Do You Trust Your Neighbors? Do You Even Know Them?
Plus: This week's feature stories to help make your tomorrow a little better than today
Welcome back to your weekly dose of wisdom and wellness. I’m your host and publication editor, Robert Roy Britt. Below you’ll find several informative and actionable stories by our team of journalists, topical experts and practicing professionals. First this tidbit…
When the world spins out of control, as it’s been wont to do in recent years, many of us find solace in close friends and family. When they’re not around, at least we have our neighbors, right?
Well, like many Americans, I’m not so great at getting to know my neighbors. I tend to sneak in and out of the house and maybe smile and wave, perhaps a quick hello, then shuffle along. It’s not that I don’t trust them—heck, I barely know them! I’m just not the outgoing type. And I know it’s not just me, because…
A new survey from the Pew Research Center paints a pretty mixed view of how well Americans know and trust their neighbors. Among the findings from the survey, conducted in March and released this week:
About a quarter of U.S. adults (26%) say they know all or most of their neighbors. Another 62% know only some of them, and 12% don’t know any of them.
44% of adults say they trust all or most of the people in their neighborhood. Another 46% trust some of the people in their neighborhood, while 9% trust none.
The most interesting question, to me, was whether people feel they can lean on their neighbors who, after all, are often the only people nearby in a crisis. Hmm. Only 59% of respondents “have a neighbor they’d feel comfortable asking to keep a set of their keys for emergencies.”
If there’s anything actionable to glean from this survey—something I should consider myself—it would be this: Go introduce yourself to a neighbor you don’t know, instead of settling for the polite wave and hello that’s been going on for years. Be curious. Ask a few questions. Learn a little about them. Offer to help if they ever need it. Who knows, maybe you’ll make a friend. (Maybe even I will.)
Now, this week’s feature stories:
‘Agreeing to Disagree’ Hurts Relationships. Do This Instead.
I’m guilty of avoiding controversial conversations with people who matter to me. I figure it’s a way to keep the peace. But it’s often a cop-out, I know, and certainly doesn’t bring people closer together. So I appreciate this science-backed advice on how to better navigate those difficult subjects with friends and family (or neighbors!). By Lisa Pavia-Higel
Your Eyes Hold Clues to Many Unseen Health Issues
Eyes are made for seeing what’s out there. But if we reverse our gaze, through eye scans, we get a glimpse of several health cues inside the body. Increasingly, with new types of scans, the eyes offer clues to diseases that loom. Have a look at this story to learn all about it, along with a glimpse at some interesting eye facts (see what I did there?). By Annie Foley
Is 8 Hours of Sleep a Myth?
If you’re often tired, cranky or otherwise lacking energy and focus during the day, it’s likely you don’t get enough sleep… or you don’t get enough quality sleep. But the notion that we all need 8 hours has been chipped away at by numerous studies. The latest research finds people in 20 countries have notable differences in sleep duration, and those who sleep less aren’t less healthy. Lots to unpack here! By Robert Roy Britt
Let’s Stop Ignoring the Neurotransmitter Acetylcholine
It’s not often that totally new medicines for treating cognitive conditions come along. That’s why this psychiatrist/neuroscientist is excited about Cobenfy, which takes a fresh approach to treating schizophrenia and might prove effective for “dementia, depression, ADHD and other conditions that can affect thinking and decision making.” By John Kruse MD, PhD
World’s Oldest Person Dies at 116. Again.
Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas dies last week at age 116, the second death in a row at 116 for a “world’s oldest person.” In fact, that age is somewhat typical for oldest people exiting this world, and it has been for a long, long time, suggesting we’re not making any progress on human lifespans. In fact, some researchers say we’re probably very close to the limit of what’s biologically possible. By Robert Roy Britt
I hope we’ve helped make your tomorrow a little better than today.
Cheers,
Rob