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A Community Fitness Project
Inspiring Fitness and Fun in the Neighborhood
By Mark Stackpole
A neighborhood can be more than simply a collection of homeowners living in close proximity to each other. Maybe neighbors should be more than the people you wave to when leaving for work or chat with when taking out the garbage cans. That notion of community may seem antiquated in today's world, with our ultra-packed schedules and fear of letting our children out of our sight.
It wasn't so long ago that a leisurely bike ride to the park was a relatively normal, healthy pleasure for children, who would only come home when it got too dark to play or they heard their moms yelling it was dinnertime. It wasn't so long ago that we knew we could count on our neighbors to keep an eye on our kids, just like we did theirs. Not so long ago, and yet a lifetime. What are some simple ways we can make that connection again? What are some fun ways to get involved with our neighbors and establish that cherished sense of community for our children?
"I think we get so busy with life that we forget to really live it," says Dr. Susan Gregg, author of Dance of Power (Llewellyn Pub., 1993) and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spiritual Healing (Alpha, 2000). "Jobs, commuting and both parents working has changed the landscape for so many people. We seldom take the time to get to know our neighbors. In the process, we've lost the gifts a neighborhood can provide. If we want to teach our children about family values, we should extend those values to the neighborhood."
Dr. Gregg advises families to get involved with any community projects that are happening and specifically suggests activities that have a positive effect on the community as well as the individual. Something as simple as a neighborhood walk can become something more meaningful with a little planning. "Parents can go for a walk with their children and pick up litter, or offer to help people carry their groceries," she says. "Little acts of kindness teach our children a lot."
