Berks County is the kind of place that could be your home forever. Most of us grew up here; for many more of us, so did our parents. Even if you moved here, you know by now that everyone knows everyone here. The concept of 6 degrees for a connection is kind of laughable - it’s really more like ‘1 degree’. If you meet someone in a coffee shop on Penn Ave or at one of our amazing breweries, you are guaranteed to have at least one person in common.
Some people might feel like that makes this small-town feel a little too small, but I disagree. Having a close-knit community makes me feel safe, and makes me feel taken care of. On the extreme end, I know that if something was happening and I needed help, I could knock on a neighbor’s door and someone would show up. After reading the book, This Is Where You Belong, my mindset has totally changed.
Small-town doesn’t mean second-rate. In fact, Berks is one of the most amazing places to live. If the Best of Berks awards is any indication, this place is awesome. We have incredible people here. We have exciting and uplifting and interesting things to do and places to go. Businesses are thriving more than ever before. Berks County is the place to be. If you don’t already love it here, or if you’re just passing through, allow me to offer you some steps to become truly connected in your community to fall in love with where you live.
Challenge Yourself to Shop Local, Eat Local, Drink Local
I’ve been known to say that I could never live in a place that didn’t have a Target or a Starbucks, which is a very consumerism standpoint. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Target run and a Peppermint Mocha - but the items that I truly love in my home and moments I’ve felt truly connected didn’t come from a chain. Do you have a place that you walk in, and you are asked, “Good morning! Will you be having the usual?” It used to seem cliché to me, but this level of comfort and being known is something truly magical. I have a usual at a local coffee shop. I walk into the small breweries and talk to the brewers. If coffee and beer aren’t your things, there are so many shops and restaurants that you can frequent to get to know the people there. It makes me feel warm and at home when I walk into these places and am recognized.
Join Your Community Facebook Group
With how quickly I move in and out of my house, I rarely cross paths with my neighbors outside. Short of knocking on everyone’s door when we moved in like a salesperson, I wasn’t sure how to meet them. Then I was invited to join Voices of West Reading. I’ve had full-on conversations with my neighbors from posts started in the group about anything from yard sales, upcoming events, to our neighborhood cat colony. I’ve had someone knock on my door to remind me to move my car for street cleaning, and I’ve seen so many pets returned home through sharing their photos to the group. Some people might think social media is the death of connection, but only if you make it so.
Get into nature.
There is a spot near the Reading Public Museum that is the perfect place to watch the sunset over the creek. When I’m having a stressful day, I check what time the sunset is and I walk to this bench. There are countless benefits to simply getting outside, but having a place that’s ‘your spot’ is something magical. We have lived here for a long time, so the pond where my husband proposed to me is a place we like to walk. Nolde Forest has become my safe place to meditate. When I am in those places, I am never alone. People are constantly walking their dogs, or running, or going for walks. Even if you feel alone in your house or in your job, you can go to these familiar places and know that you’re still a part of a community.
Show up to free events!
You might be surprised at how many events are happening every week that are absolutely free. This time of year is rife with spending money and buying things, but I encourage you to check out some experiences. I just saw an event on Facebook for a free tour of holiday lights throughout our town. These events are simple, and all you have to do is show up. Plus, showing up helps to support the local businesses and groups that are putting these events on. You don’t have to have money to support, you can simply show up with your time.
“It takes a village” - be the village.
The quickest way to love and feel like an integral member of your community is to throw yourself in and commit. Offer to help people everywhere you are. This might sound overwhelming, and a bit like a Hallmark movie, but you can start small. This practice has shifted how I feel when I am in public and around people. Take your grocery store trip for example. Offer to grab something from the higher shelves for someone on a scooter! Talk to the cashier and ask them how their day is going, and really listen to their answer. Ask if the mom loading the conveyer belt needs help with her screaming toddler. If you consider everyone you come across as your neighbor, you start to realize how vital we all are to each other. It makes everywhere feel like home, and it reminds you that you are an important member of your community!
Alli is a local storyteller, creative professional, and book-nerd who grew up loving Berks County. She is a communications professor at Alvernia University, and the Director of Marketing for a national project management firm. When she isn't reading, writing or teaching, you can find her practicing yoga with her husband, hiking Nolde Forest with her pup, or hanging out with family in a local brewery.
