Herd immunity or herd mentality?
I learned about “herd mentality” growing up in Wyoming, and the memory still stings some 40 years later. I was eavesdropping on a report from the game warden as he recounted how hundreds and hundreds of sheep, scared witless by a bear, followed each other over a steep ravine, spilling like a colossal bucket of milk into the hungry jaws of the canyon. I listened, sick with the news that our beloved herd was nearly all gone. Among the lost was our pet ewe, raised as a bum lamb by my brothers and sister and me.
Sheep are often used to exemplify groups of people who blindly, reactively follow the crowd. As Americans, we shun herd mentality, though for most people it’s just an expression. We’ve learned autopilot behavior can be everything from dangerous to ineffective. It also conflicts with our values of self-reliance and critical decision-making. John Wayne, who was practically a nightly dinner guest for most of us growing up in the West, epitomized the “rugged individual” we idealized in the demanding Wyoming landscape. A bit aloof, he got the job done and didn’t cotton much to human relationships. He was the ultimate social distancer, you might say.
Myths and icons are good for driving home a point, but we all know a coin has two sides. Mythology helps us learn fundamental lessons. Then we have to go deeper and deeper to weave all the “truths” into scaffolding strong enough to hold us because we have to be both self-reliant and community-minded. We have to row our own boat, sure, but in a river with lots of other boats that also need to stay upright.
Both, and.
I never could bring myself to give our sons the often-given parenting advice: “If your friends drove over a cliff, would you follow?” I did find other ways to emphasize the balancing act required as young people become adults. It is unwise to try to wriggle out of the drivers’ seat of your own life, and at the same time, communities are made up of people who impact each other. Drive with attention on your own route and intention to watch out for and help others along the way.
We need to be clear-headed now. There is no John Wayne waiting in the wings to ride in and save the day. And, yet, if we can sit in the tension and stay open to other perspectives, I think we could all be the saviors.
Put on your own mask first. Breathe steadily. Remember that you’re responsible to steer your own vehicle, and you’re part of a bigger map.
Both, and.
Inhale, exhale.
If you think you don’t remember how to sit with uncertainty and tolerate the tension of this moment, our stellar mindfulness teacher, Samuel Singer, is hosting this week’s virtual barn raiser with a simple body scan practice. We believe it will help build your self-reliance and your sense of community.
This week’s guided meditation: body scan
You may be familiar with Samuel Singer from Wyoming Stargazing. This Ph.D. science educator is also a devout mindfulness practitioner. His 14-minute body scan is an excellent antidote to the fatigue resulting from long days spent in front of a screen.