How to love your neighbor well in 2021 can be tricky. I mean, we are still in a pandemic and the country is so divided over so many things. February is a great time to focus on others. There’s Valentine’s Day on the 14th, and a few days later is World Kindness Day on February 17th. I know I can speak for all of us when I say we can all appreciate a little extra love in this crazy world. Here are some simple and easy ways to love your neighbor this month.
Send Some Happy Mail
Don’t you just love getting something in the mail besides bills? We ALL do! Send a letter (vintage style, ha) or a postcard to a friend or loved one. Let it be a surprise. This past week, my kids made postcards (we used this kit) to mail to their friends. They had so much fun and talked about sweet memories they have with those whom they were creating for. I plan to mail my own little notes of encouragement too. Parenting is hard. Parenting during a pandemic is hard. Parenting during the winter during a pandemic is ridiculous. Send some unexpected love. It will fill your heart as well!
Everyone Loves Coffee
You know coffee is basically life for moms. Show a friend or even a stranger some love by paying for their Starbucks. The Starbucks app makes it really easy to send someone a gift card. Also, paying for the person behind you in the drive-thru line has the potential to make someone’s day or even week! When you pay for someone’s coffee order in the drive-thru, it will often set off basically a coffee love chain where people continue to pay for the person behind them for quite some time. That’s pretty cool!
Your Actual Neighbor
Loving those in our closest sphere of influence can be so powerful. That includes people who actually live next to us. I know I have been guilty of not knowing my neighbors before. Falling into that isolation really doesn’t benefit anyone. If that is you, it’s okay! Now is the perfect time to reach out. Shovel your neighbor’s driveway one morning, make them some banana bread (or the star of the pandemic – sourdough bread), bring their newspaper to their front door so they don’t have to walk to go get it, or offer to take their dog on a walk. There are so many little things we can do to make a difference in someone’s day.
I think so many of us had such high expectations for 2021. Like we thought the end of 2020 would just cause all the big things to just evaporate. Well maybe not quite so dramatic, but we hoped to at least to have turned a corner. For some people, things have gotten better. But for many, things are mostly the same. Pandemic fatigue is strong. Moms are all struggling. I know I definitely have hard days.
I know none of the things listed above are super revolutionary. But sometimes we just need to be reminded of the simple every day things that can make such a difference for others. I think the middle of winter during the month of love is perfect time to show friends and strangers alike a little extra love, kindness, and grace in a tangible way. How are you going to love your neighbor this Valentine’s Day? Let me know in the comments. And, as always, please like, share, and subscribe if you enjoyed this post.
I love these ideas. Being intentional about showing kindness not only blesses others, but for me, I see it change my own perspective. I am always happier when I am focused on blessing others.
You’re right! It really does change the giver’s heart in the best way every time.
Such good ideas! I love getting a note in the mail from someone, and people don’t do that much anymore. I’m going to start doing that randomly! Thanks!
These are so sweet, spreading love is so important!
Great ideas! And it’s great for our children to see us foster healthy relationships!
Totally agree, I’ve been enjoying writing notes with the kids this year as schools are closed here and they see so little of their friends at the moment. Great ideas.
We started out the pandemic last year with lots of happy mail. Even my preschooler wanted to send some happy mail to his friends. We need to get back to that. I am totally inspired by this post. Thanks for sharing.
I’m so happy it encouraged you! Sometimes we just need to be reminded of the little things ?
Such great ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Great ideas! When everyone was in lock down here, I had my toddlers write letters (ie draw a picture) and then I’d write ‘Have a lovely day’ on them and we’d post them randomly around the neighbour hood. A few people shared them on the community FB page saying it had made their day which was a lovely feeling for us too.
Awe! That sounds lovely.
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