by Kelly Litten

When you think of the term, "Better Living" you imagine your life as you know it now, and then visualize an improvement, which makes it more gratifying.  If you reverse the term to, "Living Better" it places emphasis on the improvement that has already been made to your overall livelihood.  Living better starts at home with getting connected with your family and extends to getting familiar with your neighbors and building new found relationships. Getting involved and giving back to the community in which you live is also a rewarding experience which enriches you and your families' lives.

Getting Connected with your Family
With the growing pressure from our jobs, school and kid's activities, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to find time to focus on just being a family.  Planning and executing family time in and away from the home is essential to keeping the family well connected thus creating a camaraderie amongst kin.  Family should be the most important social unit.  The old adage, The Family that Plays Together, Stays Together holds true.
In addition to the activities which involve the immediate family, encourage activities that bring together cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents alike.  Make it a point to visit and engage with your extended family beyond the standard holiday get-togethers.  If family is out of town, host a website and post blogs with pictures to keep family members updated and in your circle.  Add family members to your "Top 5" and call frequently.  This positive experience will impress upon your children to continue with their own children in the future.

Getting to Know your Neighbors
When is the last time you strolled through your neighborhood and greeted your neighbors by name?  Gone are the days when informal connections took place on front lawns or porches.  Now, the dual-working couple and automatic garage doors have virtually eliminated the opportunity for spontaneous, neighborly interaction.  A healthy community depends on interaction amongst its residents.  It is important that we work to create and improve relationships with our existing neighbors.  Be creative in inventing ideas and scenarios which will bring together old and new neighbors in the spirit of building relationships with those around us.  Perhaps organizing a potluck or block party would initiate communication and be a way to get to know the families who make up your immediate area.

Volunteering
Another way to connect with your family, neighborhood and community is to volunteer.  Volunteering is one of the easiest ways to get involved, make new friends and feel like you're making a difference. The satisfaction and pride you feel when helping others are important reasons to volunteer.  When you commit your time and effort to an organization you care about or a cause you feel strongly about, the feeling of fulfillment can be endless.  Volunteering is an excellent opportunity to teach children and teens a sense of responsibility and what it means to make a commitment.  Community service can help young people decide on their future careers and can bring them in touch with people of different backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, ages and education.  They will likely find that even the most diverse individuals can be united by common values.
Don't know where to start?  With research, you may find local organizations that support your interests.  With volunteering, a minimum amount of hours are usually required which can range from just a couple of hours to a full time commitment.  Check with your local neighborhood visitor or welcome center.  Websites such as Volunteermatch.org allows you to enter your zip code to find volunteering opportunities conveniently located in your area.  Libraries, hospitals or your city hall are all good places to start as well. 

Being involved makes us feel good.  Being a part of something, whether its developing stronger bonds within the family unit, volunteering your time and efforts for the greater good, or organizing a neighborhood watch is very fulfilling and makes life for us better. 

Get connected and involved today!