and be friendly
ReplyDeleteTake some homemade cakes round to welcome them to the street.
ReplyDeleteTake a meal round the day they move in,No one stops to eat
ReplyDeleteNip around and introduce yourself x
ReplyDeleteTake their parcels in
ReplyDeleteneighbourhood watch
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely cat/dog/hanging basket/front garden you have.
ReplyDeletehope your move went ok
ReplyDeleteJust a hello will do to start with
ReplyDeletesmile and be friendly
ReplyDeleteHaving one of your cats try and stow away in the back seat of their car lol that worked quite well :P
ReplyDeleteTalk about them, what they do etc.
ReplyDeleteI offerd to walk they dog when i take my hounds out.
ReplyDeleteI've got to know my neighbours better since joining the local community group, and volunteering / attending meetings, etc.
ReplyDeleteJust start with a smile & a hello
ReplyDeleteI always take in neighbours post when they aren't home - that's a good ice breaker.
ReplyDeleteI got to know my neighbour by asking her if she would like to go with me to the garden centre.We have become good friends since and garden centre trips are a regular day out now.
ReplyDeleteSend them Chocolates
ReplyDeleteAlways make a point of saying hello when you see them and if they've just moved in, a cake or a bunch of flowers is usually a good ice breaker.
ReplyDeleteAlways make a point in saying I've just moved I'd like to introduce yourself
ReplyDeleteJust be friendly. Always say hello. If they've just moved in offer information such as when bins are collected
ReplyDeleteOffer to make them a brew or see if there is anything you can do to help
ReplyDeleteMaking them a gift abasket with pat treats in there to if they have pets & they will love you all the more if you love there pets
ReplyDeleteCan you use any eggs, I have so many
ReplyDeletehand them some flowers and say welcome
ReplyDeleteSay Hello
ReplyDeletePop round and say hello, introduce yourself and your family
ReplyDeleteIntroduce yourself and give a gift even something small
ReplyDeletePop around with a bottle of wine or a cake
ReplyDeleteTake them a cake and hope they'll invite you in!
ReplyDeleteIntroduce yourself and shake their hand. Ask them to pop over to yours for a cup of tea and a cake.
ReplyDeleteI pretend I have run out of sugar and when they lend me some I ask them in for coffee which is when they find out I don't take sugar and ice is broken lol :-)
ReplyDeleteI pretend I have run out of sugar and when they lend me some lol
ReplyDeleteTake a basket of cupcakes round to them to welcome them to the area ..thats what i did ...firm friends ever since ☺☺
ReplyDeleteTaking them cakes or chocolates.
ReplyDeleteWe have always connected with one of our neighbors really well wherever we tend to move. It's usually because we see them almost on a daily basis so our conversations go well beyond weather talk. I will have to make more of an effort to dig deeper with the others. Happy chatting!
ReplyDelete