Licking the Razor's Edge (2015)

TIP #06: Instead of shopping all the time, start to barter &/or share with your neighbors
… Have too much of a particular food or staple? Consider giving it away to those in your
community who might be in need.
TIP #07: SHOP LOCALLY (& buy seasonally) … Seek out your nearest farmer’s market
and visit it once a week – every week. Make it a point to personally know by name the
producers (or at least the direct distributors) of all the food you & your family eat.
TIP #08: GIVE AWAY HOME-BAKED GOODS … And be sure to rotate your
recipients, so that everyone in the neighborhood regularly gets a taste of your Kindness.
TIP #09: OFFER to BABY-SIT for NEIGHBORS … Everyone needs a break from
parenting. Offer to do this priceless service for the parents in your community –
especially those with younger children.
TIP #10: HIRE LOCAL YOUTH TO DO ODD-JOBS … Teenagers are a priceless
resource for every community, and we are losing our teens rapidly to gangs, the Internet
and video games. “Fight back” by giving them something meaning-full to do for their
neighborhood.
TIP #11: Regularly (& anonymously) PLACE FLOWERS & GRATITUDE CARDS on
your neighbors’ windshields or in their mailboxes.
TIP #12: Once a month, HAVE A PUBLIC READING of children’s books, and invite
the neighborhood children to attend.
TIP #13: WASH A NEIGHBOR’S CAR for them.
TIP #14: MOW A NEIGHBOR’S LAWN for them.
TIP #15: Hugs … HUGS … and more HUGS!!!
TIP #16: Build a large front porch and “open it to the public” … If this it too expensive
or time-consuming for you, just SIT ON YOUR STOOP every evening & WAVE to
passersby.
TIP #17: REMOVE YOUR BACKYARD FENCE … Join in with other neighbors to
create a shared play-space for children, a community garden, &/or a wood-fired pizza
oven. If that’s too radical, consider cutting your six-foot fence to four feet to make
chatting across the fence easier, or build in gates between yards.
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