[originaltext] Do you live in a neighborhood where you feel safe and connect

Do you live in a neighborhood where you feel safe and connected to others, or do you feel overcrowded, threatened, and otherwise unsafe in your surroundings? This, and other aspects of neighborhood life, can impact both your level of happiness and stress.     With our busy schedules, we don’t always see friends as often as we’d like. For a bit of socializing that takes only minutes out of your day, it’s nice to stop and chat with people for a few minutes on your way out to your car. And the more people you have available for shared social support, the better, generally speaking.
    I know people in some more-friendly neighborhoods who share dinners, minimizing the effort it takes to cook. Others trade fruit from their trees. A neighbor who borrows a few eggs may come back with a plate of cookies that the eggs helped create. Knowing your neighbors increases everyone’s ability to share, brings a sense of security and provides a strengthened sense of pride in your home and neighborhood. If you need something—whether it’s a cup of sugar when you’re baking cookies, or someone to call the police if they see someone lurking outside your home—it’s nice to know you can depend on those around you and they can depend on you. While you may not be able to change the neighborhood in which you live, you can change the experience you have in your own neighborhood by getting more involved with those around you and taking pride in the area in which you live.
23. What may influence people’s level of happiness and stress?
24. What do people in friendly neighborhood do?
25. What advice does the speaker offer?