February was Heart Health Awareness month, but just because we’re now in the month of March doesn’t mean you can’t continue tending to your heart. Did you know that good neighbors are actually good for your heart? Keep reading to learn more!
In Light Farms, we LOVE our neighbors. We pride ourselves on being a community where friends become neighbors and neighbors become friends. And speaking of, having good neighbors is proven to be good for your heart. Over a four-year period, the University of Michigan studied more than 5,000 people over the age of 50 who had no history of heart problems. At the end of the four years, only 148 had heart attacks, correlating to about a 67% reduced rate of heart attacks. (Wow!) That’s pretty significant given that almost one in four deaths are related to heart disease.
So why do good neighbors play a role in heart health? According to the study, a high level of neighborhood social cohesion, such as neighbors who are friendly, helpful and trustworthy, form a more tight-knit community that encourages emotional happiness, increased optimism and a sense of community. A tight-knit community also tends to discourage anti-social behaviors. And having good neighbors is just fun!
At Light Farms we encourage a sense of community, getting to know your neighbors, and getting out & about to enjoy the company of friends. From year-round events such as our Farmers Markets and Movies on the Lawn to outdoor activities like biking, jogging or hitting the playgrounds with the kiddos, there are always opportunities to connect with your neighbors and make new friends. Consider having a progressive dinner party where you go to each neighbor’s house for one dish. Or a monthly cookout in your backyard. Or host a themed dinner party and assign each family a dish to bring. Even the occasional get-together for drinks and appetizers can turn into long-standing friendships. And, we can’t forget good ole’ fashioned block parties – which our residents take very seriously.
There are also many opportunities to get to know your neighbors by just taking a walk down the street. Stop and say hi to the neighbor sitting on his/her porch. Schedule a play date for your dogs. If you belong to the CSA and have too much of one item for your family or an item you may not love, offer it to a neighbor. Offer to help them take down those Christmas lights! Opportunities like these present themselves every day. All you have to do is take advantage of them.
So when you are looking for a new home, don’t overlook your potential new neighbors as you check out the nearby schools, restaurants or shopping. As well as becoming lifetime friends, they can help keep your heart healthy. It’s because of this we like to think that at Light Farms, we make hearts happy and keep hearts healthy. đŸ™‚
